Finished around 5 pm after skiing the full 13k of four lakes. Trail is good with exceptions being bare ice under bridges especially Isles to Maka Ska. Some icy patches on west side of Maka Ska. But it’s actually really good skiing and even a little better than earlier in the week before the dusting that helpfully took off some of the icy edge. Big kudos to the groomers!

(R.T. Rybak)

Skied from Wirth Lake down through south Wirth over Brownie, Cedar, Lake of the Isles and Bde Maka Ska. So many people, it felt almost like the City of Lakes Loppet weekend -- skiers, walkers, fat bikers, snowshoers, and skijorers! Trail was holding up just fine for skate, classic tracks were pretty heavily used but intact almost everywhere. Bde Maka Ska had a number of ice/thin patches, and the trail under the bridge in the Isles-Bde channel was nearly glaze ice (thin strip of snow to double on). Really enjoyable afternoon to ski around the lakes, and so nice to see so many people outdoors in the winter!

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(Bruce Adelsman)

What a beautiful day! Wonderful conditions and many people out! Thank you groomers! If you come from the north side of the lake you have to go on the walking trail until or use the classic ski tracks until you see the entrance past the ice rink. (We parked on the west side of the lake).

(Sara Zanussi)

Groomed skate paths on Isles and Cedar and made one pass on Bde. Left the classic tracks alone because they were in pretty good shape. Groomed walking/cycling lane on Isles and Cedar.

(Ken Valley)

Excellent skiing on the lakes! Some fresh new snow overnight on the Chain of Lakes made for some nice clean skiing, although a bit slower glide than normal due to the new snow. Classic tracks and skate deck were both good throughout all of the lakes, including Bde Maka Ska, with just a few icy spots (fewer than last weekend, due to the new snow on top). The Kenilworth channel is in good shape, and the Brownie tunnel is likewise in good shape (no need to take skis off). The Cedar land trail on the northern side of the lake was super fun and beautiful with the new snow. The I-394 overpass was the cleanest I have ever seen (see photo). Using good skis would be fine as long as you are careful. Just enough grooming and fresh snow means great weekend skiing on the lakes!

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(Bill Oyler)

City lakes all groomed Friday afternoon for your weekend pleasure. Skate deck should be smooth and firm. Classic tracks are getting a little shallow but still nice. A few icy spots on Bde Maka Ska that will be problematic till we get more snow and it's icy under the bridges. It's a fun way to get over to Wirth for us South Minneapolis folks plus you avoid parking problems.

(Michael Gotzsche)

Got out and groomed Bde Maka Ska at night. Just did the skate deck for now. A few areas have frozen footprints and tires tracks be careful. Coverage is still good and we are trying to groom an inside and outside classic track with skating in the middle and outside of that a separate walking/fatbike trail on all the lakes.

(Peter Leugers)

Fun to ski the Chain of Lakes! Hard packed and fast. Classic tracks whole way and sometimes 2 or 3 sets of tracks. Be careful under bridges - ice skates would be better than skis! The frozen fog, frost and snowflakes made for a magical experience.

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(Betsy Hoium)

Sublime sunrise ski this morning. Despite the last couple days' melty afternoon temps, the trails are still nice! Isles and Cedar had a handful of icy spots, but they were fairly small and slick. Bde Maka Ska had more icy sections, often a bit rough. The channels between the lakes were predictably icy under the bridges, but otherwise acceptable. Brownie tunnel has snow all the way through. I was skating the whole time, but the classic tracks looked to be holding up well. Groomers were heading out as I was finishing up my ski, so hopefully conditions will be even better by the time you read this!

(Will Bjorndal)

Beautiful sunset ski around Maka Ska and Isles and was very happy to see the warm temps didn’t do much damage to the trails, which are in pretty good shape. Bare ice under bridges and two ice patches on the Maka Ska trail but all in all good conditions. I skied the whole Chain a few times over the past few days and have to hand it to the groomers (who I passed Sunday about 11) for a really great job...and for doing such a long trail that really relieves traffic. We need to remind walkers to stay off the trails...the south side of Maka Ska has some tracks.

(R.T. Rybak)