This was my first time skiing this area. I used the trailhead closest to Hoyt Lakes and skied towards Bird Lake to trail marker 3. The trails had just been groomed and were in excellent condition. Clearly some major trail clearing had occurred and I appreciated the effort expended by staff to make this wilderness of roller coaster type trail of spruce, popple, and birch accessible to us winter people. The downhills have good sight lines and the trail seems to meander along a comforting higher path of quiet beauty. Probably not for the true beginner but one that can be enjoyed by all other attitudes. I stopped often to listen and look on the way out, but quickened my pace back to the truck before dark and found the undulating track and double poling pace quite exciting, but certainly not terrifying in a wolf chasing you kind of way that the imagination can inspire as the night descends. I will ski in from the other side today and certainly start much earlier to try and survey the whole course.

(Michael Wilke)

Forest Service has groomed and set track from Hoyt Lakes parking area east to the Lillian Lake loop. Happy New Year!

Photos:

(Roxanne Tea)

Trail is now packed from East of Hoyt Lakes parking lot to the Bird Lake parking lot. Plans are to start setting track tomorrow. Plans are to get the lake loop packed next week with snowmobiles.

(Dave Coy)

Progress continues on the packing end of the trail. Made it from the Bird Lake parking lot to #1 headed West towards Hoyt Lakes. Another attempt will be done today, still finding lots of overhanging brush and fallen trees.

(Dave Coy)

The trail is now packed from the Bird Lake parking lot to loop 4. Very slow going yet, hopefully packing will resume after Dec 27th.

Photos:

(Dave Coy)

Started packing the trail with the snowmobile, very slow going due to the snow depth. Trail is packed from the bird lake parking lot to the Lillian Lake shelter.

(Dave Coy)

We hopefully will get this trail groomed soon, we first have to dig ourselves out of the office and complete facilities maintenance. Grooming plans: Hoping to get out next week and pack the trail then set the trail. Thank you for your patience!

(Dave Coy)

Due to the lack of snow trails have not been packed as of yet. As soon as we get more snow we will start packing ASAP.

(Dave Coy)