After several years of difficulties with grooming, the Copper Falls State Park XC trails are returning to quality ski opportunities. We could use more snow, but meadow trail is quite good. We have a committed trail committee, and grooming is improving all the time.

Photos:

(Bob Aldrich)

Grooming last done on Tuesday. Update as of Sunday morning, someone on Saturday drove their car a short ways down the Pipeline ski trail by the ballfield/north campground. The ruts have been filled in and packed, but not yet groomed. It looks rough but still skiable. The trails have been holding up well. Skate deck is firm on the Pipeline, Meadow, and Red Granite. The classic track remains in good shape on the Meadow, Vahterra, and Takesson loops. Meadow Loop: "Excellent" groomed for classic and skate. Short, medium, and long loops available. Pipeline West: "Excellent" groomed for skate and classic. A thin but avoidable spot in the center of trail along the northwest corner of Murphy Lake. Pipeline East: "Very Good" groomed for skate and classic. But no track on the big hills or in the pines; need more snow. Vahterra 1: "Excellent" groomed for classic only. Vahterra 2: "Excellent" groomed for classic only. Takesson 1: "Excellent" groomed for classic only. Takesson 2: "Excellent" groomed for classic only. Red Granite: "Excellent" groomed for skate and snowshoes. A spot is beginning to thin at the road crossing but avoidable along the edges.

(James Enigl)

The backcountry trails—Valhalla and Takkeson were classic tracked and immaculate! The Meadow Trail for skate looked very good, classic tracks were good 80% of the trail. Pipeline classic tracks are good 80% of the trail, skate lane in good shape, getting thin in several spots. If you classic ski you MUST stride the backcountry trails! Overall, very enjoyable skiing.

Photos:

(Deborah Vomhof)

Grooming last done on Tuesday. We're still waiting for a groomer part to arrive so the next grooming will occur after the weekend. The trails have been holding up well. Skate deck is firm on the Pipeline, Meadow, and Red Granite. The classic track remains in good shape on the Meadow, Vahterra, and Takesson loops. Meadow Loop: "Excellent" groomed for classic and skate. Short, medium, and long loops available. Pipeline West: "Excellent" groomed for skate and classic. A thin, but avoidable, spot by Murphy Lake. Pipeline East: "Very Good" groomed for skate and classic. But no track on the big hills or in the pines; need more snow. Vahterra 1: "Excellent" groomed for classic only. Vahterra 2: "Excellent" groomed for classic only. Takesson 1: "Excellent" groomed for classic only. Takesson 2: "Excellent" groomed for classic only. Red Granite: "Excellent" groomed for skate and snowshoes. A spot is starting to thin out by the road crossing but avoidable along the edges.

(James Enigl)

Skied all of the trails over the day. Camped at the North Campground and could ski everywhere from there! Started with the classic trails and could see some coyote tracks that ran down them. The afternoon was skating, doing the pipeline loop and skate/snowshoe loop, and meadow loop. A few spots were a bit thin, but very nice skiing! The skate/snowshoe trail was the hardest. Most people had stayed to the side, but one person had walked down the middle of the trail. It was good that near trailheads other than that trail, the signs made it very clear that it was for skiing only. Much appreciated! I just wish people knew to stay on the edge of the last trail.

(Anna DeMers)

Spot groomed on all trails today using snowmobile and finished tracking classic-only trails. Fixed some post-holes from hikers on Pipeline West and posted skier-only signs. Grooming on Friday may be limited due to dry conditions. Groomer's Special: checkout the Meadow Trail loop by the Park Office. Groomed nice and wide for skate, level and hilly options to skiers choice, and the track is in great shape. Best skiing in the park. Meadow:"Excellent" groomed 1/5 for skate and classic and reset track 1/5. Pipeline West: "Good" groomed for skate and classic; reset track 1/5 in a few spots. Pipeline East: "Good" groomed 12/31 for skate and classic. Track in poor shape; need more snow. Red Granite: "Excellent" groomed 1/5 for skate and snowshoes. Vahterra 1: "Excellent" groomed for classic and set track on 1/4. Vahterra 2: "Excellent" groomed for classic and set track on 1/4. Takesson 1: "Excellent" groomed for classic and set track on 1/4. Takesson 2: "Excellent" groomed for classic and set track on 1/5.

(James Enigl)

Rolled and set track in some spots today; spent time filling in low areas. Will be grooming all trails on Tuesday. Groomer's Special: checkout the Meadow Trail loop by the Park Office. Groomed nice and wide for skate, level and hilly options to skiers choice, and the track is still in great shape. Meadow:"Excellent" groomed 12/31 for skate and classic. Rolled sections of it on 1/4. Track is still in great shape. This will be wonderful skiing for all. Pipeline West: "Good" groomed 12/31 for skate and classic. Spent today filling in low areas near Murphy Lake but pretty good overall. Pipeline East: "Good" groomed 12/31 for skate and classic. Spent today filling in bumpy sections on the big hills. Track in poor shape; will attempt to reset on Tuesday. Red Granite: "Good" rolled 1/4 for skate and snowshoes. Vahterra 1: "Excellent" groomed and set track on 1/4. Vahterra 2: "Excellent" groomed and set track on 1/4. Takesson 1: "Excellent" groomed for classic and set track on 1/4. Takesson 2: packed on 1/4.

Photos:

(James Enigl)

Classic skied all loops, the trail was beautifully groomed considering the 6” base. A few thin spots and bumps but wonderful overall, especially the backcountry trails. Thanks James for the fantastic grooming!

(Deb Vomhof)

Groomed today. Received 5" Tuesday night; it groomed up nicely with an overall 4-6in base in most places. Again, the north half of the park received less; so under the red and white pines on the Pipeline is still shallow/bumpy. Groomer's Recommendation is to checkout the Meadow Trail loop by the Park Office. Groomed nice and wide for skate, level and hilly options to skiers choice, and the track set really well tonight. Should be some superb skiing! Meadow: "Excellent" groomed for skate and classic; set track today. This will be wonderful skiing for all. Pipeline West: "Good" groomed for skate and classic; set track today. A little shallow in low areas near Murphy Lake but pretty good overall. Pipeline East: "Good" groomed for skate and classic; set track today; better but still a little bumpy on the big hills. Track was a little hard to set; need more snow. Red Granite: "Good" rolled for skate and snowshoes. Vahterra 1&2: fresh powder for backcountry. Takesson 1&2: fresh powder for backcountry.

(James Enigl)

Groomed today, mainly smoothing out sections but also set track in a few spots. The north half of the park still needs some more snow in the heavy hemlocks and pine to cover up some low spots. In the south half of the park where more snow fell, the Meadow Loop will be wonderful for some early winter skiing. Meadow: "Good" groomed for skate and classic; set track today. Pipeline West: "Good" groomed for skate and classic; set track in a few spots. Pipeline East: "Good" groomed for skate; but still a little bumpy on the big hills. Red Granite: "Good" groomed for skate/multi trail. Vahterra 1: Track set for short distance but groomed rest of the way. Vahterra 2: Not rolled/fresh powder. Takesson 1&2: Not rolled but packed with snowmobile.

(James Enigl)