Maplelag’s trails were well-groomed and in good shape on Saturday. I had been anticipating icy conditions around Detroit Lakes based on our recent snow/ice/wind which had passed through on Thurs evening/Friday. I checked Maplelag’s trail report Saturday morning which said trails had been freshly groomed Friday, which convinced me to make the trip for day skiing, and I was not disappointed. Look no further than Maplelag this MLK weekend.

(Glenn Gifford)

Phenomenal day on the trails. Everything set up nicely overnight and the weather sorted itself out. Yet another frosty day added to the winter charm making for incredible skiing. Skate skied right away in the morning with Jake, conditions by far the best this year, IMO, and one of the best skate ski sessions in a long time. The unusual combination of snow types making for silky sugary texture on top of firm base. Doesn't get much better. Classic skied on Roy's Run and found track in great shape. Pole plants were a bit soft on lesser skied and groomed access trails but overall excellent striding on Roy's. Heading out now to reset tracks on select classic trails and will also comb and structure Skaters Waltz. Friendly reminder that lodge is closed to day use. We have essential staff, including our family, with underlying health conditions and are doing our best to keep everyone safe and healthy so we can remain open the duration of this winter season in these unusual times.

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(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Fresh snow and grooming! 90 km of trail open along with 5km of snowshoe trail. 21 degrees as of 6pm. Excellent conditions. Grooming: Today we Ginzu groomed the entire groomed trail system, mixing the freshly fallen dry snow, a little sleet/crust with the old snow underneath. The new snow combined with mixing the old snow has made for excellent conditions. New double track set on 45km of trail, 23km of singletrack reset and 15km of skate trail renovated and combed. We also groomed the 25km of fat bike trail. Yesterday I skied in the track on one of the adventure trails, Lucky's Loype, and the new snow today should make for good backcountry adventure like skiing (we highly encourage younger skiers to get off the groomed trail and ski these adventure trails for natural skill building). Touch up grooming planned as needed through the MLK weekend. We are open again for lodging over the weekends and Midweek until the end of February. Always ask for the exclusive Skinnyski special when inquiring about reservations.

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(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Despite lack of new snow, skiing has been fantastic. The daily frost has been falling to the trail surface adding a nice refresh. Sunshine most days has been glorious. There has been almost no wind so there is minimal debris on the trails. The tracks and skate deck are holding out great since most recent grooming. The coverage is excellent. Just a few very minor thin spots here and there that represent less than .005% over 70km of trail and the squirrels have been busy, naturally, on the side of some trails where acorns are buried. The adventure trails still have plenty of powdered sugar stashes, (always use extra caution on these trails). We have been skiing daily keeping pulse on the conditions and don't feel a need to groom at this time as we enjoy, personally, the best conditions possible. We will be grooming tomorrow afternoon on Skaters Waltz and end of Sap Run for planned all day high school race on Thursday. It is possible this meet might be postponed to next Tuesday however. Regardless if no new snow or not, we plan to regroom the entire trail system on Friday morning.

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(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

The ski tracks are firm and fine at Maplelag. A classic track is now set on North Loup. Maplelag is doing a great job accommodating day skiers during this wacky winter of covid.

(Glenn Gifford)

Fantastic January weather continues. Despite temps flirting with the mid 30's the snow and skiing are holding out great. Daily grooming mixing the snow to keep the tracks and skate deck fresh. Today we reset all the singletrack classic trails and select double track trails. Skate decks renovated again. We also have 25km of fat bike trail groomed including some of the most exhilarating singletrack in the Midwest. The new snowshoe trails are packing in nicely as well. Great weekend of winter play on tap! Grooming continues as needed.

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(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Another incredible day on the trails with almost spring like weather. Despite temps in the mid to upper 30's, the snow and ski conditions holding out great. Grooming today renovated the dry cold snow below with the damp snow on top on all the skate trails and tracks reset on select classic trails as the temp fell throughout the afternoon. A few minor dirt spots here and there but still comfortable using good skis when I skied at dusk checking the trails. We dropped a track on North Loup today which is now groomed for both skate and classic.
Grooming plans: Select classic trails and skate lanes on tap for grooming tomorrow.

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(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

I skied most of Maplelag’s trails Saturday. All were in great shape! The mid-winter trail conditions with spring-like temperatures made for a bluebird day on the ski trails. Buy your trail pass online and check out Maplelag’s trails.

(Glenn Gifford)

Postcard morning on the trails. Beautiful conditions. Skate skied Skaters Waltz and double poled a few of the side trails to check conditions. Skate deck has firmed up and leveled off nicely and the frost snow skied silky and buttery. Tracks holding out great, bit soft on sides but hard to have any complaints on day like today.

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(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Beautiful conditions at Maplelag today! Thick frost on the trees holding on until early afternoon. I classic skied (VR50 for kick), Sukkerbusk, Twin Lakes and Roy's Run. The tracks had frost in them that had fallen from the trees, but they were still firm and fast. Roy's Run was just excellent. For those of you reading this who have not skied Roy's it is worth the drive to just ski this trail. Single track with many ups and downs. If you like the feeling of being off far into the wilderness this gives that feel. It is 10k starting from the lodge.

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(Tom Dooher)