The outer classic only tracks are in great shape. Skied out to the nature center and there is certainly some debris in the tracks in areas so skied in between the tracks. Where it's classic+skate the tracks are slightly worse but still very good. Just rate it for B skis since there are definitely places where there is a lot of debris and may ding up the skis a bit of you aren't really careful. So plan for 90% of the time skiing without worrying - I'd recommend classic skiing there, especially Eagle and the North part of Monarch trail. The Monarch trail along the river had a lot of debris but certainly skiable. Picture is of the north Monarch trail.

Photos:

(Nils Wahlander)

I skied the man made loop and Northern Lights. Both were recently groomed and in excellent shape. Thanks groomers.

(Don Callander)

Did the Valley Trail and abbreviated Northern Lights. Tracks were well-defined and a bit slow because of the temperature. No dirt, no rocks, but some leaf and seed litter in the tracks. Only did one lap, but glad I did despite the temp/wind.

(Steve Paladie)

Still good conditions for skate, better when freshly groomed (multiuse loop, machine snow loop), harder snow with a few bare parches otherwise but easy to ski around. Snow is fast, good for long glides.

(Bernard Cerles)

It was a beautiful, sunny, Sunday afternoon with temps in the low 20's. I skied all of the trails at Elm Creek. The snowmaking loop was perfectly groomed as per usual, firm and fast. The natural snow trails still had a little of that cold snow squeak, but were warming up nicely and were also quite fast. Coverage was great and I didn't find one bare or thin spot. There were few sections of very minor debris that was easily avoidable; just a stray leaf, here and there. Classic tracks looked deep and fast. Some trails were still a little bumpy, but only a few more feet of snow would fix that. Northern Lights was nearing perfection.

(Chris Jopp)

Fresh groom on nearly all the trails. Classic tracks set, good in most places although thin snow in some places left them less than well-formed. There's a fair amount of debris in some areas on the outer loops, Valley and NL are pretty good though. All-in-all, a fantastic morning to be out in the park!

Photos:

(Brad Johnson)

Good conditions overall, everything groomed anew except Creek trail to the North which was a little more bumpy. Multiuse loop still in good shape for skate. Some granular snow coming back on Northern lights, should improve with higher temperature.

Photos:

(Bernard Cerles)

This is my favorite classic trail in the Metro and it was wonderful. Eagle and Monarch trails are in terrific condition. Grip tape with Toko mint cover was ok at 8-10f, blue would have been better. Solid level tracks with enough depth to keep the skis tracking easily. Very strange day at Elm Creek- even on the Valley and Lake connectors I saw only track skiers, no one was skating. There are some deer and raccoon tracks, and oak leaves in a couple of places- Perfect reminders that these trails are in the woods.

(Steve Casey)

Trail conditions were fair to very good. The portion of the snowmaking loop I skated before exiting on to the natural snow perimeter loop was very hard packed. I fell as I made the 180 turn from behind the snow fence onto the trail at the trailhead because my skis went out from under me as I tried to skate the tight radius turn. It was also slow for my FastWax Blue LF waxed skis. Things improved as I got off on to the natural snow that had been groomed recently from the amount of corduroy that was evident. I ran into only a few spots of snert and there was only a little twig and seed liter. The classic track was consistent out bound but washed out a lot on the open portions of the return. It was maybe right around 20 degrees at my 3:30 start dropping to 18 or 17 when I ended 45 minutes later. There was a north wind that I had to fight on my outbound leg and aided me on my return. The parking lot and snowmaking loop were packed with snowboarders, high school racers and spectators. Only met two skiers on the natural snow portion of the trail.

(Keith Carlson)

Great fun, the outside course was great through out, the trail to Eastman was as usual leaf lettered. There was some washed out areas, but still ok. They do not groom a part of creek trail because of safety over old bridge, but skied in. Eagle trail was newly groomed as was Northern Lights. Two outside loops plus again the Northern Lights, biggest ski of the year -- I'm pooped.

(Brad Erickson)