VNP

With the addition of new snow, all snowmobile trails, ski trails and snowshoe trails in Voyageurs National Park are open and in excellent condition.

The snowmobile trails in the park have been groomed and continue to be groomed on a regular basis. Park staff recommends staying on the designated trails on the lake surfaces because of hazardous slush conditions off of the packed trail. Also be aware of frozen ruts in the slush off of any established trail.

VNP officials remind visitors that the snowmobile speed limit in the park is 45 mph on lake surfaces and 25 mph on the land trails.

In addition, the Kabetogama Lake Ice Road is open from the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center to the Ash River Visitor Center.

The Rainy Lake Ice Road is open from the Rainy Lake Visitor Center to Dove Bay and Dryweed Island. However, it is no longer open on the north side of Dryweed Island due to slush.

The speed limit on the ice roads is 30 mph. Placement of equipment or any type of structure must be more than 50 feet off the center of all snowmobile trails and 50 feet of off the edge of the plowed ice road. Written authorization from the park is required for all individuals who want to plow any lake surfaces within the park.

All snowshoe trails in the park are open. Snowshoes are available for loan at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center near International Falls, Arrowhead Lodge in Kabetogama and Ash Trail Lodge in Ash River.

The Echo Bay, Tilson Connector and Black Bay Ski Trails are open and tracked. The Rainy Lake Visitor Center east of International Falls has adult-sized skis available for rent and children’s skis available for loan during business hours. The visitor center is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

IVSC

The International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club also maintains 134 miles of groomed trails in the International Falls/Rainy Lake area of northern Minnesota.

The club’s website at www.ridetheborder.com provides the following trail report: “3/6/2013: We only received a couple inches of new snow as the storm just passed west of us but our systems is still in excellent condition. Our operators have been out grooming as usual and report everything is in great shape land wise.”

“We’ve stopped grooming the lake trail as there is slush in some areas (groomer weight) but lake riding is still great. It’s been a while since we’ve been able to ride this late in the year, so once again get out and enjoy yourselves and be safe.”