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Cross-Country Skiing Trails
A great 2007-2008 season! Info below for the 2008-2009 season.
Lutsen Resort is central to the best Nordic Skiing on America's
North Coast - the North Shore of Lake Superior. There's no other
place on Lake Superior that offers the variety of trails and the
picture perfect views.
Grooming is ongoing on all trails, and the snow is the best it's
been in years. It doesn't get much better than this.
Local Nordic Ski
Trail Reports (All open in a new window.):
Don't forget to purchase a
Great Minnesota Ski Pass. Purchase them at the Holiday Station
in Tofte or the Clearview store in Lutsen.
Map 1
Access to
the trails listed here is found at the end of the plowed Onion
River Road. To find this road, head 2.1 miles southwest of the
Main Lodge, just northeast of the Sea Villas. The parking area
is 2 miles up Onion River Road.
Beginner:
Onion River Road:
This trail is the continuation of the road past the parking lot.
For the winter this section of the road is groomed and tracked for
both classical and skate skiing. This is a wonderful section of
trail to learn on with extremely gentle terrain. This is an out
and back trail that can be skied for 5.5 km one way.
The Green Loop:
This loop starts with a 2 km ski on the Onion River Road then
continues counterclockwise for another 2.4 km back to the parking
lot. There is a significant downhill immediately after turning
off of the Onion River Road, but after that the trail flattens out
again. Spectacular views abound of the back side of the Sawtooth
Mountains.
Intermediate:
The Oberg Loop:
This is a wonderful intermediate loop that covers 8 km of diverse
terrain. Once again this loop starts with 2 km on the Onion River
Road. You then leave the road to begin a clockwise loop back to
the parking area. Immediately after leaving the road you will
encounter a short steep hill. After this you will encounter
gently rolling terrain for another 2 km leading to a series of
downhills for another 2 km. Another 2 km of rolling terrain
brings you back to the parking lot.
The Lutsen
Connection:
A gradual
slope down from the Onion River Road to the golf course is a great
point-to-point route. Follow the southern arm of the Oberg Loop
for 1.5 km, turn right. Follow this groomed classic trail for 6 km
to the Nordic Center. Once at the golf course, head toward the
warming house.
The Homestead
Loop: With 16.1
km of skiing this is a great way to spend the day. Following the
trail out of the west corner of the parking lot for 4.4 km brings
you to the 7.3 km Homestead loop. This entire trail is rolling
intermediate terrain with short sections of steep uphill and
downhill. Return from the Homestead Loop is on the same 4.4 km
trail you entered on.
Advanced:
The Picnic Loop:
This 25.1 km loop is definitely meant for the advanced skier. The
loop is filled with long ascents and fast descents. Start this
loop in the west corner of the Onion River Road parking lot. Go
0.6 km and turn right. This loop is meant to be skied counter
clockwise.
Map 3
There are
two main areas on this map. The Cascade River Trails are south of
the Sawtooth Mountains with access from the Cascade Lodge parking
area 10 miles northeast of Lutsen Resort on Hwy 61. The Deer Yard
Lake Trails are accessed by driving past Cascade Lodge to County
Road 7and taking a left, then take a left on County Road 44, turn
left on County Road 45 and continue straight onto Forest Road 332
to the cross county skiing parking lot. Trails in these areas are
generally only groomed for classical skiing.
Beginner:
Many Cascade
River trails lie parallel to the lake and are fairly level. These
trails cut through a beautiful forest and cross a bridge over a
raging river.
Intermediate:
Lookout Mountain:
Climb 3.3 km
one way to the shelter on top of the mountain then get a great
downhill on the way back.
Deer Yard Loop:
This 11 km
loop has gentle rolling terrain along the lake, a long gentle
uphill, a wonderful long downhill, and rolling terrain back to the
parking lot. Climbing 1.4 km to the old fire tower is also an
option.
Advanced:
The Short Loop:
This loop is
an add on loop to the Deer Yard Loop. It includes a fast and
curvy hill and a long steep climb. The full loop is 4.2 km long.
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