​It's March and Spring is starting to make its way into Voyageur Country, but there’s still some riding left for those looking to squeeze in a few more miles this season!  Area trails are rideable, though warm temperatures mean grooming won’t be happening this weekend. The forecast calls for freezing drizzle & rain turning to a bit of snow. Expect possibly icy or slushy in areas.  The snow base is thin, so keep an eye out for occasional rocks and bare patches, as well as water overflows in lower areas as warmer weather continues to change trail conditions.  Be alert to trail markers and potentially unexpected hazards. 

The Arrowhead State Trail is rated fair, and the DNR advised logging operations are still underway in several areas on both Grant-in-Aid and State Trails. Please stay right, slow down, and give trucks and equipment plenty of room.

Watch the Voyageurs National Park Alerts page and Facebook for updates to lake trails. Expect bare ice, slush, and stay alert to pressure ridges.  Remember, ice is never 100% safe!

If you’ve been thinking about getting one more ride in, this may be one of the last weekends to enjoy area trails. Ride safe and enjoy the fresh air—spring is on the way.

There’s nothing like a little surprise snowfall to freshen things up! Our dedicated grooming crews will be out tuning up the trails after a light dusting overnight. A big thank you to all riders who continue to ride respectfully — it truly makes a huge difference and allows our groomers to work their magic and keep the trails in great shape.

While there is a thin base in some areas (so keep an eye out for occasional rocks and changing conditions), riders are reporting that trails are overall smooth and fast. It’s shaping up to be a fantastic weekend to get out and explore!

A couple Safety Notes:
📍 Crane Lake to Nelsons Road (Flowage Area) - Watch for markers identifying an icy spot.
​📍 Kabetogama Ice Road - Use caution near the pressure ridge along the ice road.

Arrowhead State Trail (per DNR):
The base may be thin, but overall conditions are reported as very good. Active logging operations are underway in several areas on both Grant-in-Aid and State Trails. Please remember to stay right, slow down and give trucks and equipment plenty of room.

Voyageurs National Park: Lake trails are open and groomed, with a few exposed rocks on portages and possible ruts and drifting snow on the lakes. Stay alert near ice road crossings and berms created by anglers plowing access. Use extra caution if venturing off trail.  And remember: ice is never 100% safe.

As Always:
➡️ Stay Right
➡️ Stay Alert
➡️ Stay Safe

Pack up the sled, gather your crew, and come experience winter at its best in Voyageur Country this weekend. We can’t wait to see you on the trails!

After a warm (but beautiful!) Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Day weekend, winter is back in full force. We’ve seen fresh snow since last night and it’s continuing to fall today — and that means conditions are improving across the trail system!
All trails will be groomed by Thursday night, and our groomers will continue tuning up the trails through the weekend. If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to head north, this is it!

With the fresh snow we are also experiencing high winds, so please use extra caution. 

• Watch for drifts in open areas and on the lakes and fallen trees or branches in the woods.
• Use caution on lakes where recent warm weather may have created slushy areas.
• Active logging operations are underway in several areas on the Grant-in-Aid and State Trails — stay right, slow down, and give trucks and equipment plenty of space.
  ​

🌲 Trail Updates

• Arrowhead State Trail (per DNR): has a nice base and is in very good condition.
• Voyageurs National Park: Lake trails are open and groomed. Watch for mixed conditions on portages, drifting snow, and occasional slushy areas on the lakes. Stay alert near ice road crossings and berms — and remember, ice is never 100% safe.

Ongoing snowfall this week continues to improve overall trail conditions across the system.  As always:
➡️ Stay Right
➡️ Stay Alert
➡️ Stay Safe

We’re excited to see winter conditions building again — come up, enjoy the fresh snow, and experience the best of Voyageur Country! 🛷✨

Great news for riders - groomers in all areas are making sure the trails are ready for you for this weekend! We've had some warm weather and a couple dustings of snow.  Snow depth remains limited and additional snowfall would help strengthen the base. Overall we are still seeing good riding conditions, with plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy the ride.

 Voyageurs National Park reports overall conditions remain great for riding on the lakes and in the Park. Lake surfaces are smooth, land portages are holding up well. Watch for ice road berms, traffic, and other lake hazards like slushy areas after warm temps, pressure ridges, etc. Remember that ice is never 100% safe.  Trails are open and all are groomed according to the latest report we have. 

The Blackwoods Blizzard Tour takes place this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday on the Taconite State Trail and Grant-in-Aid Trails near Virginia, Babbitt, Ely, and Tower.   The David Dill Arrowhead State Trail base is holding but remains thin in some areas, with occasional bumps and low spots. Active logging is occurring in several areas. For everyone’s safety: Stay to the right at all times, slow down in active areas, and give trucks and logging equipment plenty of space. With heavy trail use and warmer temperatures, this weekend ride cautiously and stay alert.

This Valentine's / President's Day Weekend is shaping up to be beautiful & warm. It's a great time to celebrate the outdoors in Voyageur Country.  Make your dinner resort reservations, come up and enjoy! Stay safe, stay aware, and enjoy the trails! ❄️

Our groomers were out last night and will continue to tune up the trails for this weekend. Reports from them and riders are that the trails are in really good shape thanks to a few light snowfalls, setting up for enjoyable rides across Voyageur Country this weekend and through the week. With the deep freeze behind us, the weather has been absolutely beautiful—perfect for getting out and exploring! Whether you’re planning a weekend ride or a Valentine’s Day getaway on the sleds, conditions are lining up nicely. Riding smart within your limits and staying right helps everyone have a great time.

On the David Dill Arrowhead State Trail and throughout the Grant-in-Aid system, the trail base is holding well, though it remains thin in spots with a few exposed bumps, rocks, and low areas. Conditions can change quickly, so stay alert and ride cautiously. Active logging is taking place in several areas—please stay to the right at all times, slow down, and give trucks and equipment plenty of room.

Snowmobile trails in Voyageurs National Park are in good shape overall. The Blue Trail is open but had not yet been groomed based on last week's update. The Purple Trail is open and groomed from Rainy Lake through the Lost Bay portage. The Green Trail is open and groomed with a clearly marked reroute near the Kabetogama Visitor Center where a pressure ridge persists; watch for snowbanks.  The Dashed Black Trail is open and groomed but remains rough and slower-going; and the Yellow Trail is open and staked with some potential slush areas that may be refrozen and a little rough.

Continue to watch for the usual hazards like crusted areas, slush pockets, refrozen ruts and pressure ridges with some wet spots nearby, as well as hard snowdrifts on the lakes—expect surprises if you venture off trail. Use extra caution when crossing ice roads and spur banks, which are clearly marked with warning signage.

As always, monitor current conditions, check things out for yourself before heading out, and remember that ice is never 100% safe. With great weather and good trails, now’s a fantastic time to ride--stay right, stay safe, and enjoy every mile out there.

Area resorts and restaurants are starting to post their pre-Super Bowl and Valentine's Weekend specials. This is the best time of year to enjoy the trails, camaraderie fun here!  Looking forward to seeing you on the trails!

This past week we received 5–6 inches of fresh snow in the area. International Voyageurs groomed many of the trails in their area yesterday. Our groomers are out tonight, and will be out again tomorrow and possibly Saturday. Our groomers may start earlier than usual due to the wind chills - please watch for them as you ride!

It. Is. Cold. 🥶
But that’s exactly what we want! These temperatures are helping freeze up the swamps and stabilize trail conditions.

Earlier this week we shared a Thank You, and it’s worth emphasizing again: riders are a huge part of trail conditions. When you ride respectfully—especially during limited snow conditions—it truly helps us maintain great trails. Thank you all! 🙌

🟢 DNR Update – David Dill Arrowhead State Trail
The trail is reported to be in good condition. The additional snow this week may allow for more grooming runs before this weekend, but riders should still watch for bumps, rocks, and low spots. The southern portion near the Taconite has less snow than the northern section. You may encounter logging activity in several areas throughout the Grant-in-Aid and State Trail systems. 
➡️ Please keep right, slow down, and give logging trucks and equipment plenty of space.

🟢 Voyageurs National Park Update
Groomers have been out and most trails in the Park are open, partially or mostly groomed, and the vistas on the lakes are beautiful! 
🚫The Blue Trail from east Namakan Lake to Sand Point Lake remains closed due to a pressure ridge.
There is also a reroute in front of the Kabetogama Visitor Center due to a pressure ridge along the ice road. Please be aware of snowbanks and ice road traffic.
With the very cold temperatures, the ice is hard. Be alert for refrozen slush, ruts, and solid drifts. Use caution when going off-trail. Crews are monitoring and cutting pressure ridges where needed—watch for re-routes.  Please remember ice is never 100% safe. 
📌 For the latest updates, keep an eye on the Voyageurs National Park conditions page.
​
It may be cold this weekend but the sun is making the snow sparkle ✨, the trails are in beautiful shape, and our local businesses are ready to welcome you in for a warm-up.
👉 Come up and enjoy Voyageur Country!

Thanks for your patience—Mother Nature delivered a few more inches late Thursday and again overnight, with flurries still flying! We’re sitting on about 10–12" in the woods and trail reports have been fantastic. 🌲✨

Our groomers were out last night and conditions are looking great across the system. The MN DNR has groomed the David Dill Arrowhead State Trail, and Voyageurs National Park trails are in good and improving shape—just stay alert for reroutes, bumps, refrozen slush, and changing conditions.  There is also active logging in our area - watch for equipment, keep right and go slow in these areas.

⚠️ Quick Trail Notes:

• Blue Trail from East Namakan Lake to Crane Lake is closed due to a pressure ridge. Park staff hope to cut that down and install the trail next week.
• Yellow Trail (Ash River to Kettle Falls) - Be alert to the open water and bridge to use at the Mica Bay Creek crossing.
• The Chain of Lakes Dashed Black Trail is open, staked but rough. More snow is needed to be able to groom. Ride slow and enjoy the scenery!
• Snowshoe & ski trails, sledding hill, and portions of ice roads are open (Kab entrance now at Gappa Landing)

📍 New! Groomer Tracker is Live
We’ve partnered with Groomer Tracker to give you real-time grooming updates!

• Green: groomed within 12 hrs
• Yellow: 12–24 hrs
• Red: 24+ hrs

The app is free to download from the Apple Store or Google Play, with a small fee to view live club data. Select "Voyageur Trail Society Inc" to see the latest on the trails we groom. Trail mapping is still in progress, but it’s already a great new tool to plan your rides!

Come up and enjoy the snow! ❄️🛷  Ride safe... Stay right... and enjoy Voyageur Country!

Several trails were groomed for the first time this week after we received over 6 inches of snow, and the timing couldn’t be better! With sunny skies and warm temps, the trails are glistening, riders are out enjoying them, and the feedback has been great — good trails and beautiful scenery are the theme of the week.
While we could certainly use more snow, conditions are improving and there’s plenty to enjoy if you ride smart and take it in.
⚠️ Important Trail Notes & Safety Reminders:

• Active logging on the Ray Spur and north of the Ray Spur on the Dill/Arrowhead Trail.
  👉 Watch for logging equipment, slow down, stay alert, and keep right.
• Bill Morgan Trail: Watch for orange stakes marking an area near the turtle mounds and go slow through this section.

Voyageurs National Park – Lake Trails:

• More lake trails have opened! With fresh snow and warm weather, expect pressure ridges, slush pockets, and rough stretches. When slush freezes it becomes rough and can cause unexpected jolts.
• 🚜 Ice road work has started, so be alert when riding near these areas.
• Green Trail: Rerouted near the Kabetogama Visitor Center due to a pressure ridge.
• Black Trail (Chain of Lakes): Staked, but still rough — recommended to go slow.
• Yellow Trail to Kettle Falls: Staked and open, but stay alert for slushy areas.
  A bridge has been built at the Mica Bay Creek crossing; the creek is still flowing.
• Blue & Purple Trails: Not yet open and are being monitored.
  

Dill/Arrowhead State Trail:
The DNR is finally reporting some base, but riders should stay alert for bumps, beaver dams, and the occasional hole that isn’t fully smoothed out.

🔎 Always check conditions for yourself before heading out, and remember: ice is never 100% safe.

With less snow than we’d like, it’s a great time to slow things down a bit — which just means you get to enjoy more of the incredible scenery along the way.
​
If you haven’t booked your visit yet, now is the time! Come on up and enjoy the weather, great food, and the camaraderie that makes Voyageur Country so special. 🛷

Happy New Year everyone!
​Our groomers have been out shaping trails and packing potholes as conditions allow. The trails are rideable, but coverage is limited.
General Trail Conditions

• Snow cover is light on all trails, and hidden rocks are possible.  Ride with caution: reduce speed, stay alert, and keep right.
• A groomer will be working the trail between Crane Lake and Ash River.

Trail-Specific Notes

• Bill Morgan Trail: Good riding conditions from Ash River to the Dill/Arrowhead Trail, except near the Turtle Mounds area, which is marked with orange stakes.
• Dill/Arrowhead Trail:
  • From Bill Morgan north, the Dill/Arrowhead Trail is clear to the Ray Spur.
  • There is active logging on the Ray Spur and north of the Ray Spur on the Dill/Arrowhead Trail. These areas are rough - watch for logging equipment, slow down, stay alert, and keep right!
• Rat Root Snow Bridge has not been built yet. Use extreme caution in this area; more snow is needed.
• Woody’s Trail: Recently cleared and packed by snowmobile. Snow cover is currently insufficient for grooming due to rocks.
• Crane Lake: there is a marked pressure ridge use caution in the area.
• Ice is still forming in some trail areas. We are ready and waiting for the next big snowfall!

DNR Advisory
The Minnesota DNR reports that the David Dill/Arrowhead State Trail is rough throughout the system. Riders should watch for hazards and proceed with caution.

Voyageurs National Park Update

• The Green Trail from Rainy Lake through Black Bay, Kabetogama, Ash River, and on to Crane Lake is fully staked and packed, but not yet groomed.
  • Portages are rough—slow down and use caution.
  • Lake surfaces have a crust from recent rain and snowfall.
  • Drifting snow is beginning to fill chatter ice and pressure ridges; watch closely for hazards and marked areas!
• The Chain of Lakes (Dashed Black) Trail is now open but remains rough and rocky due to minimal snow cover.

Ride smart and stay safe!  Our area resorts, restaurants and venues are ready to help you ring in the new year!

​For the latest info, visit:

• VTSI:  https://www.snowmobilevacation.com and https://www.facebook.com/VTSIGrooms
• Crane Lake Voyageurs Snowmobile Club:  www.facebook.com/groups/a723936869357904
• International Voyageurs: http://www.ridetheborders.com/trail-report.html and https://www.facebook.com/IVSClub
• VNP Trail Conditions: https://www.nps.gov/voya/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
• DNR Trail Conditions: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snow_depth/index.html
• Buyck Portageurs: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057218389432
• Ash River/Kabetogama Snowdrifters: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068157102512

As we head toward the end of 2025, we want to thank all of our followers and supporters - our loyal riders, visitors and guests, as well as our area businesses and local volunteers.  We look forward to fun our trails in 2026! 

Some snow is in the forecast - and we are all hoping for a little more than expected.   No changes in the trails from last week's updates - trails still need some more snow before grooming can begin. In Voyageurs National Park part of the Green Trail has been staked.  Be cautious on the lakes - conditions are unpredictable with bare ice, drifts, pressure ridges and sections of chatter ice. Please remember that ice is never 100% safe.

The David Dill/Arrowhead State Trail is cleared and open, but not groomed. This coming change back to colder temps should help freeze up the swamps, but more snow is needed. Trails are rough - especially through the swamps - and use is not currently recommended.

Wherever you celebrate New Year's Eve, please ride smart and stay safe out there!  Our area resorts are planning fun New Year's events. We look forward to seeing you soon!

For the latest info, visit:

• VTSI:  https://www.snowmobilevacation.com and https://www.facebook.com/VTSIGrooms
• Crane Lake Voyageurs Snowmobile Club:  www.facebook.com/groups/a723936869357904
• International Voyageurs: http://www.ridetheborders.com/trail-report.html and https://www.facebook.com/IVSClub
• VNP Trail Conditions: https://www.nps.gov/voya/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
• DNR Trail Conditions: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snow_depth/index.html
• Buyck Portageurs: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057218389432
• Ash River/Kabetogama Snowdrifters: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068157102512