News
Mission:
To protect and promote the natural, recreational and historic resources of Voyageurs National Park.
Weekly Trail and Ice Report: 2/4/10
From the National Park Service, 2/4/2010:
Some of the best snowmobiling of the winter season is now occurring in Voyageurs National Park and the surrounding community. All snowmobile trails in the park will be open and in good condition this weekend. Park crews and area snowmobile clubs have cleared brush and windfall from a recent storm and have groomed all overland safety portages. The Chain of Lakes Trail on the Kabetogama Peninsula is the only trail in the park that is in fair condition with numerous riding surface moguls. The Rainy Lake Ice Road is open from the Rainy Lake Visitor Center and now circumvents Dryweed Island on to the entrance of Dove Bay. If lake ice conditions permit next week, an attempt will be made to extend the ice road into the back channel area toward Diamond Island.
In order to conduct trail maintenance and moose research activity next week, park staff will be temporarily closing the Chain of Lakes snowmobile trail and the overland portages of the Ash River to Kettle Falls snowmobile trail. These trails will reopen NO LATER THAN the morning of Friday, February 12 to ensure use during the Presidents Day holiday weekend. An additional News Release will be issued next week if trail closures are lifted before February 12.
Please remember that the snowmobile speed limit within Voyageurs National Park is 45 mph on frozen lake surfaces and 25 mph on all overland portages. Speed limit signs are posted at trailheads and overland portages. Weekly winter trail conditions reports are available on our website at www.nps.gov/voya.
Snowmobile Trails
International Falls to Kettle Falls (Purple Trail) – Open & Staked
Black Bay to Kabetogama Lake to Ash River – Open, Staked & Groomed
Ash River to Crane Lake (Green Trail) – Open, Staked & Groomed
Chain of Lakes (Dashed Black Trail) – Open & Staked
Ash River to Kettle Falls (Yellow Trail) – Open, Staked & Groomed
East Namakan Lake to Sand Point Lake (Blue Trail) – Open, Staked & Groomed
Rainy Lake Ice Road – OPEN (from the Rainy Lake Visitor Center boat access)
Ski Trails
Echo Bay Ski Trail – Open, Packed, & Tracked
Black Bay Ski Trail – Open, Packed & Tracked
Tilson Connector Trail – Open, Packed & Tracked
KabAsh Trail – Open
Snowshoe Trails
Blind Ash Bay Trail – Open
Sullivan Bay Trail – Open
Oberholtzer Trail – Open
REMEMBER
“STAKED TRAILS MAKE SAFETY SENSE”
ORANGE IDENTIFIES HAZARD