Snowshoeing in Grand Rapids, MN

snowshoeing in grand rapids

Snowshoeing for Beginners

snowshoeing in grand rapids, MN

Snowshoeing in Grand Rapids, MN is a great way to explore the forest in northern Minnesota. Winter can be experienced in two ways, snuggled up indoors enjoying the warmth, or layering up and exploring Minnesota’s nature.  One of the best ways to experience the outdoors in the winter is by snowshoeing. This is an activity that anyone can do! Below are the Top tips for snowshoeing for beginners. In addition, resources for rentals and guides.

Tips!

  1. Layer up. Minnesota winter can be chilly especially if you’re snowshoeing near water. Wear snow pants, waterproof winter boots, a hat, gloves, and a warm winter coat. Make sure to check the weather before going out.
  2. Bring a friend or go with a guide! If it is your first time going out snowshoeing, it is a great idea to have someone with you.
  3. If you’re snowshoeing out at Tioga or anywhere where the trails have wooden bridges make sure not to use your poles to avoid them getting stuck in the bridge.
  4. Check out trail info before hitting the trails.
  5. Make sure your snowshoes and poles are adjusted properly.

How to adjust snowshoes to fit: https://fb.watch/a0Id3ta4jq/

purchase or rent

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If you do not own your own snowshoes, don’t worry…

Places to Rent:

Ardent Bicycles
218-999-5470
951 NW 4th St, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Website: https://www.ardentbicycles.com/

Places to Purchase:

Glen’s
218-326-1201
701 NW 4th St, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Website: https://www.glensoutdoors.com/

L&M Fleet Supply
218-326-2926
1400 S Pokegama Ave, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Website: https://www.landmsupply.com/

Ardent Bicycles
218-999-5470
951 NW 4th St, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Website: https://www.ardentbicycles.com/

places to snowshoe

snowshoeing in grand rapids, mn

Top Trails to Explore include Tioga Recreation, Forest History Center, Soumi Hills, Sugar Hills, Joyce Estates, Legion Park Trails, Simpson Creek, and Wabana. Visit the Snowshoeing Page to see trail maps and the level of difficulty of each trail. 

Cozy Lodging

snowshoeing in grand rapids

Grand Rapids, MN offers a lot of overnight lodging options from in town Hotels, Motels, Air B&B and Bed and Breakfasts. You will also find MN Resorts cabins that are open year round, and lake vacation rentals. The decision on what type of lodging can be searched based on the amenities that you are looking for. In town lodging is close to in-town trails, shopping and dining. Cabins and vacation rentals are located on beautiful lakes and near trails systems. For snowshoeing you don’t need designated trails. Just make sure that if you are on a cross country ski trail or a mountain bike trail that you cross the trail at a 90 degree angle to not disrupt the grooming. Find Grand Rapids Lodging HERE.

Fun places to eat & drink

snowshoeing in grand rapids

Snowshoeing can work up quite the appetite. Grand Rapids, MN might be a small town, but it boosts fun places to eat & drink. Whether you are looking for a quick bite on the run, or you are looking to sit down at the favorite place the locals go, you have options! There are two craft breweries and a MN wine bar in addition to some franchise properties and locally owned restaurants. Find fun places to Eat & Drink HERE.

What To Do When You Are In A Winter Slump

Winter in Grand Rapids, MN

Cabin Fever Reliever

Around Ground Hog’s day, many Midwesterners fall into a winter slump. Some call it cabin fever. We have been inside for way too long! The kids are getting on each other’s nerves from feeling pent up. Even the dog is sick of being inside the same four walls. This blog article gives you tips on what to do when you are in a winter slump.

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Even small towns have events, live music and theater performances. A change of scenery can help you get a new perspective. Your town might have all of these ways to be entertained too, however, each community puts their own creative flare and localness to their events, highlights different musicians. The Reif Center is a state of the art performing art center that offers two theaters that both give you an up close and personal view to the entertainment. They bring Broadway performances to northern Minnesota.

Upcoming Grand Rapids, MN Winter Events:

  • Fat Forest Fourteen (Tioga Recreation Area) Feb 11
  • Northwood Pond Hockey Championship (McKinney Lake) Feb 11
  • Frozen Fairway Golf Classic (Hale Lake) Feb 25
  • Frederick Douglass: In the Shadow of Slavery (Reif Center) Feb 10
  • Simply Sinatra (Reif Center) Feb 14
  • Dragons and Mythical Beasts (Reif Center) Feb 16
  • Legally Blonde: the Broadway Musical (Reif Center) Feb 21
  • Blind Boys of Alabama (Reif Center) Feb 25
  • Weekly Live Music, Bingo, Meat Raffles, and other events that happen at fun local places to eat & drink.

View the Grand Rapids Event Calendar for the full list and details of the upcoming winter events to help you get out of the winter slump HERE.

DSC3540 1024x684 1 Winter Recreation

Grand Rapids is known as the outdoor mecca of the north. Surrounding Grand Rapids is over 1 million acres of publicly accessible forest land. There are over 1,400 area lakes perfect for ice fishing. There are over 2,000 miles of trails to fat tire bike, cross country ski, and snowmobile on. Over 13 outdoor trail clubs keep the trails well groomed and maintained. View the Trail Conditions before you arrive to know which trails will be perfect for you and your friends and family to enjoy. There are many places to recharge in Minnesota’s nature: Chippewa National Forest, Lost Forty, Scenic State Park, Avenue of the Pines Scenic Byway, Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway and George Washington State Forest. Getting out in the winter wonderland will help you get out of the winter slump because it gives you a fresh perspective. The American Heart Association has said that being in nature helps reduce stress. Grand Rapids, Minnesota is a charming small town that can give you an opportunity to relax, reconnect with loved ones, and recharge within Minnesota’s nature so that your perspective remains fresh.

Snowmobiling Resized 2 1024x683 1 Snowmobile Trails – There are twelve Itasca County Snowmobile Clubs that keep our 300+ miles well groomed and in prime condition to ride through tamarack bogs, under tall pine forests, and over frozen lakes. You can access these trails from in town lodging properties to access gas, fun places to eat & drink, and also connections north, south, east and west to ride to other communities. The famous Taconite Trail starts in Grand Rapids at the Itasca Fairgrounds where there is lots of parking for trucks and trailers. By riding south to Hill City, Minnesota you can access the Soo Line which runs to Wisconsin.

Cross Country Skiing – Thanks to the Northern Lights Nordic Ski Club, there is over 200KM to ski in the greater Grand Rapids, MN area. Cross country skiing is the perfect sport where all members of the family can view northern MN forest trails. Along these frozen trails you will view northernn MN wildlife like deer, owls, and other birds that remain here in the winter. Ardent Bicycle and Mt Itasca offer rentals.

Fat Tire Biking Resize 1024x683 1 Fat Tire Biking – The greater Grand Rapids, MN area has become a premiere destination for mountain biking. The Grand Rapids and Itasca Mountain Bike Association keeps Tioga Recreation Area winter trails well groomed for fat tire biking in the winter. Tioga offers over 25 miles of single track mountain bike trails that are multi-level and a skills course too. Within 100 miles you can ride 145 miles at 4 different professionally built mountain bike trails. Visit Ridge The Range for more information.

Snowshoeing resized Snowshoeing – In the Grand Rapids, MN area there is over 1 million acres of public accessible forest land that is perfect for snowshoeing. A few of our favorite places to snowshoe are: Simpson Creek and Lost Forty in the Chippewa National Forest. Tioga Recreation Area is also a great place to snowshoe. Just remember to walk flat footed to not create divots in the freshly groomed trail. And cross the trail at a 90 degree angle.

Skating, Downhill & Sledding – What would winter in northern Minnesota be without ice skating, pond hockey, downhill skiing and sledding? Mt Itasca is the perfect place to downhill ski, snowboard, snow-tube and cross country ski. They offer rental equipment on site. There are many outdoor skating rinks where you can ice skate and play pond hockey.

Find more information about winter outdoor recreation HERE.

18033122 1505950616102025 8779788604272335442 n Fun Area Attractions – For a small town, Grand Rapids has a lot of fun places to be entertained, learn about Minnesota History, and embrace stunning works of art and view performance art. Here are just a few places to note: Judy Garland & Children’s Discovery Museums Itasca County Historical Society & Escape Room, MacRostie Art Center, and The Reif Center. There are several places where you can create and learn: MacRostie Art Center, Stained Glass with Class, and the Itasca Community Education. You do not need to be a resident to participate in any of these opportunities. By viewing each of their websites, you can see upcoming classes that they offer, and most of the time you can sign-up and pay online. View Itasca Area Attractions HERE.

Rapids Brewing 3 2 1024x619 1 Fun Places to Eat & Drink and Shop! 

Grand Rapids offers a wide variety of fun places to eat & drink. From locally owned craft breweries, a wine bar and the restaurants that the locals go to. From rustic and charming to fine dining, from American fare to cultural cuisine, you will find great places to dine in greater Grand Rapids, MN. Find fun places to Eat & Drink HERE. Downtown Grand Rapids is a great place to find locally owned boutique style shops that offer one of a kind items like Minnesota art, home decor, clothing, shoes, jewelry and vintage finds. There are lots of places to shop around the greater Grand Rapids, MN area too. Find great places to shop HERE.

Cozy Lodging Winter Cozy Lodgin 1024x681 1

No matter if you are an  indoor or an outdoor person Grand Rapids has something for everyone,, and all ages. You will find a wide variety of cozy lodging places to stay overnight or for an entire week. These year-round lodging properties offer a wide range of amenities and locations. From conveniently located in town Hotels/Motels, Bed & Breakfasts, Air B&B’s to Resort Cabins and Vacation Home Rentals. The choice is yours, and you can search on https://visitgrandrapids.com based on the amenities you are looking for, date and price range through Book>Direct online booking system.  To book your stay click HERE to find the perfect place to stay to get out of the winter slump.

You can start your planning by downloading the Grand Rapids Visitor Guide. This guide offers a wide variety of seasonal articles, event highlights, things to do, places to eat & drink, and places to stay. Learn more HERE.

Top 5 Trip Ideas for a Romantic Getaway

Romantic Getaway- Visit Grand Rapids, MN

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner plan your romantic getaway in Grand Rapids, MN. There is no better gift than a special weekend out of town. If you haven’t planned what to do for your special person, here are 5 ideas to make this valentine’s day extra special.

1. Hotel, Wine Bar, & Snowshoeing!

In Grand Rapids, there are 5 outstanding hotels. Some of the great amenities that are offered at some of the properties include a pool, hot tub, dog-friendly, attached dining/bar and all are conveniently located close to town. During your stay, visit UnWined Up North. They were voted the #1 wine bar in Minnesota by Star Tribune. Locally owned and known for a wide array of wine and beer all made in Minnesota. During your stay, spend some time outdoors exploring the snowshoeing trails. Rentals are available at Ardent Bicycles. Guided snowshoeing is available every Thursday from 12:30-1:30 at Tioga Recreation with Stephanie from the City of Cohasset Park and Rec. Department. Snowshoes are available during this guided service for FREE! Check out other trails in the greater Grand Rapids area by clicking HERE.

Snowshoes Janna Salmela 2015

2. Experience the Arts During a Weekend Up North!

Part of a great romantic getaway is to take in a performance together. See the Itasca Strings Orchestra on February 12th at 7 pm at The Reif. The Itasca Symphony Orchestra Plays Bizet Featuring violist Evgeny Zvonnikov they will be playing Carmen Fantasy. Before the show, there are great dining options in the Grand Rapids area to treat your special someone. Don’t forget to stop at MacRostie Art Center to see their Face Value exhibit by Russ White. There is also a cool store on the corner called Stained Glass with Class that offered stained glass classes. Call today to book a time!

MAC Art Shop Jordan Weis

3. Relax & Re-connect at a Resort or Bed & Breakfast

Enjoy the coziness of a cabin in the winter or the ease of a Bed & Breakfast. Re-connect with your loved one for a romantic getaway while exploring Minnesota’s nature. Set up an ice shanty on one of 1,000+ lakes in the area for some amazing ice fishing. Check out the latest Ice Fishing Report. Another idea is to head over to Blackwater Cross County Ski trail for a night ski on their lit trails. Lights are on until 10 pm and they have a heated shack! For more cross-country ski trails, click HERE.

Emily and Kyle Wood Remer MN area 2 24 21

 

4. Weekend Ideas for the Adventurous Couples

If you and your significant other love snowmobiling or fat tire biking, the Grand Rapids area is the perfect place to make a valentines day weekend trip. There are over 1,000+ miles of groomed trails to explore. Check out the trails in advance by clicking HERE. If you are visiting to fat tire bike, Tioga is the place to go. There are over 25 miles of groomed trails from beginner to advanced. Click HERE to see the trail report.

Resort Group

5. Beer Flights & Museums

Come experience a fun weekend at the local breweries! Sip a flight of craft beer while listening to live music and enjoy some great food. Rapids Brewing Company has a special menu for Valentine’s Day and Klockow Brewing Company allows you to bring in your own food!  Near the breweries are 2 unique museums. Check out The Itasca County Historical Society which has a ton of unique exhibits and has an escape room. Call to book an hour! If you and your significant other are looking for a guided tour, the Judy Garland Museum has a guide every Friday and Saturday. Take a walk around and learn about the life of Judy Garland. The museum included the home she grew up in.

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Information on Booking a Trip

To see the different lodging properties in the greater Grand Rapids area visit our Stay Page. If you have any questions about booking a romantic getaway, feel free to call the Visit Grand Rapids office at (218) 326-9607 or e-mail us at info@visitgrandrapids.com

 

What To Do When You Are In A Winter Slump

Even in the cold of winter Grand Rapids, MN has indoor and outdoor fun!

What’s Going on This Week in Grand Rapids

Tuesday-Sunday: The Fat Forest 14 is virtual. Sign up on the GRIMBA website to race 7 miles or 14 miles on Tioga Recreation.

Tuesday: Harry Potter Trivia with UnWinded Up North. Trivia begins at 7pm on Facebook Live or in person!

Wednesday: Zocial Diztant Trivia at Zorbas. Trivia begins at 6:30!

Wednesday: Artist Talk Series with Monika Lawerence. Join at 6pm on Zoom. Click HERE to get to more information and the Zoom link.

Thursday: Live music at Rapids Brewing Company. Stop in and see Mckeon Hugh Roberts at 6pm.

Saturday: Pond Hockey is one. Head out to McKinley lake and have some hockey fun. For more information on how to sign up click HERE to be directed to their Facebook page.

Saturday: Bundle up and bring the kids out to McKinney Lake on February 20th for some family fun. From 11pm-2pm compete in a snow sculpture competition! For more information and to register contact Myrna Peterson at 218-301-6028.

Saturday: Join the traveling art pub and Timberlake Lodge from 5:30-7:00pm and paint the “Bright Winter Sunset”. The cost is $35 a person and food and beverage is additional. Click HERE to learn more and sign up.

Winter Recreation

Grand Rapids has over 1,000 lakes perfect for ice fishing and in Itasca County alone there are over 600 miles in snowmobile trails. In addition, to that there is a wide variety of snowshoe and cross country skiing trails for all levels. Of hit the slopes at Mt. Itasca for tubing, snowboarding or skiing.

Drive Up For Some Winter Fun!

No matter if you are an  indoor out outdoor person in the winter, Grand Rapids has something for everyone. To book your stay click HERE to find the perfect place to stay to get out of the winter slump.

Spend Valentines Day Up North…. Plan Or WIN Your Trip To Grand Rapids!

How to Win A Trip

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Head to the Visit Grand Rapids Instagram account. To be entered you must follow the account and tag someone you want to bring on  a trip to Grand Rapids. For an extra entry share our post on your Instagram story and tag us! The Winner will be announced Sunday February 10th at 5pm and will receive 1 FREE night stay at AmericInn in Grand Rapids, a half day of snowshoeing or cross country skiing for 2 from Ardent Bicycles and a 50 dollar Gift Card to Forest Lake Restaurant. For more information DM us on Instagram or Facebook!

Plan A Trip

Want to surprise your significant other with a weekend getaway? You can now book a hotel/motel, vacation rental or Bed and Breakfast right through the Visit Grand Rapids website. Click HERE to be directed to book. Enjoy the bliss of being up north with your loved one or make it a Galentine’s weekend with the girls! We have a variety of outdoor recreation, dinning and craft breweries to make you Valentine’s weekend unforgettable.

Here Are A Few Things To Do During Your Stay

Snowshoeing or cross country ski on the trails

Brewery hop or check out the wine bar

Mt. Itasca– snowboard, ski or tube!

Enjoy bowling or an arcade at Thunder Alley XL

Snowmobile on 600 miles of trails in Itasca County

Ice fish on 1,000 lakes in the area

Check out McRostie Art Gallery

Shop Downtown Grand Rapids or Central Square Mall

Ice skate on one of the rinks in town

*Check out our things to do tab for more information-HERE

Valentine’s Deals!!!!

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Have more questions?

If you want recommendations for things to do or places to stay, contact us via email at info@visitgrandrapids.com or call us at 218- 326-9607. Pack up for the weekend and experience all the winter fun in Grand Rapids has this Valentine’s Day!