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Winter Trail Reports for the Grand Rapids & Itasca County Area

WINTER TRAILS

The winter of  2023/2024 has been very mild with low snow and warmer than normal temperatures. This has also resulted in less ice depths on area lakes. The SNOWMOBILE TRAILS were open, but no grooming happened. The CROSS COUNTRY SKI TRAILS were open too and packed, but no grooming was done. GRIMBA did regular trail grooming weekly at Tioga Recreation Area.

2-8-24: There is very little snow on the trails at this time. With the warm temperatures and rain, the trails are not in good condition. When the rain stops and the mountain bike trails dry out, Tioga will put Facebook notification out.

*The Itasca County ATV/OHV Trails can open as early as: April 1 (Thistledew and Blue Ox), May 1: Alborn/Pengilly (Range Riders), May 2: Island Lake Connections (Northome Ridge Runners), and May 15: B&B ATV Trail (Wilderness Wheelers), UPM Blandin ATV Trail (Rapids Riders), Little Moose ATV Trail (Balsam Trail Blazers), and Len Hardy ATV Trail (Range Riders).

Snowmobiling – The typical season for winter trails in the Grand Rapids, MN area is December 1st to April 1st. Some years the winter season starts later than December 1st (mainly due to the bogs and lakes not being frozen enough to cross), and sometimes the winter season extends longer than April 1st. However, Grant In Aid Snowmobile Trails cannot open before December 1st, and must CLOSE by April 1st. 

Extended Snowmobile Season – The MN DNR (State Snowmobile Trails) may stay open past April 1st – weather dependent. The Taconite Trail is one of those trails in Itasca County. This trail connects to David Dill Arrowhead Trail and the David Dill Taconite Trail; which is more than 150 miles of trails. Grand Rapids has a Taconite Trailhead located at the Itasca Fairgrounds.

Cross Country Skiing – these trails open December 1st and can stay open past April 1st – weather permitting. Please check with the Northern Lights Nordic Ski Association Trail Report for weekly details and updates.

SPRING TRAILS

Hiking – there are NO hiking trail reports for the Grand Rapids, MN area. However, it is requested that people do NOT hike on trails that are wet. There is 6-8 week thaw that happens early to mid-March through mid-end of April each year. In some years this can be extended due to a late winter.

Mountain BikingGrand Rapids and Itasca Mountain Bike Association keep updates on their trails weekly. Tioga Recreation Area and Legion Trail are the two trail systems that are designated and created for single track mountain biking. Both trails will go through a spring thaw, and it is requested to stay off of the trails during this time. Typically this will start early to mid-March and go through mid-to late April. In some years this can extend into May.

ATV/OHV – Some state ATV/OHV Trails can open as early as April1st – weather dependent. However, it is more typical that the Itasca County ATV/OHV Trails open mid-April to mid-May. Most of the Itasca County ATV/OHV Trails are open by May 17th each year. This is weather dependent and the ATV/OHV Clubs and the MN DNR have the authority to delay open of trails or close trails due to too wet of conditions. This goes for Chippewa National Forest Roads and Itasca County Roads as well.

Mesabi Trail – This is a 100+ paved bicycling trail. Typically this trail is open early April to mid-April through November each year. However, during a late spring, there will be a delay because several sections of the Mesabi Trail is the Taconite Trail for snowmobiling. You can learn more on the Mesabi Trail website.

Visit Grand Rapids staff update the Trail Conditions Page every Thursday.

Itasca Snowmobile Trails Report

2-7-24: With the warm weather and rain, there is very little snow on the trails. Most of the trails are unrideable. No grooming is being done at this time.

snowmobile rentals...

R&R Rental
Grand Rapids Location
20760 US-169
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
(218) 999-7368

cross country skiing trails Report

This weekly cross country ski report is brought to you by: Northern Lights Nordic Ski Association Trail Report. Remember to purchase your MN Ski Trail Pass. You must have to ski on these trails. Please support the Itasca cross-country ski trails by considering being a member of the Northern Lights Nordic Ski Club

2-7-24: with the warm weather and rain, the cross country ski trails have little snow and lots of ice. There is still snow at Mt Itasca cross country ski trails, however, continued rain and warm temperatures the snow will turn to ice, so use caution when on the trails.

CROSS COUNTY SKI AND SNOWSHOE RENTALS:

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

Mountain Bike & Fat Tire Bike Trails

These reports are brought to you by the Grand Rapids and Itasca Mountain Bike Association (GRIMBA).
 
2-7-24: The trails are still holding up so the Fat Fourteen Bike Race is still on for Saturday, February 9, 2024. 

MOUNTAIN BIKE AND FAT TIRE BIKE RENTALS:

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

ATV/OHV Trails

The following trails are CLOSED. Check with MN DNR Trail Closures website before riding in the Spring. Open dates in the Spring are as following, but keep in mind that wet conditions may change the opening dates:

April 1st – Alborn/Pengilly, Blue Ox, Thistledew

May 2nd – US Forest Service Alvwood/ Squaw Lake, Island Lake Connection

May 15th – Wilderness Wheelers and B&B Connection, Balsam, Little Moose, UPM Blandin

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

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GRAND RAPIDS, MINNESOTA

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