Mount Ski Gull:
We offer skiing, snowboarding and tubing in one convenient location. Helping our community to become a better place to live has been our guiding principle for 50 years. Mount Ski Gull’s mission is to provide challenging activities in a fun and healthy environment which empowers youth to develop confidence, competency, and compassion.
1/11/21:
Skiing & Snowboarding: Lift Tickets & Rental must be purchased PRIOR TO ARRIVAL!
Runs Open: Super 8, Paul Bunyan, Nisswa, Quarterdeck, Terrain Park (big park), Bunny Hill (mini park), & Tubing!
Lifts Open: Chairlift, Bunny Magic Carpet, Tubing Carpet, Terrain Park High Speed Rope, Bunny Hill
Tubing (masks required): All tubing tickets must be purchased ONLINE PRIOR TO ARRIVAL!
Snowmobile Trails:
Crow Wing County Snowmobile Trails Association Clubs 1/6/21: The Brainerd Lakes Area has received about 10″ of snow this season with 6″ of that coming the evening of 12-29-20. We had an incredible amount of traffic over the New Year’s holiday and it shows on the amount of wear on the trails. With no base and the warm temps there is not much the clubs can do with grooming at this point. The lakes still have many thin spots and slush in many areas so use caution. We have also had trespass issues on many of the trails, remember the landowners give us only permission for the trail not any of the adjacent land!
The Brainerd Snodeos maintain and groom 107 miles of trail from Brainerd to Riverton, to Crow Wing State Park, to Harding and towards Garrison.
12/30/20: All swamps have been packed with Argo before the snow and no water issues found. Harding trail groomed minus a swamp-safe for sleds not groomer yet. North Trail groomed minus a section of swamps-safe for sleds not groomer yet. Crow Wing State Park trail and city trail being groomed, and Garrison /Pine Center will be after we get some more snow or cold weather.
Fort Ripley Trail Busters
12/30/20: Out grooming but a lot of bare spots and a lot of wet spots in the swamps.
Gull Lake Drifters
12/30/20: Packing swamps, groomed Paul Bunyan. Next will be Breezy Point and Sno way 1. Checking on logging process in Pillsbury.
Merrifield Marathons
12/30/20: The Merrifield trails are all open and packed but not groomed. Considered taking the side/side and drag out but we don’t feel the swamps are strong enough for the weight of the drag and the side/side. Snow conditions are ok but not good. Trails are getting pounded though and that will help in getting a good base. Weather forecast is for a warm-up to the 30’s next week so we are in a wait and see mode. The tentative plan right now is to groom everything with the side/side on the 11th.
Baxter Snowmobile Club groom weekly on Monday Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
12/30/20: Will start grooming 1/9/21.
CROSS COUNTRY SKI TRAILS:
There are many ski trails in the Brainerd Lakes Area; many of which are groomed Grant-In-Aid funded trails. To “legally” ski any GIA funded trail, cross country/Nordic skiers aged 16 years and older must purchase a MN Ski Pass. A non-pass holder can be sited by any Conservation Officer if caught on these trails without a pass. The Annual and 3-Year passes can be purchased at any ELS (Electronic Licensing Station) station (if they sell fishing licenses, etc., they will sell ski passes) and the Daily can be purchased from a variety of non-ELS providers. The Northland Arboretum is one provider in our area that sells the daily pass.
The Northland Arboretum contains trails for all experience levels. These trails are groomed for classic and skate.
1/7/21: Better than I expected after the warm days we had this week. Sections of trail were in great condition, and nearly all the trails had full coverage (I didn’t ski North Star as that is classic only). There were areas of thin and dirty snow/debris in the usual spots, but they were easily avoided. The only trail I would recommend avoiding until we get more snow is Big Ben – there was intermittent bare ground on the hills. Rudy’s and Acorn were very nice. Fun, fast snow.
The French Rapids trails are groomed classic and skate, include steep hills and are for intermediate and advanced skiers.
1/8/21: The trails were in very good shape flat surface and fast, I skated but the classic tracks looked in good shape. There are several spots where the dirt was pulled to the surface but easy to ski around. Great to see the Brainerd High School team out in force on the trails!
The Larson Lake Trail system is a good mix of classic and skate trails. Please note that the interior loops are classic only.
1/9/21: Brainerd Nordic Ski Team did a classic and skate loops in the morning. According to S. H., ” The trails are good!”. No bare patches and just a few spots to lift your skis in the classic tracks. Probably the best conditions in the area. Nicely set classic tracks (be prepared to step out in spots to avoid leaves or a few patches of ground). Skate lane is good. A cautious, observant skier can use good skis. The skiers are very glad this system is open this year! 30+ skiers using the system this morning!
The Wolf Lake Ski Trail is a classic only trail system.
1/10/21: The trails are still in pretty good shape. The deer activity (on the outer loop) is noteworthy, but no reason to stay away. More snow would certainly be helpful, but the regular grooming during the past few weeks has kept these trails very enjoyable.
The Pine Beach Ski Trails are both classic and skate and include trails for all abilities.
1/7/21: The Lakes Area has received about 10″ of snow this season. We regroomed the west side of the trail system, the trail that runs on the “Classic Golf Course” needs another 4″ to 6″ of snow to groom. The trails in the protected areas came out pretty good but we definitely need snow in the areas exposed to the sun.
Forestview Middle School trails contain trails for all experience levels. These trails are groomed for classic and skate.
1/11/21: No updated report shown.
Thank you to the Brainerd Nordic Ski Club, Skinnyski.com, Crow Wing County Land Services and Mark Kavanaugh for their reports.
