PENS Ski Area Page  

Cross Country Ski areas in the FM area:    (Please consider posting a trail report on skinnyski.com via the links below.  It helps others in the club stay informed with the sometimes rapidly changing conditions.)

Fargo Parks – Grooming updates are posted in the Recreational Trails section on the Parks Website.  Thanks to the Parks staff for keeping this up to date.  Phone:  701-241-1350.  Edgewood and Lindenwood are the most frequently groomed.  The Parks operates a Track Truck groomer that can be driven between the two sites.

*   Edgewood Golf Course:  5k+ groomed for Classical around the outer perimeter of the course and some trails crossing the course.  5k+ groomed for Skating on the course itself.  Heated chalet with classic ski rental (very reasonable).  50 pairs of new classic skis, boots, and poles added in December 2005.  The entrance to the course is at 36th Ave N and North Elm St.  A race is held here annually.    Aerial Photo w/ trail Aerial Photo Chalet Photo   (skinnyski.com link to Edgewood Trail Reports)

*   Lindenwood Park/Dike East Trail:  3k groomed for both Classical and Skating along the Red River.  The best place to park is near the entrance to Lindenwood at 5th St and 17th Ave  South.  The trail starts down by the river and travels north to approximately the old St. John’s Hospital.    (skinnyski.com link to Lindenwood Trail Reports)  Aerial Photo

*   Trefoil Park/Mickelson Field Trail:  Fargo Parks is occasionally grooming another 1 mile of classic trail that is not listed on their website.  Now that they are driving the Track Truck groomer from Edgewood to groom Lindenwood, they may track the trail along the river starting near El Zagel GC (Elm St at 15th Ave N) through Trefoil Park to 9th Avenue N on the South side of the ball fields.  The grooming might not last long as they typically plow the path for walkers.  If it is groomed, the south end of the trail is the best place to park (right by the recycling bins on 9th Ave N).  One negative is that there is bare ground where it goes under the 12th Ave bridge.  Aerial Photo

*   Rose Creek Golf Course:  2.7 mile classic trail around the course.  There are not many trees here, but there is some good rolling terrain.  1500 Rose Creek Parkway.  Access is from the course parking lot (Seasons at Rose Creek) or the bicycle trail along Rose Creek coulee on the north side.   Aerial Photo

*   Prairiewood Golf Course:  1.75 miles groomed for classic.  The trail starts at Prairiewood drive and West Gateway Circle on the North side of the course.    Aerial Photo

Moorhead Parks – Trails groomed when weather permits (i.e. there has been a significant snowfall –grooming has been hit and miss in past years…).

*   Gooseberry Park:  Groomed for Classical skiing.

*   MB Johnson Park:  Groomed for Classical Skiing.  Cross Country Skiing activities are planned during the Polar Party sponsored by Moorhead Parks department held on February 3rd, 2007 –cancelled due to cold weather/low snow.

*   Woodlawn/Viking Ship Park:  Groomed for Classical skiing.

*   River Oaks Park:  Groomed for Classical skiing.

West Fargo Parks

*     Elmwood Park:  The park saw limited grooming in the 2005 season.  When groomed, the best start point is off 13th Ave West just west of Sheyenne. Street. The trails are on both the north and south side of 13th Ave. covering about 2 miles of Classic Skiing. The warming house and restrooms are open in the late afternoons and evenings.  

Minnesota State Parks – MN DNR Trail Reports  MN Ski Pass Required

*   Buffalo River State Park: Located between Glyndon and Hawley, just 14 miles east of Moorhead on Highway 10.  The park entrance is on the south side of Highway 10, about a mile or two east of Highway 9. 
Groomed for Classical skiing.  Grooming Report.  
Notes:  Grooming will extend to the south side of the river this year.  No grooming will be done on the Ponderosa Golf Course.  This will give more groomed track along the wooded trails.  Thanks to Brian at the park for the update.  See the Calendar for Candlelight Ski events.

*   Maplewood State Park:    Located 8 miles east of Pelican Rapids on Highway 108.
8 miles (12.9k) of groomed cross country ski trails.  It also has a 3 mile (5 kilometer) stretch reserved for skating.  The shortest loop is a 1 mile trail around Cataract Lake.  It is mostly in the woods and is an easy ski with a couple of downhill runs.  The Grass Lake Trail is about 4.5 miles.  With only one difficult downhill run, it is an easy trail to use.  The other ski runs are the Bass Lake Trail which is 6 miles (9.7 k) and the Cow Lake Trail which is 8 miles (12.9 k).  A 5k trail called East Beers Lake is used for skating.  NEW for ’06:  A warming house will be open daily at the trail head.
A $3.00 daily ski pass is available at the park contact station.  If you want a 1 or 3 year Ski Pass you may buy them at most sport stores.  If you have any questions, you can call Maplewood State Park at 218-863-8383.  The Friends of Maplewood group has a Candlelight Ski annually – see the Calendar for dates and times.  The trail covers the 1 mile loop around Cataract Lake.  Grooming Report.

Commercial Ski Areas in the Region:

*   Maplelag Resort   -  Trail Reports

*   Rainbow Resort   -  Trail Reports

*   Spidahl Ski Gaard  - Trail Reports

Other Private Ski Trails in the Region:

*   Heiberg Trails, Twin Valley, MN
Traditional track cross country skiers are welcome to use PENS member Herman Natwick’s family ski trails at Heiberg, Minnesota. To reach the area take MN highway # 10 east thee miles past Hawley to MN Highway 32 go North on 32 two miles past Twin Valley. This is a short one hour’s drive.  The entrance to the ski area, which is an old railroad grade, is about two miles north of Twin Valley on Highway 32, just after you cross the Wild Rice River Bridge, on the right. Cars can park along the County Road that heads east in front of the Heiberg Park.  There are over three miles of groomed trails in the very scenic and historic heavy woods so very little exposure to the wind. The trails have a good mixture of level skiing and hilly terrain. My son did a GPS tracking on the trails so we should have maps of the various trails shortly. We will try to post them near the entrance at some point where they will be clearly visible. For information on the directions or conditions you can call Herman Natwick @ 701-793-3888 or Jim Natwick @ 701-793-2360.  MN ski pass not required.

*   Waubun School Forest Trails, Waubun, MN
PENS members are welcome to ski these trails which are ~10 miles East of Waubun, MN on Highway 113.  The trails are groomed by Ray Thorkhildson, father of elite skier Jill Troutner who did a clinic for PENS in 2006.  Contact Ray at 218-734-2230 for directions and hours of operation.  Identify yourself as a PENS member when you talk to Ray.  They have warming house and a good selection of skis/boots/poles available for use free of charge.  ~4 miles of groomed classic trails.  MN ski pass not required.

*   Agassiz Environmental Learning Center, Fertile, MN
Best to call ahead to check on conditions, grooming and hours.

Please see skinnyski.com for more information on other XC skiing in the region, particularly ski trails and trail reports. 
Please post a trail report there to let others know how the trails are!

Contact PENS