From the Superior National Forest - November 19, 2020

While all of the campgrounds on the Superior National Forest are now closed for the season, there are many trail partners, volunteers, and Forest Service staff currently preparing winter trails for use. Ski trails will be maintained and open for use throughout the winter. Information on cross country ski trails on the Forest can be found at:  https://go.usa.gov/x7VwE

Skiing on many trails within the Superior NF requires the purchase of a Great MN Ski Pass, which helps support Minnesota's cross-country ski trail system.  Trails that do not require a pass are:  GW Pines, Lookout Mountain, Big Aspen, Sturgeon River, Bird Lake, Angleworm-Hegman Lakes, North Arm, North Junction, and South Farm Lake.  Ski passes can be purchased online at https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/skipass/index.html or by calling 1-888-MN-LICENSE.  Any trails that enter the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness require an entry permit.  For day or overnight travel from October 1 – April 30, free self-issued permits can be obtained through contacting any Superior National Forest office or at any entry point kiosk.

This cross-country ski season will look a little different and cross-country skier should plan ahead when using the Oberg and Pincushion ski trails this winter. Following social distancing guidance, the Forest Service will close the warming houses to the general public at both Oberg and Pincushion for the entirety of the 2020-21 winter ski season. Youth ski programs and the Cook County High School Nordic Ski Team will have limited access to these facilities following State of MN COVID-19 guidelines. To learn more about these programs please visit:  https://pincushiontrails.org/programs.php 

Additionally, due to new hiking trail alignments at Pincushion Mountain, hikers seeking a route to the Pincushion overlook should be aware that the new route originates from the Pincushion parking lot. Hikers should check the on-site kiosk for location of that hiking route.

The Forest offices are available by phone from 8-4:30 Central Time, Monday through Friday. For more information on travel in this area and all visitor updates please visit our website at:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/superior/home. You can also follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SuperiorNF or contact us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SuperiorNF/

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