Where and how to cross-country ski along the Mississippi River - 2021

By Callie Sacarelos, Mississippi Park Connection; and Karen Katz, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area

The Twin Cities metro area abounds with fantastic cross-country ski trails, lesson opportunities, and places to rent equipment. But navigating the dozens of state, county, regional, and city park websites to find the best option for you can be time consuming and confusing. This comprehensive beginner’s guide will help you decide where to cross-country ski in Minneapolis, Saint Paul and the 7-county metro area.

We answer questions like, “What’s the difference between classic technique and skate technique?” and “What gear do I need to cross-country ski and where can I rent or buy it?” We also highlight the four parks where you can cross-country ski along the Mississippi River within the boundaries of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, complete with winter trail maps and links to check current trail and weather conditions. We hope this guide is helpful in making one of our favorite winter sports more approachable for beginners. You can also check out Midwest Nordic, a Facebook Group community full of passionate cross-country skiers eager to answer your questions! If there is a resource, park, or information we’re missing, please let us know at info@parkconnection.org. Happy skiing!

Related: 4 Ways to Rewrite the American Dream and Build a More Inclusive Ski Culture (Melanin Base Camp)

Two straight ski tracks are grooved into the snow. The trail meanders along the edge of a frozen body of water and through a bare winter forest. The sky is blue and the ground is covered in white fresh snow.

Classic ski tracks at Fort Snelling State Park. Signs on the trails indicate which direction traffic is flowing. It is important to follow the signs to avoid collisions with other skiiers. Some double tracks like the one pictured can be used to ski side-by-side with a friend, but always follow the sign directions. Copyright National Park Service.

Where to Cross-Country Ski:

Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park

While there are many places in Minnesota that rent cross-country ski equipment (see below), Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park is the only place along the Mississippi River within the boundaries of the national park that does so. These trails are groomed for both classic and skate skiing, and are on relatively flat land near the river making it a great spot for beginners or anyone seeking a beautiful view. Combine your outting with a walk across the dam and you have a morning or afternoon full of adventure.

Address: 9750 Egret Boulevard Coon Rapids, MN 55433
Park Hours: 5AM - 10PM daily
Ski Trail Hours: 5AM - 10PM daily
Winter Visitor Center Hours: 9AM - 5 PM, Saturday & Sunday, September - May
Cost
Parking: $6/day; $30/year
Ski pass requirements: Great Minnesota Ski Pass required on all trails for skiers age 16 and above. ($10/day; $25/1-year; $70/3-year)
Rental equipment: $6/person - 3 hour maximum. Only available Saturday & Sunday, 9:00 am-4:00 pm. It is recommended that you call prior to arrival to ensure rental equipment is available (763-324-3320).
Ski Trail Map
Groomed trails are for cross-country ski use only. No snowshoeing, hiking, biking, skijoring, sledding or pets.

Orange Loop: 3.6K classic and skate trails
Green Loop: 4.3K classic and skate trails

Park Map | Current Trail Conditions | SkinnySki.com Report

Battle Creek Regional Park

The cross country ski trails at Battle Creek Regional Park offer spectacular vistas of the Mississippi River valley including downtown Saint Paul, Pig’s Eye Lake (which is a backwater of the river) and the enormous Mississippi River floodplain. 

The West section trails were redeveloped to provide cross-country enthusiasts with one of the premier facilities in the metro area. While the rest of the park closes 30 minutes after sunset, the lighted ski trail in the West section of the park is open until 9PM, allowing you to extend your short winter day and hit the trails after work! 

The East section trails are classic only, with an easier outer loop that is forgiving for beginners. Much of the East section trails are in the woods so you’re sheltered from the wind. The trails unfortunately get walked on quite a bit but it’s still a beautiful place to ski!

Address:

West section: 75 Winthrop St. South, Saint Paul, MN 55119
East section: 2300 Upper Afton Road, Maplewood, MN 55119

Park Hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
Ski Trail Hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Skiing on the West section's lighted trails is permitted until 9PM.
Cost
Parking: Free
Ski pass requirements: Great Minnesota Ski Pass required on all trails for skiers age 16 and above. ($10/day; $25/1-year; $70/3-year)
Rental equipment: Not available
Ski Trail Map
Groomed trails are for cross-country ski use only. No snowshoeing, hiking, biking, skijoring, sledding or pets. 

Battle Creek Regional Park West: Classic and skate trails. 1K easier trails. 1.75K more difficult trails. 7K most difficult trails. 4K of lighted trails. 
Battle Creek Regional Park East: Classic only (no skate). 6K of easier to more difficult. 

Winter Park Map | SkinnySki.com Report - West section | SkinnySki.com Report - East section

Fort Snelling State Park

Skiing at Fort Snelling State Park brings you right along the edge of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers. It’s a beautiful, serene place to glide along the snow and ponder what is happening to the water underneath the sheets of ice. The trail sits in the forested river bottoms consisting of cottonwood, green ash, silver maple and willow. The park harbors an abundance of wildlife, including deer, fox, woodchucks, badgers and skunks. Hikers should not walk on ski trails! Be aware of which trails are marked for hiking and which trails are marked for skis only.

Address: 101 Snelling Lake Road, St. Paul, MN 55111
Park Hours: 8AM - 10PM daily
Visitor Center Hours: 9AM - 3:30PM Wednesday - Sunday (check website for current status)
Ski Trail Hours: 8AM - 10PM daily
Cost
Parking: $7/day; $35/year
Ski pass requirements: Great Minnesota Ski Pass required on all trails for skiers age 16 and above. ($10/day; $25/1-year; $70/3-year)
Rental equipment: Not available
Ski Trail Map - 17.7K classic-only and multi-use groomed trails

Snelling Lake: multi-use groomed trail encircling Snelling Lake for classic and skate skiing that also permits fat biking, snowshoes, and hiking.
Pike Island: Classic skiing-only trail. The groomed ski trail on Pike Island is not for snowshoeing, hiking, biking, skijoring, sledding or pets. 

Winter Park Map | Current Trail Conditions | SkinnySki.com report

Spring Lake Park Reserve

This blufftop park provides expansive birds-eye views of the Mississippi River, with miles of ski trails winding through restored prairie and some hardwood forest. Often called the “hidden jewel” of the Upper Mississippi River Valley, the beauty of this park makes up for its brevity in ski trails. The park features a 4-mile paved trail edging along Spring Lake that is worth exploring before or after you ski.

Address: 8395 127th Street East, Hastings, MN 55033
Park Hours: 5AM - 10PM daily
Visitor Center Hours: 8AM - 5 PM daily, Nov. 1–March 31
Ski Trail Hours: 5AM - 10PM daily
Cost 
Parking: Free
Ski pass requirements: Dakota County Park Cross-Country Ski Pass is required for all skiers ages 18 and older. ($6/day; $25/1-year)
Rental equipment: Not available
Ski Trail Map 

Shaar’s Bluff Trailhead: 2.6K skate ski trail; 5.4K classic ski trail. 

Winter Park Map | Current Trail Conditions | SkinnySki.com report

A skiier wearing a red light jacket and black warmup pants with a hat and gloves overlooks a vista on a ski trail next to the Mississippi River. The sky is great and overcast. The skiier has their back turned away from the camera.

A groomed skate trail in soft conditions at Battle Creek on the "Ski Games" trail overlooking Pig's Eye Lake. The corduroy grooves in this photo indicate that this trail is for skate skiing. Notice the lighter layers worn by the skiier. A fanny pack or small backpack is a good idea for carrying an insulated water bottle, snacks, and other items. Copyright National Park Service.

What to Wear for Cross-Country Skiing:

As with most outdoor activities, dressing in layers is key. You can regulate your body heat and control how much moisture you’re able to shed as you exercise by putting on or taking off layers. 

Don’t dress as though you’re going sledding or downhill skiing - you will get too hot too quickly. Imagine you are going for a winter run - you’re going to work up a sweat! When you first arrive you might feel a little cold but you will warm up quickly as soon as you start to ski. 

You don’t need high-end expensive clothing to go skiing. You can wear old warm-up pants, leggings or long-johns, and a wool sweater to start. The more you go, the more you’ll learn about what types of layers are best for you. It’s always better to bring too many layers and leave them in the car than to not have enough.

  • Base layer: Find a wool or synthetic base layer that’s thin, comfortable against your skin, and wicks away sweat.

  • Layer a light long-sleeved shirt under a wind-blocking vest or jacket. If it’s colder, wear a slightly heavier/thicker shirt.

  • Wear warmer, flexible pants like leggings, warm-ups, or sweatpants. 

  • You will also need warm gloves or mittens, a hat or headband, and a buff / neck gaiter / scarf.

  • Avoid cotton because it doesn’t dry quickly. As they say in the outdoors, “Cotton is rotten!”

  • Eye protection: Find goggles that vent. If you wear classic ski goggles that suction to your face they will fog up as you sweat. You can also just wear sunglasses or clear glasses.

Cross-Country Ski Gear:

It is a good idea to rent different types and styles of skis and gear before investing in your own. See what you like. Do you want to go really fast on a groomed trail (skate technique) or do you want to be able to ski off trail through the woods (classic technique)? Wider skis are better for going off trail and give you more balance but are slower. Skinnier skis are faster but less stable. 

Classic vs Skate Technique

Skate / Freestyle:

Skis are splayed out like a V and you move your feet as though you are on rollerblades or ice skates. Alpine skiers might be more familiar with this motion as it is used to move across a flat section of snow. Most beginners start with the classic technique first and try the skate technique later. The bottom of skate skis is all “glide zone”, meaning that it is completely smooth so you can just skate along the trail. 

Classic:

Skis are set into two groomed tracks that are about 8 inches apart, and the skis move straight in a forward and backward motion similar to running. Many beginners prefer this style because it is easier to balance. Classic trails are more common within MNRRA but there are plenty of trails for both styles throughout Minnesota. Classic skis have a “kick zone” in the middle of the ski and the rest of the ski is a “glide zone”. The “kick zone” is the part that grips the snow and allows you to propel yourself forward. You push off the snow by compressing the kick zone down with your foot to grip the snow and propel yourself forward. 

There are three different types of classic skis:

Fish scale or waxless skis have a textured bottom in the kick zone that grips onto the snow to give you traction. Although they are called waxless skis, the glide zone does still need to be waxed occasionally. The wax repels water and reduces friction to increase speed. 

Waxable skis are more advanced. You have to pick a specific type of sticky kick-wax depending on the snow conditions and temperature and apply it each time. This type is not recommended for beginners. 

Skin skis have a synthetic bottom in the kick zone that mimics seal skin and provides traction. If you rub them in one direction they’re smooth and if you rub them in the other direction they’re rough, like fur. The roughness grips the snow and propels you forward. The glide zone needs to be waxed periodically to keep them moving The skins also need occasional waxing. Over time, the skins become dirty and can slow the skis down. Wax helps repel dirt and keeps the skins from icing up in wet conditions. There are many good products developed specifically for skin ski maintenance

Cross-Country Ski Gear Rentals in the Twin Cities Metro Area:

Anoka County:

Carver County:

Dakota County:

Scott County:

Washington County

Local Shops to Buy Cross-Country Ski Gear:

Finn Sisu  | Gear West  | Hoigaard's | Joe's Ski Shop | Midwest Mountaineering | Pioneer Midwest 

Great Lakes Gear Exchange (strives to make outdoor adventure culturally and financially accessible to all, while promoting sustainability in the outdoor industry. They sell clean, gently used outdoor gear and apparel.)

Used gear can also be found on places like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, etc.
Midwest Nordic Buy/Sell | Facebook | Cross Country Ski Trading Post | Facebook | Nordic Buy and Sell | Facebook

Cross-Country Ski Lessons:

We can't emphasize the value of a lesson enough! A lesson gives you the foundational skills to be able to go out and have fun on your own. Becoming a competent skier is a balance of learning technique from an instructor, putting in the work and time on your own to train your muscles to do those techniques, and having fun outdoors in the winter. Prices listed here are for a single group lesson. Some places offer private lessons, which range from $90-$265 and last between 2-4 hours.

Dakota County:

Hennepin County:

Ramsey County:

Anoka, Carver, Dakota, and Washington County:

  • Are we missing something? Send your recommendations to info@parkconnection.org

Minnesota Cross-Country Ski Passes:

Dakota County Parks Cross Country Ski Pass:

A Cross-Country Ski Pass is required for all skiers ages 18 and older on Dakota County Park trails. The ski pass is required for cross-country ski and skate skiing trails in Dakota County Parks, however it is not required for the Lone Rock Trail at UMore Park. Funds generated from this pass help support the parks’ ski facilities, including trail grooming and maintenance. Daily $6. Annual $25.

Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board Ski Trail Pass:

A ski pass is required to ski on any Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board Ski Trails. This includes Theodore Wirth Park, Columbia Golf Course, Hiawatha Golf Course and the Chain of Lakes. Discounts for youth under 11 are available. Daily: (All Parks: $20)(Natural Snow Parks: $8). Annual: (All Parks: $90)(Natural Snow Parks: $50).

The Great Minnesota Ski Pass

This pass is good for all State Park Trails and many ski trails that are groomed by local ski clubs. Ski clubs get money for grooming and maintenance through a grant-in-aid program. You can purchase it from any retailer that sells hunting or fishing licenses or online on the DNR website. Most of the revenue from any ski pass goes back into maintaining the trails for your use. Daily: $10. Annual: $25. Three-year: $70

Three Rivers Park District Ski Pass:

Three Rivers Park District includes these parks with ski trails: Baker, Carver, Cleary, Crow-Hassan, Eagle Lake, Elm Creek, French, Glen Lake, Hyland, Lake Rebecca, Murphy-Hanrehan. Various parks and trails require different passes. Please see their website for complete details. Daily: $6;$9. Annual: (All Parks: $75)(Natural Snow Parks: $55)

Washington County Ski Pass:

Washington County Parks no longer supports the Great Minnesota Ski Pass. Skiers must now purchase the Washington County ski pass. Passes can be purchased online, at a pay station, or at a park office. Daily $6. Annual $30

Cross-Country Ski Trails in the Twin Cities Metro Area:

Twin Cities Outdoors provides a brief but excellent overview of each of these sites, along with links to most of the park websites and winter park maps. After navigating to their website, click the dropdown menu for “Ski & Shoe” and select the desired county.

Beginner’s tip: It's very important to not walk on ski trails because it creates divots that can throw skiers off balance and make it hard to have a good experience. Those divots tend to get bigger over time, especially if the sun warms them and rocks and sticks come to the surface, which will damage ski bases and are a general hazard while skiing.

Anoka County:

Carver County:

Dakota County:

Hennepin County:

Ramsey County:

Scott County:

Washington County:

Callie Sacarelos