Cross-Country Skiing

16 km - Rated Easy to Intermediate

On the north shore of Lake Bemidji, Lake Bemidji State Park offers trails that are predominately tracked for classical skiing, with another 1.3 miles of skate skiing trails. Each trail offers beautiful scenery that winds through the deep forest and skirts the lake. You can also tour these trails by the glow of candlelight with the annual Candlelight ski. Consider, too, that just 30 miles away is Itasca State Park with over 13 miles of beautifully groomed trails.

Lake Bemidji State Trail Map

25 km - Rated Intermediate to Experienced

As the home course for the Minnesota Finlandia and Snowjourn races, Buena Vista is recognized as having some of the finest trails and scenery in the region. The up and down landscape of Buena Vista makes it an ideal skiing terrain as cross-country trails meander through pine and hardwood forests.

Buena Vista Trail Map

14.5 km - Rated Intermediate to Expert

Movil Maze offers over 14 kilometers of trails through forests and hills. Movil Maze has a heated lodge that is often open on weekends. This trail is a favorite training ground for local skiers. Entirely in the woods, single-track trails take you through black spruce bog land, red pine and mixed hardwood, with great rolling hills and sweeping corners.

Movil Maze Trail Map

25 km - Easy to Intermediate

Movil Maze offers over 14 kilometers of trails through forests and hills. Movil Maze has a heated lodge that is often open on weekends. This trail is a favorite training ground for local skiers. Entirely in the woods, single-track trails take you through black spruce bog land, red pine and mixed hardwood, with great rolling hills and sweeping corners.

Three Island Park Trail Map

28 km - Rated Easy, Intermediate, and Advanced

Surrounding the source of the Mississippi River, Itasca State Park has 13 miles of groomed trails for cross-country skiers for both skate and classical skiing. Along the route skiers see the legacy of Jacob Brower, the far-sighted surveyor who, in 1891, used his own salary to start piecing together Minnesota's first state park. Itasca also offers skijoring to its winter menu, with seven miles of trails available for visitors to enjoy with their dogs. Warming shelter, and ski trail information is available at Jacob Brower Visitor Center, typically open weekends and holidays during the winter season.

Itasca State Park Winter Map

7 km - Rated Easy

Home to the Bemidji High School Nordic Ski Teams, the trail is flat and easy; and groomed for classical and skate skiing. Close to downtown Bemidji, this is a great trail to get you started.

Bemidji High School Trail Map

7 km - Easy to Intermediate

This trail has special appeal for beginner and intermediate skiers. It is double-tracked for classic skiing. The trail runs through red and white pine, across a tamarack bog, and beside Lake Lyra. Owned by Bemidji State University, this beautiful forest is dedicated to environmental research and recreation.

C.V. Hobson Trail Map

3.5 km - Easy to Intermediate

This trail is on the south side Bemidji trail near Fern Lake and is groomed for classic and skate skiing. The trail is about 3.5 km of both easy and challenging sections. One scenic section takes skiers through a towering Norway pine stand.

Fern Lake Map