Alerts & Conditions

Campsite closures

For current campsite closure information, check our Permits & Reservations page

 

Alerts

 

 

Current Conditions

 

Rainy Lake Ice Road

NPS Photo/Heibel

Winter Trails Report: January 15th, 2025
Conditions are improving throughout the park! The ice roads on both Rainy Lake and Kabetogama Lake have been opened and extended. More snowmobile trails are open, with more opening by this weekend. Crews are continuing to check ice on the lakes where trails are not yet open, including the Purple, Yellow, Black, and Blue Trails.
If you go out on a frozen lake, be extremely careful near pressure ridges. Avoid these treacherous spots when possible! They can be difficult to see in conditions with low visibility. Be cautious while on land portages, as they are still a bit rough and could use more snow. The Black Bay, Sullivan Bay, and Moose River Grade portages should be groomed later this week. There is enough snow on the lakes to run snowmobiles without the risk of overheating, although traction is lacking in some places.
Be sure to exercise caution in these and other hazardous areas where the ice is still thin: sand bars, shorelines, and shallow areas. Ice is never 100% safe!
Bookmark this webpage to find weekly winter trail reports and find out which trails across the lakes are closed or open. Scroll to the end of the page for links to other regional trail reports.

 

Kabetogama Ice Road

NPS Photo/Nevalainen

SNOWMOBILE TRAILS
Purple Trail (International Falls to Kettle Falls): CLOSED
Green Trail (Rainy Lake/Black Bay to Kabetogama Lake to Ash River): Open Portages will be groomed by this weekend
Green Trail (Ash River to Crane Lake): Open Portages not groomed
Dashed Black Trail Chain of Lakes: Open will be staked but not groomed by this weekend
Yellow Trail (Ash River to Kettle Falls): CLOSED
Blue Trail (East Namakan Lake to Sand Point Lake): CLOSED

ICE ROADS
Rainy Lake Ice Road: Open by this weekend
Rainy Lake Dryweed Loop: CLOSED
Kabetogama Lake Ice Road: Open from Kab VC to Ash River VC
Kabetogama Lake Ice Road West and East Spur Roads: CLOSED

SKI TRAILS
Echo Bay Ski Trail: Open; packed and tracked
Rainy Lake Rec Trail: Open; packed and tracked
Black Bay Ski Trail: Open; novice loop packed
Tilson Connector Trail: Open; packed and tracked by this weekend

SNOWSHOE TRAILS
Rainy Lake Recreation Trail: Open
Oberholtzer Trail: Open
Black Bay Beaver Pond Trail: Open
Kab-Ash Trail: Open
Blind Ash Bay Trail: Open
Sullivan Bay Trail: Open

KABETOGAMA LAKE RECREATION AREA
Sledding Hill: Open; more snow than last week, but still some bare spots to watch
Ice Rink: CLOSED

For information on the land trails in communities nearby check out these links:
Voyageur Trail Society - Trail Updates
International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club Trail Report
Snow Depth and Groomed Trail Conditions | Minnesota DNR
Ash River Kabetogama Snowdrifters Trail Reports
Ash River Kabetogama Snowdrifters Facebook Page
Polar Polers Ski Club Facebook Page

 

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