IVSC

The following was posted Thursday at the International Voyageurs Snowmbile Club website at: http://www.ridetheborder.com/trail-report.html

“The winter’s cold grip just doesn’t seem to want to let go. Friday sounds like a great day, and the weekend doesn’t sound to bad either. My advice to all is to get out and enjoy the scenery, the fresh crisp air and the best groomed trails you can find. Even with the extreme cold, our operators are still out there doing their job. So get out there and have some fun, and remember to ride safe.”

VNP

All snowmobile trails in Voyageurs National Park are open and staked. Snowmobile trails are in good condition with some drifting on larger lake surfaces.

The snowmobile speed limit within the park is 45 mph on frozen lake surfaces and 25 mph on all overland portages. Speed limit signs are posted at trailheads and overland portages.

The Rainy Lake Ice Road is open around Dryweed Island and up to Dove Bay. The Kabetogama Lake Ice Road is open from the Kabetogama Lake boat launch to the Ash River boat launch.

To reduce hazards to snowmobile users, all ice blocks are to be immediately chopped up, submerged, or hauled to land. Placement of equipment or any type of structure must be more than 50 feet off the edge of all ice roads and 50 feet off the centerline of all snowmobile trails. Written authorization from the park is required for individuals to plow more than 300 feet on any lake surfaces within the park.

All snowshoe trails are open. Echo Bay, Black Bay, and Tilson Connector ski trails are all open, packed, and tracked.

The Rainy Lake Visitor Center is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. During business hours, the visitor center offers maps, information, hot cocoa, snowshoe loans, and cross-country ski rentals.

Weekly winter trail conditions reports are available at www.nps.gov/voya.

Snowmobile trails

International Falls to Kettle Falls (Purple Trail) – Open and staked
Rainy Lake/Black Bay to Kabetogama Lake to Ash River (Green Trail) – Open and staked
Ash River to Crane Lake (Green Trail) – Open and staked
Chain of Lakes (Dashed Black Trail) – Open and staked
Ash River to Kettle Falls (Yellow Trail) – Open and staked
East Namakan Lake to Sand Point Lake (Blue Trail) – Open and staked

Ice roads

Rainy Lake Ice Road – Open around Dryweed Island and to Dove Bay
Kabetogama Lake Ice Road – Open

Ski trails

Echo Bay Ski Trail – Open, packed, and tracked
Black Bay Ski Trail – Open, packed, and tracked
Tilson Connector Trail – Open, packed, and tracked
KabAsh Trail – Open

Snowshoe trails

Black Bay Beaver Pond Trail – Open
Blind Ash Bay Trail – Open
Oberholtzer Trail – Open and packed
Sullivan Bay Trail – Open and packed