The Twin Cities has some beautifully-groomed cross country ski trails in many of its parks. While not all of them groom for skate skiing, many of them do. Here’s a list for you skate skiers who want to find great skiing in the Twin Cities:
(NOTE: Anoka County and Washington County have reciprocity with their annual park passes. Buy yours in one of those counties and it’s good in both.)
Skate Ski in Anoka County
Anoka Nature Preserve in Anoka grooms a 3-mile multi-use trail suitable for skate skiing (no classic tracks). You may be sharing the trail with hikers and snowshoers, so be aware. No ski pass needed.
Bunker Hills Regional Park in Coon Rapids/Andover has the biggest network of cross country ski trails in Anoka County—20 km. There are trails groomed for both classic and skate within the park and also on Bunker Hills Golf Course. Anoka County Parks no longer require a ski pass to use their trails, but you’ll an Anoka County Parks permit to leave your vehicle within the park.
Chamonix Golf Course in Lino Lakes offers 10 km of groomed ski trails for both classic and skate. Part of the trail system is multi-use. No parking or ski pass needed.
Green Haven Golf Course in Anoka grooms both classic and skate trails over 3.2 miles when conditions are right. Please stay on the trails and mind your manners here so they continue to do so! Check their website for trail conditions. No ski or parking pass needed.
Rum River Central Regional Park in Ramsey grooms 8 km of ski trails for both classic and skate. These are a bit on the hilly side for intermediate/advanced skiers. You don’t need a ski pass, but do need the Anoka County Parks vehicle permit (which isn’t available at the park).
Ski trail conditions: Anoka County Parks
Skate Ski in Carver County
Baylor Regional Park in Norwood Young America hosts 4.5 km of groomed ski trails for both classic and skate. No ski pass needed and no park pass needed.
Carver Park Reserve in Victoria has a the largest network in the county, over 11 miles of ski trails for both classic and skate skiers. You’ll need the Three River Parks Ski Pass.
Lake Minnewashta Regional Park in Chanhassen grooms 6 miles of cross country ski trails for both classic and skate. No ski pass needed and no park pass needed.
Ski trail conditions: Three Rivers Parks • Carver County Parks: call 952-466-5237 or follow their Facebook page.
Skate Ski in Dakota County
Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan offers 2-1/2 miles of skate skiing at the West Trailhead, which is the mountain bike park. That means lots of hills if you like a challenge! You don’t need a park pass in Dakota County, but you’ll need their ski pass.
Lake Byllesby Regional Park in Cannon Falls has a 5 km multi-use trail for skate skiers that’s also shared with snowshoers, winter hikers, skijorers and dog sledders. No ski pass needed.
Lone Rock Trail in Rosemount is part of the U of M. 18 km of cross country ski trails are groomed for both classic and skate. No ski pass is needed there.
Ritter Farm Park in Lakeville has 10 km of groomed trails for both classic and skate skiing. You’ll need the Minnesota Ski pass.
Spring Lake Park Reserve grooms about 1-1/2 miles of skate ski trails in the Schaar’s Bluff section. You’ll need the Dakota County ski pass.
Ski trail conditions: Dakota County Parks
Skate Ski in Hennepin County
Baker Park Reserve in Maple Plane grooms 9 miles of trails for both classic and skate. Skate skis are available for rental online. You’ll need the Three Rivers ski pass.
Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove is well-known around the Cities its almost-12 miles of great skiing, both classic and skate. They make snow there, too, and have some lighted trails. A longer ski season and a longer ski day! You’ll need the Three Rivers ski pass. Rentals are available online.
French Regional Park in Plymouth groom 6 miles of ski trails, including skate. Rentals are available online and you’ll need the Three Rivers ski pass. Some of the trails are lighted.
Hiawatha Golf Course in Minneapolis grooms 4 km of classic and skate ski trails that take you over the gentle hills there. Easy terrain, so great for beginners. You’ll need the ski pass from The Loppet Foundation.
Hyland Lake Park Reserve in Bloomington grooms 9.5 miles of classic and skate ski trails, 5 of which are lighted. They also make some snow, giving you a longer season on 3 miles of the trails. You’ll need the Three Rivers ski pass.
Theodore Wirth Regional Park in Minneapolis has 23 km of groomed trails between the North and South sections, for more classic and skate. That’s a lot of ski potential in the heart of the city. You’ll need The Loppet Foundation ski pass.
Ski trail conditions: The Loppet Foundation • Three Rivers Parks
Skate Ski in Ramsey County
Battle Creek Regional Park West in Maplewood grooms 13 km of classic and skate trails, 4 km of which are lighted. You’ll need the Ramsey County ski Pass. There are regular ski events here, just fyi.
Como Golf Course in Saint Paul grooms 5 km of both classic and skate trails, 1.7 km is lighted for night skiing. You’ll need the Ramsey County ski Pass.
Highland 9 Gold Course in Saint Paul grooms 3.5 km of trails for both classic and skate skiing. You’ll need the Ramsey County ski Pass.
Phalen Golf Course in Saint Paul grooms 7 km of cross country trails as well, for both classic and skate. You’ll need the Ramsey County ski Pass.
Vadnais-Snail Lake Regional Park in Vadnais Heights/Shoreview grooms some of their trails for both classic and skate. Foot and snowshoe traffic is also allowed, so the trails aren’t in perfect condition. You’ll need the Ramsey County ski Pass.
Ski trail conditions: City of Saint Paul • subscribe to ski trail email updates
Skate Ski in Scott County
Cleary Lake Regional Park in Prior Lake offer 6 miles of groomed cross country trails for both classic and skate. You’ll need the Three Rivers Ski Pass.
Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve grooms 9 miles of trails for both classic and skate. These hilly, challenging trails are best for advanced skiers. You’ll need the Three Rivers Ski Pass.
Ski trail conditions: Three Rivers Parks
Skate Ski in Washington County
Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park in Cottage Grove has one 4.5 km loop for skate skiing included in its total 8 km trails. Best for intermediate and advanced skiers. You’ll need a Washington or Anoka County park pass and the Washington County ski pass.
Lake Elmo Park Reserve in Lake Elmo offers 20 km of beautiful trails for beginning and intermediate skiers, both classic and skate. Almost 9 km of these are lighted for night skiing. You’ll need a Washington or Anoka County park pass and the Washington County ski pass.
Pine Point Regional Park in Stillwater grooms 4 miles of cross country trails for both classic and skate skiing. You’ll need a Washington or Anoka County park pass and the Washington County ski pass.
Sunfish Lake Park in Lake Elmo maintains 9 miles of ski trails for classic and skate. No ski pass is needed.
William O’Brien State Park in Marine on St. Croix is the only one of the state parks in the metro area that grooms for skate skiing as well as classic. There are 12 miles of trails here. You’ll need a state park pass and the Minnesota Ski Pass.
Ski trail conditions: MN DNR • Washington County Parks
Twin Cities Ski & Shoe Guide
Published in 2021, our 55-page digital Ski & Shoe Guide is the easiest way to find cross country ski and snowshoe trails in all seven counties of the Twin Cities metro area.