Cross Country Ski Trails
in North Dakota State Parks
North Dakota's state parks have an assortment of cross country ski trails designed to challenge novice and advanced skiers. In particular, Cross Ranch, Turtle River, Lake Metigoshe and Icelandic state parks offer excellent cross country skiing opportunities when winter descends on North Dakota.
While groomed trails can be found throughout the state, there are also areas where skiers can blaze their own trails through undisturbed snow.
Snowshoers, hikers and pets must stay off the groomed portions of state park ski trails...in particular, the "grooves" or tracks that skiers glide along.
Park Name |
Length |
Description |
| Beaver Lake | skiing allowed, no groomed trails | |
Cross Ranch (Sanger) |
10 miles |
marked/groomed, warming house, cabin rental |
Ft. Abraham Lincoln (Mandan) |
|
skiing allowed, no groomed trails |
Ft. Ransom (Ft. Ransom) |
6.5 miles |
marked/groomed, warming house |
Ft. Stevenson (Garrison) |
3 miles |
marked/groomed |
Grahams Island (Devils Lake) |
3.5 miles |
marked/groomed |
Icelandic (Cavalier) |
5 miles |
marked/groomed |
Lake Metigoshe (Bottineau) |
11 miles |
marked/groomed, ski rentals, warming house, cabin rentals |
Lake Sakakawea (Pick City) |
skiing allowed, no groomed trails |
|
Lewis & Clark (Williston) |
4 miles |
skiing allowed, no groomed trails |
Turtle River (Arvilla) |
7.5 miles |
marked/groomed, warming house |
Current Trail Conditions
Cross Ranch State Park: (2/2/10) Cross Country ski trails were groomed Friday, Jan. 29, and are in excellent condition. The trails have a good 8-inch base layer. Trails will be groomed Friday, Feb. 5, weather permitting and we expect the trails to be in great shape for the upcoming weekend. The Visitor Center will be open on the weekends but hours may vary. Pets and snowshoes are not allowed on the groomed cross country ski trails. Snowshoers are welcome but encouraged to use non-groomed areas of the park.
Fort Ransom State Park: (2/8/10) The park got about 8 inches of snow over the weekend. When the wind quits blowing it around we will groom the ski trails. Hopefully by Wednesday or Thursday we will have them groomed. Ski trail conditions are reported on the message on the park’s answering machine (701) 972-4331.
Fort Stevenson State Park: (1/7/10) Trails are groomed and track set with about eight inches of snow.
Graham Island State Park: (2/1/10) The trail system is in great shape, with a packed base of around 10 to 12 inches. There are a few small pillow drifts in the open meadow trail, but the remainder of the trails in the trees are smooth. The trails will again be tracked on Friday, February 5. Come out and enjoy the cross country wki trails at Grahams Island State Park.
Icelandic State Park: (2/9/10) The park has received several inches of new snow. Trails will be groomed 2/11 or 2/12. Conditions should be very good to excellent. Please note that we have groomed a couple separate paths for snowshoe use but not on the trails in the nature preserve as trails are too narrow through the trees. One shoeshoe trail is adjacent to the groomed ski trail in the campground, another is at a separate location in the park.
Lake Metigoshe State Park: (2/9/10)) The park has received approximately 6 inches of new snow since this last Saturday. Unofficial total snowfall for the winter is approx. 48”. Cross Country Ski trails at LMSP are being groomed today – if everything goes well, we expect that all trails will be groomed and in “EXCELLENT” condition by days end. Warming House is open daily from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. Cross Country ski rentals are available at Warming House daily. Sledding Hill is open daily.
Turtle River State Park: (2/4/10) Trail conditions are good. The forecast is calling for highs in the twenties and possible flurries throughout the weekend. Currently there is about an 8-inch base for the ski trails. The trails were groomed on Thursday, Jan. 28., grooming this weekend will be dependent on snowfall. Hiking and snowshoeing is welcomed in the park, please use areas other than groomed ski trails. The Chalet / Warming House is open for public use – 10am-5pm, daily. The upstairs, rental space, of the Chalet hosts approximately 50 people nicely for birthday parties, meetings, and other gatherings. Rent is $75/day (8am-10pm). Our Woodland Lodge and Visitor Center Classroom are also available for rent – year round. Check the “Online Services” link for more details and availability for any of these rental possibilities.
