Friday, January 4, 2013
Voyageurs National Park News Release January 03, 2013 For Immediate Release Park Headquarters (218) 283~6600 VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK WINTER ICE AND TRAIL CONDITIONS REPORT Over the past week ice conditions have improved significantly on the large lakes in the area which has allowed for the opening of most snowmobile trails within in the park. Trails are generally in good condition but additional snow is needed on the land trails to provide a good base. There are pressure ridges present on area lakes that create a safety hazard when travelling the lake surface. Use extreme caution when travelling away from the staked trail and be aware of the possibility of encountering thin or rough ice, fish houses, skiers, and other snowmobiles. Starting next week, park crews will be out clearing brush along the portages and the Chain of Lakes Trail. Please use caution when travelling on these areas and watch for crews working on and alongside the trail. Following is the current status of the park’s trails. Green Trail from Frank’s Bay to Crane Lake Open and staked Blue trail from North Namakan to Sand point Open and staked Purple Trail from Rainy Lake VC to Kettle Falls Open and staked Yellow Trail from Ash River to Kettle Falls Open and staked Chain of Lakes trail Closed Echo Bay Ski Trail Open/packed Black Bay Ski Trail Open poor conditions Sullivan Bay Snowshoe trail Open Rainy Lake Ice Road Closed Kabetogama Ice Road Open from Kabetogama Visitor Center to Nebraska Bay.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Winter Ice and Trail Conditons Report 12/20/2012
Voyageurs Nationl Park Winter Ice and Trail Conditons Report.
Over the past week ice conditons have improved somewhat on the large lakes in the park. The green trail is currently open and staked from Frank's Bay on Rainy Lake to the Ash River Resort community. There are a few pressure ridges present on the Kabetogama Lake that have formed that create a safety hazard when travelling the lake surface. Use extreme caution when travelling away from the staked trail and be aware of the possibilty of encountering thin or rough ice, fish houses, and other snowmobilers.
There has been insufficient ice found for travel on Rainy, Namaken and Sand Point Lakes, Travel on these lakes is not recommended. Ice checking in Vouyageurs National Park wil continue to occure and and update on ice conditions and snowmobile trail status will be reported early next week.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Ice Report 12/6/12
Ice Report 12/6/12
Well as of yesterday all of Sand Bay appears to be froze up with no ice cracks visable. There is one over by Atsokan Island runnning NW towards the 11 bridge. We have about 4" of ice around shore then roughly 1/2mi - 3/4mi out thickness varies.
Travel is likey by this weekend, however proceed with caution! Swing into the Rainy Lake One Stop for your ice fishing necessities! We have gas, minnows, propane, tackle and your groceries! Good luck on the ice and always BE SAFE!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
2/22/12 Derby Weekend
Sunday February 26 from 1-4pm on Sandbay its derby day! Buy a $10.00 Ticket and win great prizes and a chance to win $5,000.00 as a grand prize enter to win fish prizes or just come out to enjoy a great day with the family
2/22/12 Let it Snow
WE HAVE MORE SNOW!
We received 7.8inches of snow Sunday Monday night. Our snowmobile trails were in good riding conditions before can you image how great they are now!!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
February 8, 2012
Voyageurs National Park Winter Trail Conditions Report
INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minnesota: All of Voyageurs National Park’s 110 miles of snowmobile trails and over 10 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails are now open and ready for visitors to enjoy. Winter trail conditions in the park are exceptional. Travel along the lake trails offers snowmobilers a ride through a national park with opportunities to view wildlife and scenic grandeur. Skiers will see numerous animal tracks and signs of wildlife as they travel through the forests.
Snowmobile Trails - see trail status list at end
Hazardous pressure ridges are still active creating standing water above the ice in some locations along the ridges. Snowmobilers must continue to use extreme caution and only cross the pressure ridges at designated crossings along the staked route. Slow travel speeds are highly recommended. Crews are grooming trails and will continue to do so as ice and snow conditions allow.
Outstanding scenery is one of the reasons why Voyageurs National Park was established. Please enjoy the scenery as you ride and follow the snowmobile speed limit of 45 mph on frozen lake surfaces and 25 mph on all overland portages. Speed limit signs are posted at trailheads and overland portages.
Ice Roads - see trail status list at end
The new 9-mile long Kabetogama Lake Ice Road is open for two way traffic and is being enjoyed by park visitors. The road follows a route along the south shore of Kabetogama Lake between the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center and the Ash River Visitor Center.
The Rainy Lake Ice Road is open to Cranberry Bay and around Dryweed Island.
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 greater than 50’ off the center of all ice roads and snowmobile trails. Written authorization from the park is required for individuals to plow any lake surfaces within the park.
(more)
Snowshoe Trails - see trail status list at end
The Sullivan Bay snowshoe trail is now open and tracked. This trail is located along the Ash River Visitor Center entrance road. Travel about two miles in on the entrance road and look for the snowshoe sign on your right that marks the trail.
The Blind Ash Bay snowshoe trail near the Ash River Visitor Center and the Oberholtzer snowshoe trail near the Rainy Lake Visitor Center are open, but not tracked.
Snowshoes are available for loan at the Rainy Lake Visitor near International Falls, Arrowhead Lodge in Kabetogama, and Ash Trail Lodge in Ash River. Take advantage of this opportunity to try this fun winter activity.
Cross-Country Ski Trails - see trail status list at end
The park has packed and tracked the Black Bay Ski Trails and the Tilson Connector Trail near the Rainy Lake Visitor Center as well as the Echo Bay Trail system in Kabetogama. All trails are in good condition.
The Rainy Lake Visitor Center near International Falls has adult-sized skis available for rent and children’s skis available for loan during business hours. The visitor center is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00am to 4:30pm.
Regular weekly winter trail conditions reports are available on our website at www.nps.gov/voya.
Snowmobile Trails
International Falls to Kettle Falls (Purple Trail) – Open & Staked
Rainy Lake/Black Bay to Kabetogama Lake to Ash River (Green Trail) – Open & Staked
Ash River to Crane Lake (Green Trail) – Open & Staked
Chain of Lakes (Dashed Black Trail) – Open & Staked
Ash River to Kettle Falls (Yellow Trail) – Open & Staked
East Namakan Lake to Sand Point Lake (Blue Trail) – Open & Staked
Ice Roads
Rainy Lake Ice Road – Open to Cranberry Bay and loop around Dryweed Island
Kabetogama Lake Ice Road – Open between the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center Boat Launch and the Ash River Visitor Center Boat Launch
Ski Trails
Echo Bay Ski Trail – Open, Packed & Tracked
Black Bay Ski Trail– Open, Packed & Tracked
Tilson Connector Trail– Open, Packed & Tracked
KabAsh Trail– Open
Snowshoe Trails
Blind Ash Bay Trail – Open
Sullivan Bay Trail – Open and tracked
Oberholtzer Trail – Open
INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minnesota: All of Voyageurs National Park’s 110 miles of snowmobile trails and over 10 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails are now open and ready for visitors to enjoy. Winter trail conditions in the park are exceptional. Travel along the lake trails offers snowmobilers a ride through a national park with opportunities to view wildlife and scenic grandeur. Skiers will see numerous animal tracks and signs of wildlife as they travel through the forests.
Snowmobile Trails - see trail status list at end
Hazardous pressure ridges are still active creating standing water above the ice in some locations along the ridges. Snowmobilers must continue to use extreme caution and only cross the pressure ridges at designated crossings along the staked route. Slow travel speeds are highly recommended. Crews are grooming trails and will continue to do so as ice and snow conditions allow.
Outstanding scenery is one of the reasons why Voyageurs National Park was established. Please enjoy the scenery as you ride and follow the snowmobile speed limit of 45 mph on frozen lake surfaces and 25 mph on all overland portages. Speed limit signs are posted at trailheads and overland portages.
Ice Roads - see trail status list at end
The new 9-mile long Kabetogama Lake Ice Road is open for two way traffic and is being enjoyed by park visitors. The road follows a route along the south shore of Kabetogama Lake between the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center and the Ash River Visitor Center.
The Rainy Lake Ice Road is open to Cranberry Bay and around Dryweed Island.
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 greater than 50’ off the center of all ice roads and snowmobile trails. Written authorization from the park is required for individuals to plow any lake surfaces within the park.
(more)
Snowshoe Trails - see trail status list at end
The Sullivan Bay snowshoe trail is now open and tracked. This trail is located along the Ash River Visitor Center entrance road. Travel about two miles in on the entrance road and look for the snowshoe sign on your right that marks the trail.
The Blind Ash Bay snowshoe trail near the Ash River Visitor Center and the Oberholtzer snowshoe trail near the Rainy Lake Visitor Center are open, but not tracked.
Snowshoes are available for loan at the Rainy Lake Visitor near International Falls, Arrowhead Lodge in Kabetogama, and Ash Trail Lodge in Ash River. Take advantage of this opportunity to try this fun winter activity.
Cross-Country Ski Trails - see trail status list at end
The park has packed and tracked the Black Bay Ski Trails and the Tilson Connector Trail near the Rainy Lake Visitor Center as well as the Echo Bay Trail system in Kabetogama. All trails are in good condition.
The Rainy Lake Visitor Center near International Falls has adult-sized skis available for rent and children’s skis available for loan during business hours. The visitor center is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00am to 4:30pm.
Regular weekly winter trail conditions reports are available on our website at www.nps.gov/voya.
Snowmobile Trails
International Falls to Kettle Falls (Purple Trail) – Open & Staked
Rainy Lake/Black Bay to Kabetogama Lake to Ash River (Green Trail) – Open & Staked
Ash River to Crane Lake (Green Trail) – Open & Staked
Chain of Lakes (Dashed Black Trail) – Open & Staked
Ash River to Kettle Falls (Yellow Trail) – Open & Staked
East Namakan Lake to Sand Point Lake (Blue Trail) – Open & Staked
Ice Roads
Rainy Lake Ice Road – Open to Cranberry Bay and loop around Dryweed Island
Kabetogama Lake Ice Road – Open between the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center Boat Launch and the Ash River Visitor Center Boat Launch
Ski Trails
Echo Bay Ski Trail – Open, Packed & Tracked
Black Bay Ski Trail– Open, Packed & Tracked
Tilson Connector Trail– Open, Packed & Tracked
KabAsh Trail– Open
Snowshoe Trails
Blind Ash Bay Trail – Open
Sullivan Bay Trail – Open and tracked
Oberholtzer Trail – Open
Friday, February 3, 2012
2/2/12
Rainy Lake and International Falls.
Ice fishing has been great on Rainy Lake, jigging with minnows in anywhere from 25 to 35 feet of water has been working well from sand Bay eastward to Cranberry Bay. The best places to look for lurking northern pike are around Black Bay and there are sporadic reports of crappie in Sand Bay.
Some of the best ice fishing spots have been opened up with the Park Service Ice Road around the north side of Dryweed Island and looping back to the Cranberry Bay Road. There are lots of spots to try with portable gear along both stretches of ice road. Access to the Park roads is at the ramp at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center.
The area snowmobile trails are in great shape and riding conditions will be excellent for the next several days. All the park service snowmobile trails are open and staked as are all the ski and snowshoe trails. To get the latest snowmobile trails reports, go to the local club’s website at www.ridetheborder.com where they usually post info after every grooming run.
For the most up-to-date information you can call the International Falls, Ranier and Rainy Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-325-5766.
Ice fishing has been great on Rainy Lake, jigging with minnows in anywhere from 25 to 35 feet of water has been working well from sand Bay eastward to Cranberry Bay. The best places to look for lurking northern pike are around Black Bay and there are sporadic reports of crappie in Sand Bay.
Some of the best ice fishing spots have been opened up with the Park Service Ice Road around the north side of Dryweed Island and looping back to the Cranberry Bay Road. There are lots of spots to try with portable gear along both stretches of ice road. Access to the Park roads is at the ramp at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center.
The area snowmobile trails are in great shape and riding conditions will be excellent for the next several days. All the park service snowmobile trails are open and staked as are all the ski and snowshoe trails. To get the latest snowmobile trails reports, go to the local club’s website at www.ridetheborder.com where they usually post info after every grooming run.
For the most up-to-date information you can call the International Falls, Ranier and Rainy Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-325-5766.
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