Winter is a wonderful time of year to get outside to see wildlife, enjoy the solitude of our forests, and use the trails. With proper clothing and gear, you forget the cold and enjoy the season.
There are lots of options to enjoy winter activities in our own backyard. Try cross-country skiing (classical and skate) on the groomed trails in Memorial Park and at Mississippi National Golf Links. The Great Minnesota Ski Pass is required for users age 16 and older and may be purchased online, by phone (1-888-665-4236) or in person at Ranger Station at Frontenac State Park. For more information, go to The Great Minnesota Ski Pass. No need to worry about bringing a headlamp as the groomed ski trails on the front nine of Mississippi National Golf Links are lighted in the morning and in the evening. Information about ski equipment rental, both classical and skate, is available through Community Recreation at 651-385-4565.
Try snowshoeing, hiking, or dog walking in Memorial Park. Just follow the green directional arrows and green ribbon to explore the established park trails. Or create an adventure of your own making and blaze your own trail anywhere in the park except on the groomed cross-country skiing trails. Another great option for snowshoeing, hiking, dog walking is to explore the trails that are available on Billings-Tomfohr Conservation Area.
To accommodate all different users on the trails in Memorial Park and Mississippi National, please follow these rules:
- Cross-Country skiers use the groomed ski trails.
- Snowshoers, hikers, dog walkers, and skijorers can use the snowshoe trails. To access these trails, users can go to: the entrance of Memorial Park on East Seventh Street, by the Mississippi National Driving Range, from the parking lot at Mississippi National, the Cow Path off Bluff Street or the trail off Wilkinson Street. Follow the green arrows and ribbon.
- If you snowshoe or hike by the groomed ski trails in Memorial Park or at Mississippi National Golf Links, please stay to the left of the groomed ski trails and stay in that lane while using them. Please keep dogs off the groomed ski trails.
- Additional options for snowshoers, hikers, dog walkers, and skijorers include: Billings-Tomfohr Conservation Area, Goodhue-Pioneer Trail, Colvill Park, AP Anderson Park and Hay Creek Recreational Area.
Trail maps for Memorial Park and Billings-Tomfohr Conservation Area are available on the Friends of the Bluffs and the City of Red Wing websites
We hope to see you on the trails! Explore and embrace winter and all its beauty.
Article written and provided by Friends of the Bluffs