Trail conditions are updated as conditions change. Winter hiking trails are not machine packed and can be used for hiking and snowshoeing. Cross-country ski trails are for skiers only
— no hiking, snowshoeing, biking or dog walking is allowed on ski trails when snow covered. Ski passes are required for skiers 18 and older and may be purchased online or at the Lebanon Hills Visitor Center.
Learn more about the Ski Pass.
Updated: Jan. 14 at 9:55 a.m.
Cross-country ski trails operations & maintenance
At the beginning of the winter season, trails need at least 6-8 inches of snow packed before they can be groomed with tracks set for classic-style skiing. Ski trail maintenance begins after a snow event ends. It could be delayed due to higher priority snow removal needs in the park system.
Cross-country ski trail grooming definitions
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Trail deck: Top of trail.
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Packed: Trails are machine packed and have a flat top.
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Corduroy: Packed trails have been finished with 1-inch grooves in the trail deck.
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Tracked: Tracks are set for classic-style skiing.
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Groomed: Trails are corduroyed for skate-style skiing, and tracks are set for classic-style skiing.
Cross-country ski trail definitions
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Excellent: Recently groomed. Firm packed base, tracks are set and firm. No footprints, bare spots, or debris on the trail.
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Good: Firm packed base, tracks are set and intact. No bare spots, no debris on the trail.
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Fair: Mostly packed base, with inconsistent tracks. Sporadic bare and icy spots.
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Poor: Little to no base, intermittent bare and icy spots. Intermittent debris and inconsistent quality.
Big Rivers Regional Trail
Paved Regional Trail: Open, plowed.
View Big Rivers Regional Trail page.
Dakota Woods Dog Park
Hiking Trails: Open. Snow covered and may be packed by foot traffic. Pass required.
View Dakota Woods Dog Park page.
Lake Byllesby Regional Park
Winter Multi-use Trails:
Open. Snow covered, not packed.
Lake Walk Trail (paved trail): Open, plowed.
View Lake Byllesby Regional Park page.
Lake Marion Greenway
Paved Regional Trail: Open, plowed.
View Lake Marion Greenway page.
Lebanon Hills Regional Park
Hiking Trails: Open. Snow covered and may be packed by foot traffic.
Classic-style Cross-Country Ski Trails: Open. Snow covered, not packed. Pass required.
Skate-style Cross-Country Ski Trails: Open. Snow covered, not packed. Pass required.
Mountain Bike Trails (West Trailhead): Open. Snow covered, packed by fat tire bikes.
North Creek Greenway: Open, plowed.
Sidewalks around the Lebanon Hills Visitor Center: Open, plowed.
McDonough Lake Loop (paved trail): Open, plowed.
Visitor Center Sledding Hill: Closed due to thin snow cover.
Ice Skating on Schulze Lake: Open. Ice measured 10 - 12 inches on Jan. 9. Note: Ice is never 100% safe.
Equestrian Trails
& Equestrian Trailhead:
Closed for season. Reopening in spring 2025.
View Lebanon Hills Regional Park page.
Miesville Ravine Park Reserve
Hiking Trails: Open. Snow covered and may be packed by foot traffic.
View Miesville Ravine Park Reserve page.
Minnesota River Greenway
Paved Regional Trail: Open, plowed; Nichols Road closure will impact access.
Nichols Road closure
From January -March 2025, Nichols Road will be closed to vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic, impacting access to the Cedar-Nicols Trailhead. The Minnesota River Greenway will remain open during the road closure. Trail users can access the greenway at the Minnesota Riverfront Park Trailhead. For more information, visit the
Metropolitan Council's project webpage.
View Minnesota River Greenway page.
Mississippi River Greenway
Paved Regional Trail: Open, plowed; Rosemount-East segment closed due to construction.
Trail Closure: A section of the Mississippi River Greenway is closed for natural resources restoration through January 17th. The closure is East of the Schaar's Bluff Gathering Center between 127th St. East and Isadore Ave.
Swing Bridge Park amenities closed, trailhead remains open
The City of Inver Grove Heights' Swing Bridge Park, including the picnic shelter, interpretive exhibits, and Rock Island Swing Bridge pedestrian pier, is closed from Sept. 16, 2024 through May 2025 for a bridge lighting project.
Dakota County's Swing Bridge Park Trailhead on the Mississippi River Greenway, which includes the parking lot, restroom building, and access to the Mississippi River Greenway, will remain open during the project.
Rosemount-East section still closed for construction
The final section of the Mississippi River Greenway — from Pine Bend Bluffs Trailhead to the Fahey Trailhead — will be open for public use later this year. Construction is still active along the segment. Please respect trail closure signage and do not attempt to use the trail. Information on the official opening will be announced when available.
View Mississippi River Greenway page.
North Creek Greenway
Paved Regional Trail: Open, plowed.
View North Creek Greenway page.
River to River Greenway
Paved Regional Trail: Open, plowed.
Trail Closure: The River to River Greenway segment between the Lilydale Trailhead and Marie Ave is closed through February for the creek improvements project. A detour route is available. View project webpage. 
Detour Map.
View River to River Greenway page.
Spring Lake Park Reserve
Hiking Trails: Open. Snow covered and may be packed by foot traffic.
Trail closure: Watch for brief, intermittent closures and work areas Jan. 7-17 in the park area along Schaar's Bluff just east of the Schaar's Bluff Gathering Center related to tree work and natural resource restoration work. Work areas will be signed.
Classic-style Cross-Country Ski Trails: Open. Snow covered, not packed. Pass required.
Skate-style Cross-Country Ski Trails: Open. Snow covered, not packed. Pass required.
Sidewalks around the Schaar's Bluff Gathering Center: Open, plowed.
Mississippi River Greenway (paved trail): Open, plowed.
Trail Closure: A section of the Mississippi River Greenway is closed for natural resources restoration through January 17th. The closure is East of the Schaar's Bluff Gathering Center between 127th St. East and Isadore Ave.
Archery Trail: Open to winter hiking. Archery ranges and stations are closed for archery use for the season.
Pine Bend Trail permanent closure
Pine Bend Trail is permanently closed from Fischer Avenue east to Furlong Trail. Visitors to the Fahey Trailhead, the Mississippi River Greenway, and the Bison Prairie, should use Fahey Avenue from Highway 55.
Pine Bend Trail Closures Map
View Spring Lake Park Reserve page.
Thompson County Park
Hiking Trails: Open. Snow covered and may be packed by foot traffic.
Thompson Lake Loop (paved trail): Open, plowed.
Sidewalks around Thompson Park Center: Open, plowed.
River to River Greenway (paved trail): Open, plowed.
Trail Closure: The River to River Greenway segment between the Lilydale Trailhead and Marie Ave is closed through February for the creek improvements project. A detour route is available. View project webpage. Detour Map.
View Thompson County Park page.
Vermillion River Greenway
Paved Regional Trail: Open, plowed.
View Vermillion River Greenway page.
Veterans Memorial Greenway
Paved Regional Trail: Open, plowed.
View Veterans Memorial Greenway page.
Whitetail Woods Regional Park
Hiking Trails: Open. Snow covered and may be packed by foot traffic.
Planned Trail Closure: Hiking trails on the southwest side of Empire Lake between intersections 2, 6 and 1 will be closed for goat browsing beginning Jan. 17. The paved trail around Empire Lake will remain open. The closure is anticipated to last until mid-February.
View Goat Browsing webpage.
Classic-style Cross-Country Ski Trails: Open. Snow covered, not packed. Pass required.
Empire Lake Loop (paved trail): Open, plowed.
Sidewalks around the Empire Lake Shelter: Open, plowed.
Sledding Hill: Closed due to thin snow cover.
View Whitetail Woods Regional Park page.
UMORE PARK-The Lone Rock Trail
UMORE Park is owned and operated by the University of Minnesota. No parking fee is required for parking. The trail is open from sunrise to sunset with the exception of a 10 a.m. opening time during the months of May and October (this is to minimize disturbance to spring turkey hunters and fall archery deer hunters during prime hunting periods).The Lone Rock Trail is a multi-use trail. Hiking, dogs on leash, skiing and snowshoeing are all permitted on the trail.
Horseback riding season schedule: Lone Rock Trail will be open for equestrian riding from May 1 through Oct. 31 each year. The trail will be closed to equestrian use from Nov. 1 through April 30 to allow for firearms deer hunting and cross-country skiing.
Hiking season schedule: The Lone Rock Trail is open to hiking through Nov. 8. Hiking will be closed for firearms deer hunting from Nov. 9 through Dec. 15.
Cross-country skiing season schedule: Conditions permitting, the Lone Rock Trail is open for the 2024-2025 season to cross-country skiing from Dec.16 through March 31. Skiers are urged to use caution from mid-December to early-January as pheasant and late season goose hunting will be ongoing.
Lone Rock Trail: Open. Snow covered, not packed.
View Lone Rock Trail page.