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 beginning Dec. 1 online or at the Lebanon Hills Visitor Center. Get your Ski Pass here.
Updated: Dec. 15 at 12:05 p.m.
Cross-Country Ski Trails Operations & Maintenance
At the beginning of the winter season, trails need a minimum of 6-8 inches of snow packed trails before they can be groomed with tracks set for classic-style skiing. Typically, ski trail maintenance begins after a snow event ends, though may be delayed due to higher priority snow removal needs in the park system.
Cross-Country Ski Trail Grooming Definitions
Trail Deck: Top of trail.
Packed: Trails are machine packed and have a flat top.
Corduroy: Packed trails have been finished with 1 inch grooves in the trail deck.
Tracked: Tracks are set for classic-style skiing.
Groomed: Trails are corduroyed for skate-style skiing, and tracks are set for classic-style skiing.
Cross-Country Ski Trail Definitions
Excellent: Recently groomed. Firm packed base, tracks are set and firm. No footprints, bare spots, or debris on the trail.
Good: Firm packed base, tracks are set and intact. No bare spots, no debris on the trail.
Fair: Mostly packed base, with inconsistent tracks. Sporadic bare and icy spots.
Poor: Little to no base, intermittent bare and icy spots. Intermittent debris and inconsistent quality.
Big Rivers Regional Trail
Paved Regional Trail: Open, plowed.
Mendota Trail closure: The trail is closed between Highway 55 and the Highway 13 crossing in Mendota for the city's water system expansion project. Trail users are detoured onto Highway 13 around the closure. For construction updates, view the city's project page.
Planned Trail closure: The Lone Oak Trailhead, the parking lot and a short segment of the nearby trail is closed for bridge construction. The trail may be accessed at the Big Rivers Trailhead. The construction area is closed to the public. View Minnesota River Greenway project page.
View Big Rivers Regional Trail page.
Dakota Woods Dog Park
Hiking Trails: Open. The water has been turned off for the season. Please plan to bring water and a bowl with you when you visit. Water is available on-site from May-October, weather dependent. Pass required .
View Dakota Woods Dog Park page.
Lake Byllesby Regional Park
Winter Multi-use Trails: Packed on Dec. 10.
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.
Classic-style Cross-Country Ski Trails: Open. Packed on Dec. 10. Tracked on Dec 11. Good conditions. Closed to hiking. Pass required.
Skate-style Cross-Country Ski Trails: Open, packed on Dec. 10. Good conditions. Closed to hiking. Pass required.
Mountain Bike Trails (West Trailhead): Open, snow covered.
Sidewalks around the Lebanon Hills Visitor Center: Open, plowed.
McDonough Lake Loop (paved trail): Open, plowed.
Visitor Center Sledding Hill: Open.
Ice Skating on Schulze Lake: Closed. Ice thickness: Approximately 4-5", poor conditions. No ice is safe ice.
Equestrian Trails & Equestrian Trailhead: Closed for season. Reopening in spring 2026. Closed to hiking.
View Lebanon Hills Regional Park page.
Miesville Ravine Park Reserve
Hiking Trails: Open.
View Miesville Ravine Park Reserve page.
Minnesota River Greenway
Paved Regional Trail: Open, plowed.
Nicols Road closure: Access to the Cedar Nicols Trailhead and parking lot will be closed due to a project on Nicols Road starting Dec. 8. The closure is anticipated to last 2 weeks. The greenway will remain open during the closure. Please access at the MN Riverfront Trailhead in Burnsville. View Metropolitan Council project webpage.
View Minnesota River Greenway page.
Mississippi River Greenway
Paved Regional Trail: Open, plowed.
Temporary closure: Construction repairs are anticipated to begin in spring 2026. In the meantime, the trail will remain closed between 117th Street and the Pine Bend Trailhead until the repairs can be completed. The detour is on a road with heavy traffic. We will post an update when the section is reopened. 
South Side detour map.
North Side Erosion Repairs
Due to winter weather, the Mississippi River Greenway erosion repairs between 100th Street E. and south of 102nd Street E will be completed in spring 2026.
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.
Planned Trail closure: The River to River Greenway segment between the Lilydale Trailhead and Marie Avenue is closed July 7 through Nov. 30 for construction and bridge replacement . A detour route is available. View project webpage.Detour Map
Trail closure: The paved trail on the west side of the park connecting Thompson Lake and the River to River Greenway is closed for the Pollinator Promenade and Stream Restoration project. It will be closed through spring 2026.
Access to the River to River Greenway is available using the paved trail by the Thompson Park Center. Please follow all construction and detour signage and keep out of construction area. View Pollinator Promenade project page.
View River to River Greenway page.
Spring Lake Park Reserve
Hiking Trails: Open, snow covered.
Classic-style Cross-Country Ski Trails: Packed and tracked on Dec. 10, fair conditions. Closed to hiking. Pass required.
Skate-style Cross-Country Ski Trails: Packed on Dec. 10, fair conditions. Closed to hiking. Pass required.
Sidewalks around the Schaar's Bluff Gathering Center: Open, plowed.
Mississippi River Greenway (paved trail): Open, plowed.
Archery Trail: Closed for the season. Pass required.
Temporary closure: Construction repairs are anticipated to begin in spring 2026. In the meantime, the trail will remain closed between 117th Street and the Pine Bend Trailhead until the repairs can be completed. The detour is on a road with heavy traffic. We will post an update when the section is reopened. South Side detour map.
North Side Erosion Repairs
Due to winter weather, the Mississippi River Greenway erosion repairs between 100th Street E. and south of 102nd Street E will be completed in spring 2026.
View Spring Lake Park Reserve page.
Thompson County Park
Hiking Trails: Open, snow covered.
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 paved trail on the west side of the park connecting Thompson Lake and the River to River Greenway is closed for the Pollinator Promenade and Stream Restoration project. It will be closed through spring 2026.
Access to the River to River Greenway is available using the paved trail by the Thompson Park Center. Please follow all construction and detour signage and keep out of construction area. View Pollinator Promenade project page.
View Thompson County Park page.
Vermillion River Greenway
Paved Regional Trail: Open, plowing will continue throughout the day.
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.
Classic-style Cross-Country Ski Trails: Packed and tracked on Dec. 10, fair conditions. Closed to hiking. Pass required.
Empire Lake Loop (paved trail): Open, plowed.
Sidewalks around the Empire Lake Shelter: Open, plowed.
Sledding Hill: Open.
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.
Hiking season schedule: The Lone Rock Trail is open to hiking through Nov. 8. Hiking will be closed for firearms deer hunting from Nov. 8 through Dec. 21.
Horseback riding season schedule: Lone Rock Trai l 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.
Cross-country skiing season schedule: Conditions permitting, the Lone Rock Trail is open for the 2025-20 26 season to cross-country skiing from Dec. 22 through March 31. Intermediate skill is required; the trail features rolling terrain with frequent short hill climbs and descents. Trails are one-way for skiers; follow blue diamond markers. Note: Skiers are urged to use caution from mid-December to early-January as pheasant, deer, and late- season goose hunting will be ongoing.
Lone Rock Trail: Closed.
View Lone Rock Trail page.