Please check our Facebook page for ski trail grooming updates! The ski/snowshoe season has ended and spring has arrived in Northern Minnesota. We look forward to seeing you when the snow flies! Below you will find some information about skiing and snowshoeing at Soaring Eagle. Please join us!
The gate to Soaring Eagle is open, the lot is plowed, and the trails are groomed and ready to go! Please remember that a MN Ski Pass is required for skiers ages 16 and above. No pass is required for snow shoeing.
Soaring Eagle Cross Country Ski Trails are located at 25467 US Hwy 71, 8 miles north of Park Rapids, and across from the Eagle View Golf Course. Look for sign on the west side of highway that leads to the trailhead. Itascatur built and continues to maintain and improve the trails for winter enjoyment by the public. It is a Minnesota Grant-in-aid trail system and requires a Minnesota Ski Pass for those age 16 and over. For Minnesota Ski Pass click here: MN Ski Pass. You can also buy ski passes anywhere you can buy fishing licenses. (In Park Rapids, try L&M Fleet, Delaney’s Sporting Goods, Northern Bait, or WalMart.)
The ski center consists of 10 km of marked and groomed trails through balsam pines and spruce. All trails are groomed classical and skate and are designed for beginner to expert skiers. Trails are groomed every Friday by Itascatur Club during the ski season and after any 2+ inches of snowfall.
Through fundraising efforts, state grant monies, and volunteer hours, the Itascatur Club built a beautiful warming house in 2003 which is open to the public during the ski season. The club also purchased a new snowmobile and gitzu grooming equipment in 2009 . This state-of-the-art equipment allows the groomers to provide excellent trails in varying snow conditions throughout the season.
Snowshoe trails are now completely flagged and new maps are up at the major trail junctions. The pink and yellow-green trails do have some branches under the snow, due to fallen aspens and other small trees. Also, use caution when you cross the thinning cuts, as there are still piles of branches there. The pink trail has some nice views over the wetlands. View our current map, and feel free to print or share it. The Avenza map is useful if you have the Avenza app on your phone. It’s complete, except that the trails are not differentiated, and most of the trail through the wetland is not on that map.
For more information on the Avenza mapping apps click here. View or download the snowshoe trail map.
Please check our Facebook page for ski trail and snowshoe trail grooming updates!
Ski Equipment
In 2009 the club purchased new ski equipment (skis, boots, and poles) for adults and children. In 2015, we added some children’s boots. This equipment can be checked out free of charge by youth or adult groups interested in having a fun outdoor winter activity. Such groups could include church groups, youth groups, Kinship, service organizations, businesses, etc.
Itascatur does not rent the ski equipment. Individuals can use the equipment during open houses scheduled throughout the winter months. Volunteer members will help you get started and answer your questions about the trails.
Interested groups can coordinate their ski event with an Itascatur member.