Cross-country skiers have another way to embrace the season in the far north. Set in the woods along Lake Superior in northern Minnesota, the Ski North Ultra gives participants a chance to enjoy a day in the woods.
The Ski North Ultra will take place on March 8, 2025. The classic-only event will begin and end at Cascade River State Park, located two hours north of Duluth. Racers can choose from three distances: 22k, 46k, and 100k, all with generous cut-offs. The course will include three interconnected trail systems—Norpine, Cascade River, and Bally Creek—making it the longest race in the region specifically designed for classic cross-country skiers.
Miles of beauty and exploration
Race coordinator Allie Rykken, who also works for the Loppet Foundation in the Twin Cities, has spent time on these trails and saw an opportunity for another recreational experience. She noticed that the area’s ski trails connect and offer miles of beauty and exploration. As a result, she created the event, which will be supported by fellow enthusiasts.
Rykken told MPRNews, “I kind of thought, why not put together a day where people can ski all of these trails? And if they want to race, great, but otherwise, you’ve got 12 hours to ski the 100K, so hopefully people can do it.” According to the race website, the trails are mostly beginner to intermediate level, with a few advanced sections. The event will feature classic-only skiing with groomed tracks, and racers can expect support from volunteer-run aid stations along the course.
The course follows along ancient continental bedrock. Ancient glaciers from the north scoured the area several times, leaving the present Lake Superior basin. Rivers and waterfalls continue to exert erosive forces throughout the region today. The trails wind through a patchwork of conifers, mixed hardwoods, and conifer bogs, all within the Superior National Forest.
There are other ultra-distance races throughout the season along the north shore. Those include the Superior 100 Mile Trail Race and the Lutsen 99er mountain bike race. The Ski North course is the longest cross-country-only classic ski race in the region. Rykken said she hopes that at least 100 participants sign up for the first year.
More info:
- Ski North Ultramarathon
- New 100-kilometer ski race scheduled for northern Minnesota this winter – MPRNews
Wilderness guide and outdoorswoman Pam Wright has been exploring wild places since her youth. Remaining curious, she has navigated remote lakes in Canada by canoe, backpacked some of the highest mountains in the Sierra Nevada, and completed a thru-hike of the Superior Hiking Trail. Her professional roles include working as a wilderness guide in northern Minnesota and providing online education for outdoor enthusiasts.