Como Park Skiing
A great place for cross country or beginner downhill. We took Sam to ski lessons there last year and it is perfect for learning and the price is right, $10 for kids $15 for adults and they have special Friday night skis as well, $50.00/family of 5. They offer rental for both downhill and cross country so if you don’t have equipment – you can get it.
They are open from 10am -9pm through Dec 30th but you might want to check out their hours if you are going some other time as the hours vary and they are closed on some week days as well during the normal non-Holiday week and watch out for Saturday morning Dec, 29th, they are having a cross country ski race there and the traffic might be pretty hectic. The cross country trails are lit for night skiing too!
You can find out more details about Como Park Skiing Here:
http://www.stpaul.gov/DocumentCenter/View/61100
Other metro area ski hills include:
Afon Alps http://www.aftonalps.com/, Wild Mountain http://www.wildmountain.com/,
Welch Village, http://www.welchvillage.com/, Trollhaugan, http://www.trollhaugen.com/, Buck Hill, www.buckhill.com/
If you are able to head up to Duluth you can enjoy Chester Bowl or Spirit Mountain. There is no daily rental at Chester Bowl so you would need your own equipment but the price is right at $5.25 for a daily ticket! I am looking forward to going there this weekend!
http://www.chesterbowl.org/, http://www.spiritmt.com/
Additional Cross Country options are following:
Woodlake Nature Center in Richfield
Free cross country and snow shoeing trails. My favorite event that they do is lantern lit night skiing with hot chocolate at the lodge – the event is described on their web site. They also have equipment rental if you need that.
http://www.cityofrichfield.org/index.aspx?page=262&recordid=776
Lake Elmo Park Reserve has illuminated trails for night skiing and other Washington County parks are listed here:
http://www.co.washington.mn.us/index.aspx?nid=1633
Three Rivers Park District skiing:
http://www.threeriversparks.org/activities/cross-country-skiing.aspx
Lebanon Hills and other Dakota County Parks
http://www.co.dakota.mn.us/parks/Activities/CrossCountySki/Pages/default.aspx
Keep in mind you will need to purchase a x-country ski pass to ski at all of the state parks. You can purchase them here:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/skipass/index.html
HAPPY TRAILS!
