Cross-Country Skiing

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Cross-country ski trail at Tamarack Nature Center

Ramsey County provides 40 km of marked and groomed cross-country ski trails at five locations. The city of Saint Paul provides 20 km of ski trail at four locations.

Trail conditions are available for each park below. County staff post updates every Friday and as needed.

Buy ski passes online

Subscribe to ski trail email or text updates

​Ski rules and trail guidelines

  • Ramsey County groomed trails are for cross-country ski use only. No snowshoeing, hiking, biking, skijoring, sledding or pets. See the city of Saint Paul cross-country ski webpage for a list of designated areas where additional activities are allowed.
  • Skate skiing is only permitted at Battle Creek West and designated city of Saint Paul ski areas.
  • Motorized vehicles are prohibited on trails.
  • Ski trails are one-way unless otherwise marked. Observe all arrows and do not enter signs.

Passes

Ramsey County and the city of Saint Paul uses a mutual ski pass. Ramsey County no longer accepts the Great Minnesota Ski Pass. 

Passes may be purchased online now or in person at Battle Creek Recreation Center, Como Park Ski Center, Highland National Golf Course and Tamarack Nature Center starting in December. Passes will be emailed to the pass holder. They must be printed or kept on a mobile device and produced upon request of park staff on the trails.

All-access pass

For use of all natural snow ski trails plus the lighted machine-made trails in the Winter Recreation Area at Battle Creek.

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Annual all-access pass

$80

Additional household member on annual pass $40
Daily all-access pass $15
Youth 12 years and under Free

Natural snow pass

Allows use of groomed natural snow cross-country ski trails throughout Ramsey County and Saint Paul. This pass does not include machine-made snow trails at the Winter Recreation Area at Battle Creek.

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Annual natural snow pass $35
Daily natural snow pass $6
Youth 12 years and under Free

Learn to ski and other winter programs

Find upcoming dates for all of our family-friendly winter activities on our programs page.

Equipment rental

Ski rentals are available at Tamarack Nature Center, Battle Creek Recreation Center, Highland National Golf Course and Como Park Ski Center. Rentals can be reserved in person on a first-come-first-serve basis. 

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Winter Recreation Area at Battle Creek $12 - daily all-access ski pass included.
Tamarack Nature Center $12
Highland National Golf Course and Como Park Ski Center $15

Trail information

Find trail maps, conditions, parking information and trail specifics.

Winter Recreation Area at Battle Creek

Battle Creek Regional Park East

Rice Creek Regional Trail

Tamarack Nature Center

Vadnais-Snail Lakes Regional Park

City of Saint Paul Trails

Trail rating guide

  • Excellent: Track freshly set or in similar condition with consistent base. No bare spots. No ice.
  • Good: Track in condition near to freshly set. Some bare spots not seriously affecting skiability. Some icy spots.
  • Fair: Track beginning to deteriorate, some areas of track obliterated. Some bare spots beginning to affect skiability. Icy spots beginning to affect skiability.
  • Poor: Track deteriorated over much of trail. Lots of bare spots. Icy spots beginning to affect skiability.
  • Closed: Lack of snow or dangerously icy or extremely cold conditions.