Winter Patrol Activities

Click HERE for Winter Event Patrol schedule.

    Although the Backcountry Trail Patrol is normally thought of as a mountain bike patrol, we are much more than what our Training Officer, Mike Randall, called "a mountain bike patroller who gets bored in the winter." The roots of the Backcountry Patrol go back to 1992, when the same park rangers who would start the bike patrol three years later, were given responsibility for the volunteer ski patrol in the Anoka County Parks. The rangers and volunteers were sent to training with the Hennepin (now Three Rivers) Parks volunteer patrol and the National Ski Patrol at Wild River State Park, and what would become the Backcountry Trail Patrol was born. In 2000 the group started doing patrol as volunteers at Lake Maria State Park and Sand Dunes State Forest. As time progressed and the patrol grew, we developed our own training programs and added training in trail care, grooming and area operations, as well as snowshoe patrol and winter camping. We also started winter safety education and outreach programs including our annual Backcountry Winter Workshop and the Junior Snow Ranger program. In 2001, when other Nordic ski patrol resources in the region were too busy to cover all of the numerous winter events in the Twin Cities area, medical and event directors for skiing races who knew us from the Twin Cities Marathon and Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival,  started contacting the bike patrol to see if we could help out. We responded enthusiastically, and became the official ski patrol at several races, including the City of Lakes Loppet Urban Ski Marathon.

    So when the biking season comes to an end (other then "winter biking") and the winter season starts blowing around the corners, the Backcountry Trail Patrol is prepared for an active and hopefully snowy winter at Sand Dunes State Forest, Lake Maria State Park and even some activity in the Chequamegon National Forest! Watch for our red anoraks on the trails and at the City of Lakes Loppet, 24 Hours of Telemark, North End Ski Classic and Simpson Creek Candlelight Ski. Better yet, join us! Contact any patrol member or E-mail us for more information.

A winter discovery program for young people, available now region-wide through the Backcountry Trail Patrol

E-mail us for more information.

2009 Backcountry Winter Workshop and Rendezvous

was held as part of the Lake Maria State Park Family Fun Day on January 31st, 2009

The 2009 Winter Patrol Activities supported by:

Thank you for your generous support!

Two independent volunteer backcountry ski organizations in California

Thanks to both for the help they have given to our winter patrol program!

Patroller Equipment List moved to "Equipment" page.

        Blue Trail Loop, Sand Dunes State Forest               Night Patrol 

Sand Dunes State Forest

From SkinnySki.com, Oct. 30, 2003

Revised November 27, 2007

Often overlooked among the multitude of cross country ski trails near the Twin Cities area, Sand Dunes State Forest near Zimmerman is an undiscovered gem for skiers and snowshoers looking for the quietness of a rural setting, and serenity of the forest trail system that sees infrequent use, and often has snow when other trails do not.

In 2002, the Minnesota DNR shifted management of state forest recreation areas to the state parks. The Bob Dunn Recreation Area at Sand Dunes is now managed by Lake Maria State Park in nearby Monticello, which has a long-standing reputation for excellent trails and skiing. Over the past two summers the forest recreation staff and volunteers have worked on extending that reputation to the trails at Sand Dunes. New, easier to follow trail markers have been installed, along with new maps at major trail intersections, and over two kilometers of trail that had not been groomed in recent years will return to the system when the snow falls. In 2005-2006, a newly designated Snowshoe and winter hiking trail will add more available trails to the rec area. 

Over the years the Sand Dunes trails have had numerous types of marking systems and signs, and remnants of each type used in the past could still be found at one place or another on the trails. Rangers also realized that some signs pointed in the wrong direction, or were unreadable, while others has been damaged or shot at by vandals. Over the past two seasons rangers, volunteers and the Sherburne County STS Crew have removed all the old, non-conforming signs and markers (except where blaze removal might damage a tree) and installed all wood, matching sign posts and carsonite trail markers. Trail surfaces in sandy areas have been smoothed out, and the 1.4 mile long loop road through the Lake Ann Campground will be marked and groomed for skiing, returning that section to the other five loops in the trail system. This will bring the total groomed trail distance to 7.7 km (4.6 miles) which will be groomed for classical skiing only. Skiers who are interested in trying out winter camping may use any of the 40 sites in the campground without charge, but are requested to practice "Leave No Trace" camping ethics, and pack out whatever they pack in for camping.

Volunteers from the Backcountry Trail Patrol will be patrolling the Sand Dunes trails on a regular basis, as the snow conditions permit, to provide first aid, information and assistance if needed, throughout the winter. They are currently seeking ski patrol volunteers (see the "Patrol" page on this web site). In addition, in 2004 the patrol  assumed responsibility for the grooming and maintenance of the Sand Dunes ski trails. The DNR has provided a heavy-duty snowmobile and groomer, which patrol members have been trained to use for trail grooming. 

Skiers who skiing on the Sand Dunes State Forest Ski Trails are reminded that they must have a valid Great Minnesota Ski Pass to ski on these trails. Hiking and pet walking are not allowed on the groomed ski trails. Daily passes may be purchased at the nearby Orrock Store. Snowshoers may go any place in the forest except on groomed ski trails, but a new trail for snowshoers will be added to the Sand Dunes map this year.  Snowmobiles, horses, hunting and shooting are also illegal in the recreation area and on the ski trails.

Further information can be found at www.wintersnowtrails.org , or by calling the Lake Maria State Park office at 763 878-2325 Trail conditions will be posted to www.skinnyski.com on a regular basis, and updated as needed.