Lutsen Mountains

Alpine or Nordic - both great ways to ski, but it's usually one of the other. Not at Lutsen Mountains Nordic Center, where you can have the best of both with "Norpine," a special combination of alpine and nordic skiing utilizing the uphill capacity of alpine ski lifts to access nordic trails.

Lutsen Mountains Nordic Center has 4 kilometers of ski trails around the downhill slopes that are accessible by chair lifts. Your Nordic Center ticket allows you to ride the lifts up the mountains and then gradually descend groomed, tracked trails into the Poplar River valley through a mixed forest of aspen, birch, maples and evergreens. Classic or skate, it's up to you. The gently rolling trails traverse the highest mountain ridges along the North Shore so you get incredible views in all directions. You'll see Lake Superior, the Sawtooth Mountain chain, as well as the vast inland forests of the Superior National Forest and the Boundary Waters Wilderness from high alpine vistas.

Snowshoeing has become a favorite low-impact winter sport, and one that offers plenty of opportunity to watch the winter world and wildlife at a serene and contemplative pace. Test yourself on Moose Mountains backcountry trail system or snowshoe the calm banks of the Poplar River for an experience not soon to be forgotten.