National Winter Trails Day celebrated at Chippewa's Shingobee Hills

On January 10th, the Walker Ranger District, North Country Trail Association and Walker Community Education hosted the Forest's first National Winter Trails Day event.

Shingobee Hills Recreation Area is known as the first downhill ski area in Minnesota. So, it seemed the perfect Chippewa National Forest site for a National Winter Trails day celebration! On January 10th, the Walker Ranger District, North Country Trail Association and Walker Community Education hosted the Forest's first National Winter Trails Day event.

It was a perfect winter morning, with powdery snow and clear sunny skies. Forest employees Tom Schackman, Mitch Bouchonville, Sonja Hoie, Mary Nordeen and Ann Long-Voelkner teamed up with local partners to provide a day of sledding fun as well as a guided skiing and snowshoeing trek on the North Country Trail.

Tom Schackman and a member from the NCTA local chapter led eight enthusiastic snowshoers for the four-mile snowshoe hike to beautiful Anoway bridge. "It's one of my favorite spots to hike to in the winter here in the Shingobee Area" noted Schackman. Shingobee is an Ojibwe word for the cedars, spruce and fir found along the Shingobee River, and the trail bridge provides the perfect landscape view.

While snowshoers had a fantastic morning, sledding is really the most popular way to experience Shingobee Hills. Families took advantage of the fresh deep snow and hopped on their bright sleds for a race down the hill. After hours of sledding, kids and parents stopped by the historic CCC-chalet for a cup of hot chocolate and a quick warm-up by the fireplace.

Since Shingobee Hills is a fast ride down and a long tough walk back up, all visitors who made the trip received their Junior Snow Ranger badge and bandana! Our Winter Trails Day participants were also invited back for more fun in the snow. The District will be hosting five more events this winter at Shingobee, including a January 17th National Day of Service event for the Community. Snowshoes are always available for families to try out, and gives us a chance to teach kids a new winter sport. The January 17th event will focus on bringing more kids outdoors, encouraging a healthy outdoor lifestyle and appreciation of the natural and cultural resources of the Chippewa National Forest.

We know the kids might not focus so much on our objectives for the day, they are concentrating on lining up their bright orange sleds. They just know that Shingobee is a great wild ride into winter…and they'll be back for more!

Want to join us for a great Winter Recreation event? We'll be at Shingobee Hills on January 17 and 31st, as well as Feb 14 and 28, and March 14. There is also a Candlelight Ski planned at Cut Foot Sioux Visitor Center on February 27. Winter is Fun on the Chippewa!