Backcountry Skiing Minnesota (The Glades)

True to our DIY roots, we encourage you to get out and seek powder! With the right equipment you can choose your own adventure. Wherever you live, think parks, trails, forests, and golf courses with permissive ownership. Think big backyards, river valleys and ponds with thick ice.  Think friends, snacks, warm tea, and fun, Think scouting and safety gear!

There are four main things to consider in finding a glade that you will want to lap: Vertical feet, pitch (steepness), aspect (direction the hill faces), and forest type. The vertical feet will determine how far up you need to go, and how long your descent will be. Pitch varies and is up to user preference! Aspect determines how the snow acts; on a southern facing slope the snow may melt down quickly, while on a northern facing slope it may bet windblown. Forest type determines how skiable the area is without any alteration; a thicker, mature canopy will result in low underbrush, for instance, while a younger forest may be thicker with trees as well as brush.

Here along the highlands of Lake Superior we have identified key skiable glades, ideal for our Hut-to-Hut trail system, through much studying of maps and scouting. We ask that you become a member to support our projects! Members gain access to the Glade Intel Pages, which offer information, directions, and maps to these glades.