Beaver Meadows

Beaver Meadows is a short, easy cross-country ski route in northern Minnesota, set within the Burntside State Forest and the Kawishiwi Ranger District of Superior National Forest. The State Department of Natural Resources manages the land, and the route is about 0.7 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 21 feet over the out-and-back course. The trail is nearly flat, with the steepest stretch at about 0.6 miles, where the grade reaches 6 percent. The high point is 1,414 feet, and the low point is 1,392 feet, so the climb is minimal. Winter is the natural season for skiing here. Typical averages from the nearby Ely weather station show January highs around 15°F with lows near -7°F, while February is slightly milder at about 23°F. Summer is warm, with July highs near 79°F. Several other ski routes sit close by, including Northwest Passage at 0.2 miles and Ice Cliffs at 0.3 miles. Fenske Lake Campground, about a mile away, offers pier fishing, and the Circle Route, roughly 3 miles off, is a canoeing option.