High Road

High Road is a cross-country ski route in northern Minnesota, set within the Kawishiwi Ranger District of Superior National Forest and Burntside State Forest. The State Department of Natural Resources manages the land, and the route is an out-and-back of about 0.9 miles, with a total climb of about 150 feet from a low point of 1,460 feet to a high of 1,543 feet. The steepest stretch comes early, at about 6% grade, and the route is rated hard. Winter is the natural season for this ski route. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Ely show January highs around 15°F with lows near -7°F, while February runs a little warmer at about 23°F. The station sits roughly 160 feet lower than the route's high point, so temperatures on the trail run slightly cooler. The route sits among a cluster of other ski trails. Northwest Passage is about 0.1 mile away, and North Junction Connects a & D is about 0.2 mile off. Ice Cliffs and Old Road are both within half a mile.