Minnesota · Cross-country skiing

Ice Cliffs

0.4 mi
round trip
107 ft
climb
1,463 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Aug–Sep
best months

Is Ice Cliffs open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Superior National Forest. It doesn't name Ice Cliffs, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Superior National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Ice Cliffs is a short, easy out-and-back cross-country ski route in northern Minnesota, set within the Kawishiwi Ranger District of Superior National Forest and Burntside State Forest, which the State Department of Natural Resources manages. The climb is gentle, with a round-trip total of about 0.7 miles and about 107 feet of elevation gain and loss. The high point is about 1,463 feet, and the steepest stretch comes early in the route at about 0.11 miles. Winter is the season for skiing here. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Ely run from highs around 15°F in January to 23°F in February, with lows near zero in those months. By March, typical highs reach about 36°F. The route is close to several other cross-country ski routes, including North Junction Connects a & D about 0.1 mile away and Northwest Passage about 0.2 mile away. Beaver Meadows is about 0.3 mile off.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors