Minnesota · Cross-country skiing

Isaac Shortcut

0.3 mi
round trip
63 ft
climb
1,472 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Isaac Shortcut is a short cross-country ski route in Minnesota, just 0.26 miles long and rated easy. The whole trip is an out-and-back, with a flat profile that takes you from a low point of 1,425 feet to a high of 1,472 feet and back again. The climb adds about 63 feet in elevation before you turn around, and the steepest section comes early, at 4% grade. The route starts at about 1,463 feet, so the total gain and loss are both about 63 feet. Winter is the natural season for this trail. Typical averages from the nearby Alexandria airport weather station show January highs around 19°F with lows near 2°F, while February runs a little warmer at about 24°F. The station sits at a similar elevation, so expect conditions on the trail to mirror these figures. Holmes City, about 3.9 miles away, is the nearest town. Whispering Pines Trail and Haug's Corner both lie within a tenth of a mile, and Cranberry Shortcut is about 0.2 miles off. For downhill skiing, Andes Tower Hills is roughly 0.6 miles away.

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Isaac Shortcut

    Best months: May–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      19° / 2°

      4 wet

    2. Feb

      24° / 6°

      4 wet

    3. Mar

      37° / 19°

      6 wet

    4. Apr

      52° / 33°

      9 wet

    5. May

      66° / 45°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      76° / 56°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      80° / 61°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      78° / 59°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      70° / 50°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      55° / 37°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      38° / 23°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      24° / 10°

      5 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Alexandria Muni Ap, MN, 10.8 mi away at 1,416 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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