Minnesota · Cross-country skiing

Isaac Shortcut

0.1 mi
round trip
1,491 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Easy
difficulty
May–Oct
best months

Isaac Shortcut is a short, flat cross-country ski route in Minnesota, about 4 miles from the town of Holmes City. It is an easy out-and-back, roughly 0.26 miles long, with no elevation gain or loss. The route stays nearly flat, and the steepest stretch is a 2% grade at about 0.07 miles in. Winter is the natural season for this kind of skiing. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Alexandria show January highs around 19°F with lows near 2°F, while February runs about 24°F by day and 6°F at night. Spring and fall bring milder conditions, with October highs around 55°F and September highs near 70°F. Whispering Pines Trail and Haug's Corner are both about 0.1 miles away, and Andes Tower Hills, a downhill ski area, is about 0.7 miles off.

  • 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, 11 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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