Lone Rock Loop

Lone Rock Loop is a cross-country skiing route of about half a mile in the Vermillion Highlands Research Recreation and State Wildlife Management Area in southern Minnesota. The land is managed by State Fish and Wildlife, and the loop is a short, moderate outing that fits easily into a longer day on the area's trails. The route is an out-and-back, with the low point at 884 feet and the high at 925 feet, for a total climb of about 42 feet. The steepest part comes near the beginning, at about 4 percent grade. That makes it a gentle way to get moving on skis before heading to another nearby loop. Winter is the natural season for this kind of outing. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run to highs around 22°F in January and 27°F in February, with lows near 3°F and 7°F. The station sits at nearly the same elevation as the loop, so those figures are a fair guide to what to expect on the trail. Wetland Loop, another cross-country ski route, lies just 0.1 mile away, and Pine Loop, a hiking trail, is about 0.3 mile off. Farm Loop, a ski route, is roughly a mile away, and paddlers can reach the Vermillion River about 5.7 miles from the loop.