Northwest Passage

Northwest Passage is an easy cross-country ski route in northern Minnesota, part of the Burntside State Forest within the Kawishiwi Ranger District of Superior National Forest. The State Department of Natural Resources manages the land, and the route makes a short out-and-back that fits easily into a day spent exploring the surrounding network of ski trails. The route is about 0.8 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 82 feet. It starts at about 1,420 feet and reaches a high point of about 1,476 feet before returning to the starting level. The climb is steepest at the start, with a grade of about 8 percent over the first 0.05 miles. Winter is the natural season for this route. Typical averages from the nearby Ely weather station show January highs around 15°F with lows near -7°F, while March runs warmer at about 36°F for highs and 10°F for lows. Several other ski routes lie close by, including Beaver Meadows, Ice Cliffs and North Junction Connects a & D, all about 0.2 miles away. For a change of pace, the NORTH JUNCTION-NW LOOP hike is about 0.4 miles off.