Northwest Passage

Northwest Passage is a cross-country ski route in northern Minnesota, set within the Burntside State Forest and part of the Kawishiwi Ranger District of the Superior National Forest. The land is managed by the State Department of Natural Resources, and the route's out-and-back shape makes it an easy addition to a day of skiing in the area. The trail is 1.9 miles long, with a steady climb that takes the route from a starting elevation of 1,486 feet to a high point of 1,521 feet. The total elevation gain is 211 feet, and the steepest stretch comes around the half-mile mark, with a grade of about 7 percent. The trip is rated moderate, and the return brings you back down to nearly the same level. Winter is the natural season for skiing here. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Ely show January highs around 15°F with lows near -7°F, while March runs about 36°F by day and 10°F at night. That station sits a few hundred feet lower than the route, so temperatures on the passage may run slightly cooler. Ice Cliffs lies just 0.1 mile away, and Beaver Meadows and Moose Loop are each about half a mile off. For a different outing, Fenske Lake Campground offers pier fishing roughly 1.4 miles away.