Otter Slide

Otter Slide is a cross-country ski route in northern Minnesota, about a quarter mile from the State Department of Natural Resources land that manages it. The route is an out-and-back of half a mile, with a climb of 87 feet that starts right away and peaks at about 1,469 feet. The climb is front-loaded, and the steepest stretch comes within the first 0.05 miles, with a grade of about 9 percent. Winter is the natural season for skiing here. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run to highs of 19°F and lows of -1°F in January, and the station sits roughly 160 feet lower than the route's high point, so temperatures on the slide run a little cooler. Several other ski routes sit within a short distance. Exit Ramp and Backtrack are each about 0.1 mile away, and Main Street and Black Widow are each about 0.2 mile away. For an overnight stay, Pokegama Dam Campground is about 6.6 miles away.