Sentinels

Sentinels is a short cross-country ski trail in the Kawishiwi Ranger District of Superior National Forest in Minnesota, about 7 miles from Ely. It is rated moderate and lies within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Mining Protection Area Mineral Reserve Area. The trail runs 0.11 miles one way, and an out-and-back trip totals about 0.22 miles. It climbs about 36 feet one way, or roughly 90 feet of gain and loss for the round trip. Elevations range from about 1,400 to 1,455 feet. Most of the climbing falls in the middle of the route, and the steepest stretch, near the 0.05-mile mark, reaches only about a 4 percent grade. For skiing, January and February are the coldest months. Typical averages from the nearby Ely weather station show January highs around 15°F with lows near -7°F, and February highs around 23°F. Because Sentinels is so short, it pairs easily with other trails in the same network. Slim Lake Loop, Moose Horn Loop and North Arm all start within about 0.1 miles, and Fenske Lake Campground is about 3.4 miles away.