Minnesota · Cross-country skiing

Slim Portage

0.3 mi
round trip
102 ft
climb
1,459 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Aug–Sep
best months

Is Slim Portage open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Superior National Forest. It doesn't name Slim Portage, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Superior National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Slim Portage is a cross-country ski route in the Kawishiwi Ranger District of Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota. It is a short out-and-back trip of about half a mile, with a high point of 1,459 feet and a low of 1,429 feet, so the total climb is about 100 feet round trip. The Forest Service manages the surrounding land. The route is moderate in difficulty, and the steepest part comes early on, about 2% grade at roughly 0.13 miles. It pairs easily with other ski trails in the area. Slim Lake Entry Point and the Northwest Passage both sit about 0.1 mile away. Barren Ridge and North Star Run are each about a mile off. Winter is the natural season for cross-country skiing here. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Ely show January highs around 15°F with lows near -7°F, while February is a bit milder at about 23°F. Summer brings highs in the upper 70s. Fenske Lake Campground, about 2.4 miles away, offers fishing, and the Circle Route, a canoeing route about 4 miles out, rounds out the options for a longer outing.

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