Spur Loop

Spur Loop is a short, easy cross-country ski route in Bass Brook State Wildlife Management Area in northern Minnesota, managed by State Fish and Wildlife. The loop is about a mile long and sits at roughly 1,300 feet, with a high point of 1,312 feet and a low of 1,291 feet. The climb is gentle, with a total gain of 73 feet over the course of the out-and-back, and the steepest stretch comes at about a third of a mile in, with a grade of about 5 percent. Winter is the natural season for this route. Typical averages from the nearby Pokegama Dam weather station show January highs around 18°F with lows near -3°F, while March runs about 37°F by day and 14°F at night. The station sits a few feet lower than the loop, so temperatures on the trail run slightly cooler. Pokegama Dam Campground is about half a mile away, and the Park Loop and Main Loop ski routes are each about 0.7 miles off. The Tioga Trail is also within a mile for hikers.