Whispering Pines Trail

Whispering Pines Trail is a short, easy cross-country ski route in Minnesota, about 4 miles from the town of Holmes City. The trail is an out-and-back, roughly 0.4 miles long, with a total elevation gain of about 10 feet. The climb is minimal, and the steepest stretch comes early on, at about 6 percent grade. Winter is the natural season for this trail. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Alexandria show January highs around 19°F with lows near 2°F, while February runs about 24°F by day and 6°F at night. Spring and fall bring milder conditions, with October highs around 55°F and May highs near 66°F. Several other ski routes sit close by. Isaac Shortcut is about 0.2 miles away, and Haug's Corner and Chuckwagon Trail are each about 0.3 miles off. For downhill skiing, Andes Tower Hills is about 0.9 miles away.