Cross-Country Skiing
Ramsey County provides 40 km of marked and groomed cross-country ski trails at five locations. The city of Saint Paul provides 20 km of ski trail at four locations.
Trail conditions are available for each park below. County staff post updates every Friday and as needed.
Ski rules and trail guidelines
- Ramsey County groomed trails are for cross-country ski use only. No snowshoeing, hiking, biking, skijoring, sledding or pets. See the city of Saint Paul cross-country ski webpage for a list of designated areas where additional activities are allowed.
- Skate skiing is only permitted at Battle Creek West and designated city of Saint Paul ski areas.
- Motorized vehicles are prohibited on trails.
- Ski trails are one-way unless otherwise marked. Observe all arrows and do not enter signs.
Subscribe for updates on the trails
The ski rental room at the Battle Creek Winter Recreation Area is now closed for the season. Thank you for another great year and we will be back in Dec. If you have any lost and found items please call 651-775-7594 and leave a message with a description of your items, we will return your call if we have the items.
Passes
Ramsey County and the city of Saint Paul uses a mutual ski pass. Ramsey County no longer accepts the Great Minnesota Ski Pass.
Passes may be purchased online now or in person at Battle Creek Recreation Center, Como Park Ski Center and Highland National Golf Course starting in December. Tamarack Nature Center will not be providing passes or rentals for skiing this 2025-26 season. Passes will be emailed to the pass holder. They must be printed or kept on a mobile device and produced upon request of park staff on the trails.
All-access pass
For use of all natural snow ski trails plus the lighted machine-made trails in the Winter Recreation Area at Battle Creek.
| Pass Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Annual all-access pass | $80 |
| Additional household member on annual pass | $40 |
| Daily all-access pass | $15 |
| Youth 12 years and under | Free |
Natural snow pass
Allows use of groomed natural snow cross-country ski trails throughout Ramsey County and Saint Paul. This pass does not include machine-made snow trails at the Winter Recreation Area at Battle Creek.
| Pass Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Annual natural snow pass | $35 |
| Daily natural snow pass | $6 |
| Youth 12 years and under | Free |
Learn to ski and other winter programs
Find upcoming dates for all of our family-friendly winter activities on our programs page.
Equipment rental
Ski rentals are available at Battle Creek Recreation Center, Highland National Golf Course and Como Park Ski Center. Rentals can be reserved in person on a first-come-first-serve basis.
| Pass Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Winter Recreation Area at Battle Creek | $12 - daily all-access ski pass included. |
| Highland National Golf Course and Como Park Ski Center | $15 |
Trail information
Find trail maps, conditions, parking information and trail specifics.
Trail rating guide
- Excellent: Track freshly set or in similar condition with consistent base. No bare spots. No ice.
- Good: Track in condition near to freshly set. Some bare spots not seriously affecting skiability. Some icy spots.
- Fair: Track beginning to deteriorate, some areas of track obliterated. Some bare spots beginning to affect skiability. Icy spots beginning to affect skiability.
- Poor: Track deteriorated over much of trail. Lots of bare spots. Icy spots beginning to affect skiability.
- Closed: Lack of snow or dangerously icy or extremely cold conditions.