Skiiers, take note! If you are 16 or older, you must have a Great Minnesota Ski Pass to ski on any trails in Minnesota state parks or state forests, or on state or grant-in-aid trails. Sign your ski pass and be sure to carry it with you every time you go skiing. Your ski pass fee helps support Minnesota's cross-country ski trail system. Purchase your ski pass online over at the DNR website.

The Minnesota Nordic Ski Association (MNSA) is a membership organization that promotes the sport of cross-country skiing in Minnesota by the following. MNSA is supported by the ski clubs in the State. Advocating for the funding, preservation, and enhancement of trails. MNSA encourages education about cross-country skiing and supports athletic development for all ages and abilities. Encouraging education about cross-country skiing. The board meets regularly with the State Legislature and the DNR to advocate for funding, preservation and enhancement of cross country ski trails.

The North Stars Ski Touring Club (NSSTC) is not only the largest in Minnesota, but one of the largest in the country. As stated in its charter, "the mission of NSSTC is to enjoy and promote the development of cross-country skiing. We fulfill our mission through group activities, education and trail development." Northern Lights Nordic Ski Club would like to extend our sincere thanks to NSSTC and its members for their recent donation of $2000 to help with our purchase of important grooming and trail maintenance equipment that can be used at all of our trails. NSSTC have also previously generously contributed to the construction at our main storage facility at Sugar Hills in 2018 ($5000), and for equipment used at Suomi Hills and Mt. Itasca ($5000). Thank you!! On behalf of NLNSC, consider joining NSSTC in their mission to support trail work throughout the state.

The Minnesota Youth Ski League has a variety of programs and events to support its mission of giving children and their parents the opportunity to learn, develop skills and enjoy cross-country skiing together.

Get Fit Itasca is a community health initiative begun through the combined efforts of the Itasca County Family YMCA, Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital, ISD 318, ISD 316, Itasca Community College, Itasca County Public Health and the Blandin Foundation. The mission of Get Fit Itasca is "to engage all people in the Itasca area to make healthy choices and participate in activities that improve their quality of life."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service is a Federal agency that manages public lands in national forests and grasslands. The Forest Service is also the largest forestry research organization in the world, and provides technical and financial assistance to state and private forestry agencies. Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief of the Forest Service, summed up the purpose of the Forest Service "to provide the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people in the long run."

Our mission is to work with citizens to conserve and manage the state's natural resources, to provide outdoor recreation opportunities, and to provide for commercial uses of natural resources in a way that creates a sustainable quality of life.

Itasca County offers sixteen separate cross-country ski trail systems. These trails are managed by the county, cities, and cross-country ski clubs. The NLNSC manages 8 of these county trails. The County Park System maintains five of these trails located on County Tax-Forfeited Lands. These trails and several others are open to hiking during the summer months and several are open to hunting in the fall.

Visit Grand Rapids is the official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for the Grand Rapids, MN area. Visit Grand Rapids was founded in 1983, as a 501 (c) 6 non-profit business association, with the objective to promote the Grand Rapids area as a destination for conferences, conventions, events, group tours and leisure travelers; thereby enhancing the economic growth of the area through travel and tourism. Visit Grand Rapids mission is to generate a positive economic impact through travel and tourism.

For those seeking the ideal balance of community and wilderness Grand Rapids and Itasca County are in the middle of the Minnesota north woods where the nature of the community reflects and complements the splendor and strength of the outdoors so priorities are in their natural order and perspective remains fresh.

Winter sports in Deer River include cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. The cross-country skiiers will enjoy the lake and hills of Blueberry Hills Nordic skiing trails. Many other groomed trails are also in our area.

Cohasset is a community west of Grand Rapids, home to Portage Park trail, which is lighted for nighttime skiing.