We have closed our courses for the season now. Thank you for your understanding as we worked around tree removal this winter. See you in the fall!

(Tyler McKean, St. Paul Parks and Recreation)

The trails at Phalen is still closed, with no indication they will be groomed again this year. The park was doing significant tree work, and there are skidder tracks across many areas of the golf course. It appears that hundreds of trees have been removed--I suspect ash trees threatened by the emerald ash borer which hit the neighborhood in the last two years. Thanks to the groomers for keeping Phalen open for us as long as they could this winter. Looking forward to next year.

(Jonathan Poppele)

The City of Saint Paul will begin falling trees as early as Friday, February 16th. When this work begins the trail will become unsafe to ski and will be closed to everyone. If we can get a more precise start date and time I will get it posted on here. We are sorry for the inconvenience but we have to remove close to 300 trees before the frost leaves the ground. We will continue to groom Highland-9 as long as conditions allow for it.

(Tyler McKean, St. Paul Parks and Recreation)

Still in pretty good shape. Classic tracks shallow, but very skiable. John, Lyle and I classic skied but we all thought the skate deck looked really good, not the boilerplate like at some places, but nice loose snow. Half a dozen thin/dirt spots easy to see and avoid.

(Carol Fitzgerald)

Phalen continues to be in great shape with the skate deck freshly groomed and classic tracks set. There are half a dozen or so bare spots in the classic track and a couple of bare spots in the skate deck that are easily avoided. If you are comfortable avoiding those spots, bring your A skis.

(Greg Loper)

Nice classic track set. Beautiful snow with only a few patches of grass under pine trees. Seems like Phalen got more snow than some other places in the metro.

(Kathy Bjornson)

The Phalen course has seen a large number of skiers on both the skate deck and the classic tracks. Both, while firm, are in great shape (with the usual bare spots.) The classic tracks are getting faster and are well set. The bare spots are easy to see and avoid. We are seeing truly great conditions!

(Greg Loper)

Phalen is in phenomenal shape. Classic track is set for the entire course and has hardened but isn't icy. With continued use, I expect it to get faster and faster! There are a few small easily avoided spots where the ground is poking through. If you are willing to avoid them, go ahead and use your A skis. The skate deck is in superb shape as well with only a few icy spots that could result in ski damage. Props to our grooming crew who have really outdone themselves on this course!

(Greg Loper)

The Vulcans are losing at Phalen! The trails were freshly groomed this morning and classic tracks set. The snow is awesome with only a few spots of bare ground at predictable locations. The course is as good as it has been this year. Since nothing else is going on today, take advantage of the great job done by our groomers at Phalen.

(Greg Loper)

The wind has blown snow into the classic tracks and across the skate deck at Phalen. This has eroded the snow down to the underlying ice on the deck in a few predictable places. It has also nearly filled in the classic tracks. Following the course is a touch challenging as it all but disappears at times. Please be careful as the wind chill is pretty significant.

(Greg Loper)