Trail Detail
Notes
The Balsam Branch trails are open to the public for no charge. When there is snow, tracks are set by Polk County Park and volunteers. The trailhead parking area is always well plowed. Toilet facilities are available at the nearby Kennedy Environmental center but no coffee shop or warming facility. Roughly 4K of lighted trails added in 2010.Trail Reports
2021-2022 season
Thursday, February 17, 2022
Afternoon
posted: 2022-02-17 15:10:02
Grooming [ Trails Open: All, ]
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All trails touched up today. Skate deck is in good shape, hard and fast. Track was reset where washed out and is shallow in places, but mostly track is hard, fast. and has little debris. It should be a great weekend for skiing with warmer weather. We are hoping for fresh snow next week.
(Barry Tulkki)
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Wednesday, February 16, 2022
Afternoon
posted: 2022-02-16 19:07:30
Firsthand: Classic [ Trails Open: All, ]
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Monday, February 14, 2022
Afternoon
posted: 2022-02-16 07:55:13
Firsthand: Freestyle [ Trails Open: All, ]
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Skied Sunday and Monday. Dreamlike conditions with excellent grooming and weather on the Sunday. Monday offered perfect weather again with a fresh 1.5 inch of dry powder which made conditions fast yet soft. Thank you groomers!
(Daniel Raether)
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Friday, February 11, 2022
Afternoon
posted: 2022-02-12 13:14:44
Firsthand: Classic [ Trails Open: All, ]
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Beautifully groomed trails. Tracks were just a bit shallow and soft in places. I stuck to the greens and blues due to poor kick wax selection on my part, so I can't comment on the blacks. Thanks Balsam Branch for the best trails of the season.
(Bob McKlveen)
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Friday, February 11, 2022
Afternoon
posted: 2022-02-11 14:56:35
Grooming [ Trails Open: All, ]
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With 2" of high moisture snow last night, we were able to groom possibly our best trail yet for the year. Trail looks awesome after we finished grooming. A little cool down and the trail should set up good. Currently very few leaves and debris. Enjoy. I know I will.
(Greg Hoelscher)
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Thursday, February 10, 2022
Morning
posted: 2022-02-10 10:57:32
Firsthand: Classic [ Trails Open: All, ]
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Great conditions, given the snow we've had this year, but only if you like firm and fast. Yikes! Harder to get kick even with skins at times, and the downhills were a little more than I wanted so I even sidestepped down one. Tracks are a little washed out obviously, but holding up decent. The usual annoying few oak leaves like to grab you occasionally and make it even more fun. Used my B skis but could have used my better good skis.
(Steve McCormack)
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Sunday, February 6, 2022
Afternoon
posted: 2022-02-06 18:05:57
Firsthand: Freestyle [ Trails Open: All, ]
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First time skiing these trails and was pleasantly surprised. I skate skied in my rock skis but would have felt comfortable with my B skis even with the small amount of debris. I was worried about a lot debris but the fresh dusting of snow must have really covered a lot up and the trail is in the woods. I skied around noon and the trails where basically freshly groomed. Very smooth, no icy spots, really great ski. I skied the black most difficult, blue more difficult and most of the green loops.
(Hanne Guthrie)
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Sunday, February 6, 2022
Afternoon
posted: 2022-02-06 16:15:54
Firsthand: Classic [ Trails Open: All, ]
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I skied the entire system except the loop around the pond at D.D. Kennedy. Great conditions in the moderate-depth but firm track, with today's powder well skied in. Enough snow so all hills felt safe, as long as I kept at least one foot out of the track on some of the aggressively-tracked downhill curves. I only saw one hint of depleted snow on a downhill section from skiers snowplowing.
(Wayne Federer)
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Sunday, February 6, 2022
Afternoon
posted: 2022-02-06 15:36:22
Firsthand: Classic [ Trails Open: All, ]
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Tuesday, February 1, 2022
Evening
posted: 2022-02-02 08:41:13
Firsthand: Classic [ Trails Open: All, ]
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I skied the lighted trails, and despite the cold and whistling wind, the skiing was great. The classic grooves were excellent with minimal washout spots. There was some leaf debris, but that's to be expected with the wind.
(Amy Riegelman)
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