2K of cross-country ski trails will open for skiing on the morning of Thursday, December 9th. There will be high school races the afternoons of December 9th and 10th, and the Nordic opener with the skaði’s chase on Saturday, December 11th.

(Bruce Bolduan, Three Rivers Park District)

Three Rivers is reporting the Elm Creek trails will reopen at 5 am on Thursday.

(Bruce Adelsman)

Another drive by today. I'm guessing that when they re-open on Saturday the whole manmade loop will be open based on the progress they've made. They are making snow and have snow made so that at least the ~2K loop should open - not counting the lower donut - but they have also started making snow on the lower donut.

(Mark Lahtinen)

Called Elm Creek line and the recording says the ski area will reopen on Dec. 11th. [ Note: The Nordic Opener is being held at Elm Creek on Dec 11th -- Ed. ]

(Nick Stephens)

Drove by today and they are still making snow on the 1.25 K loop from the practice area to the upper donut. I imagine it was too warm over much of the weekend to make snow. No snow guns by the rest of the loop yet.

(Mark Lahtinen)

Soft wet snow with nice early season glide. No hard patches. Wife said track was great. Thanks for fixing the doughnut lights.

(Todd White)

The Elm Creek ski trail will be closing at 3pm on Friday, December 3rd so we can resume snowmaking. A reopening date will be determined as we are able to make snow.

(Bruce Bolduan, Three Rivers Park District)

Surprised how crunchy/icy the skate deck was with temps being above freezing for so long. Downhill on the donut was wicked fast and I found getting an edge challenging at times.

(Don Callander)

The snow was more snow like and less icy then on Monday. The tracks were well set with very few leaves. I had no problems with the tracks sticking in any way. There were about two dozen skiers out when we started at 6pm. Most of them were skate skiing.

Photos:

(Elizabeth Loper)

Skied at Elm around 5:30/6, and the snow was super fast! Only about 1k open (the donut), but it was still fun to get out and ski! There's more open here than at Theodore Wirth. Temp around the lower 40s felt very nice. Not crowded when I was there. Only man-made snow. Great place/time for my first ski of the season!

(Modesty Manion)