Here’s an idea for anyone visiting the Bog and the Welcome Center this winter. This morning I set down cross-country ski tracks as noted via the Google Maps screenshot. One skis deep into the Bog via the drainage ditches. One may wax skis and put on your boots at the Welcome Center (open daily at 10:00 am till early March).
The ski itself is very easy … zero hills. Being a Duluth native I am well versed in skiing up North Shore Lake Superior streams to access areas not reachable in the summer. I decided to take that knowledge and apply it to the Bog. I will try to keep the tracks set through the winter. I saw plenty of birds during my ski … mostly Grey Jays and Chickadees. Sometime in the next few weeks I will ski in around sunrise as opposed to today (around noon).
Anyhow, I wanted to encourage “skiing the bog”. Many of you travel from a distance to visit Sax-Zim Bog; thus it’s nice to get out of the car. One covers distance much quicker on skis than on snowshoes. On my next ski I will head “south” at the T-Junction (dotted yellow line). Hope to see you at the Bog, and maybe even on the ski trail (I am a volunteer naturalist at the Bog).
My wife and I would really love to visit Sax-Zim Bog this winter, and we’d really like to ski it. Do you still recommend this as a way to see the bog?
Peder … please contact me a bit prior to your visit this winter. My email address may be found on the “About Rich” page of this web site. Skiing into the Bog is a great and beautiful experience. However, the trails I recomend varies based upon snow conditions, and ice thickness (some creeks I use). You must realize this is a wilderness experience and there will be zero groomed trails.
Thanks for the Reply! I’ll make a note to contact you before we come. Most of our skiing is done through ungroomed wilderness, so that’s right up our alley.