12-30-2009, 12:10 PM
Minnesota state parks and state trails will host 30 candlelight events this winter, including a New Year's Eve event at Fort Snelling State Park. These popular family-friendly events provide an opportunity to ski, snowshoe or hike through woods and prairies on trails illuminated by the warm glow of candles. Park and trail visitors can then warm up around a cozy fire and roast marshmallows or enjoy a hot drink.
The candlelit trails are typically short and flat, so people of all ages and abilities can feel comfortable participating. Most trails are one to two miles in length and suitable for beginner-level skiers and snowshoers. Families can rent equipment at some parks, but calling ahead to check availability and reserve it is advisable. A complete list of candlelight events taking place this winter is attached.
Before skiers hit the trails, they will need a Minnesota Ski Pass if they are 16 or older. Skis passes can be purchased three ways:
* Daily ski passes, which cost $5, are sold at park offices where staff are available.
* Self-registration for one-season ($15) and three-season ($40) ski passes is available at all Minnesota state parks except Carley, George H. Crosby-Manitou, Monson Lake and Schoolcraft.<br />
* Ski passes can be purchased from any of Minnesota's nearly 1,800 electronic license system vendors. Find a vendor list at www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/agents.html or call the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 or 1-888-646-6367.
Those who don't already have a Minnesota State Parks vehicle permit can purchase one at any of the parks at $5 for a one-day permit or $25 for a year-round permit.
In case of bad weather, events may be changed or canceled. For more information, including weather updates, directions to parks, and where to get a ski pass, call the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 or 1-888-646-6367 (TTY: 651-296-5484 or 1-800-657-3929) or go to http://www.mnstateparks.info/.
2010 Candlelight Events at Minnesota State Park and Trails
Wednesday, Dec. 30
* Candlelight Ski, Zippel Bay State Park (Williams), 5-8 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 31
* New Year's Eve Walk/Skate, Fort Snelling State Park (St. Paul), 3-8 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 16
* Candlelight Ski/Walk, Harmony-Preston State Trail (Preston), 5-7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 23
* Candlelight Ski/Snowshoe, Charles A. Lindbergh State Park (Little Falls), 6-9 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski, Frontenac State Park (Frontenac), 5:30-8 p.m.<br />
* Lantern-lit Ski/Snowshoe, Itasca State Park (Park Rapids), 5-7:30 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski/Snowshoe, Lake Carlos State Park (Carlos), 6-9 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Snowshoe, Old Mill State Park (Argyle), 6-9 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 29
* Candlelight Ski, Zippel Bay State Park (Williams), 5-8 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 30
* Candlelight Ski /Hike/Snowshoe, Buffalo River State Park (Glyndon), 6-9 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski, Lake Bronson State Park (Lake Bronson), 6-9 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski, Mille Lacs Kathio State Park (Onamia), 6-10 p.m.<br />
* Moonlight Ski/Walk, Nerstrand Big Woods State Park (Northfield), 6-9 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski, Wild River State Park (Center City), 6-9 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 6
* Candlelight Snowshoe/Hike, Afton State Park (Hastings), 6-9 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski, Hike/Snowshoe, Buffalo River State Park (Glyndon), 6-9 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski, Hayes Lake State Park (Roseau), 6:30-10 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski/Walk, Root River State Trail (Whalan), 5-8 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 12
* Candlelight Ski/Snowshoe, Jay Cooke State Park (Carlton), 6-9 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 13
* Candlelight Snowshoe/Walk, Lake Maria State Park (Monticello), 6-9 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 20
* Candlelight Ski, Father Hennepin State Park (Isle), 6-9 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski, Glendalough State Park (Battle Lake), 6:30-9:30 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski/Snowshoe/Walk, Gooseberry Falls State Park (Two Harbors), 6-8:30 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski, Hayes Lake State Park (Roseau), 6:30-10 p.m.<br />
* Lantern-lit Ski and Snowshoe, Itasca State Park (Park Rapids), 5-7:30 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Snowshoe, Lake Bronson State Park (Lake Bronson), 6:30-9:30 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski, Maplewood State Park (Pelican Rapids), 5-8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 27
* Candlelight Ski/Snowshoe, Lake Carlos State Park (Carlos), 6-9 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski, Old Mill State Park (Argyle), 6:30-9:30 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Snowshoe/Hike, Split Rock Lighthouse State Park (Two Harbors), 6-8:30 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski, Zippel Bay State Park (Williams), 5-8 p.m.
The candlelit trails are typically short and flat, so people of all ages and abilities can feel comfortable participating. Most trails are one to two miles in length and suitable for beginner-level skiers and snowshoers. Families can rent equipment at some parks, but calling ahead to check availability and reserve it is advisable. A complete list of candlelight events taking place this winter is attached.
Before skiers hit the trails, they will need a Minnesota Ski Pass if they are 16 or older. Skis passes can be purchased three ways:
* Daily ski passes, which cost $5, are sold at park offices where staff are available.
* Self-registration for one-season ($15) and three-season ($40) ski passes is available at all Minnesota state parks except Carley, George H. Crosby-Manitou, Monson Lake and Schoolcraft.<br />
* Ski passes can be purchased from any of Minnesota's nearly 1,800 electronic license system vendors. Find a vendor list at www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/agents.html or call the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 or 1-888-646-6367.
Those who don't already have a Minnesota State Parks vehicle permit can purchase one at any of the parks at $5 for a one-day permit or $25 for a year-round permit.
In case of bad weather, events may be changed or canceled. For more information, including weather updates, directions to parks, and where to get a ski pass, call the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 or 1-888-646-6367 (TTY: 651-296-5484 or 1-800-657-3929) or go to http://www.mnstateparks.info/.
2010 Candlelight Events at Minnesota State Park and Trails
Wednesday, Dec. 30
* Candlelight Ski, Zippel Bay State Park (Williams), 5-8 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 31
* New Year's Eve Walk/Skate, Fort Snelling State Park (St. Paul), 3-8 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 16
* Candlelight Ski/Walk, Harmony-Preston State Trail (Preston), 5-7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 23
* Candlelight Ski/Snowshoe, Charles A. Lindbergh State Park (Little Falls), 6-9 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski, Frontenac State Park (Frontenac), 5:30-8 p.m.<br />
* Lantern-lit Ski/Snowshoe, Itasca State Park (Park Rapids), 5-7:30 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski/Snowshoe, Lake Carlos State Park (Carlos), 6-9 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Snowshoe, Old Mill State Park (Argyle), 6-9 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 29
* Candlelight Ski, Zippel Bay State Park (Williams), 5-8 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 30
* Candlelight Ski /Hike/Snowshoe, Buffalo River State Park (Glyndon), 6-9 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski, Lake Bronson State Park (Lake Bronson), 6-9 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski, Mille Lacs Kathio State Park (Onamia), 6-10 p.m.<br />
* Moonlight Ski/Walk, Nerstrand Big Woods State Park (Northfield), 6-9 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski, Wild River State Park (Center City), 6-9 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 6
* Candlelight Snowshoe/Hike, Afton State Park (Hastings), 6-9 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski, Hike/Snowshoe, Buffalo River State Park (Glyndon), 6-9 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski, Hayes Lake State Park (Roseau), 6:30-10 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski/Walk, Root River State Trail (Whalan), 5-8 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 12
* Candlelight Ski/Snowshoe, Jay Cooke State Park (Carlton), 6-9 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 13
* Candlelight Snowshoe/Walk, Lake Maria State Park (Monticello), 6-9 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 20
* Candlelight Ski, Father Hennepin State Park (Isle), 6-9 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski, Glendalough State Park (Battle Lake), 6:30-9:30 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski/Snowshoe/Walk, Gooseberry Falls State Park (Two Harbors), 6-8:30 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski, Hayes Lake State Park (Roseau), 6:30-10 p.m.<br />
* Lantern-lit Ski and Snowshoe, Itasca State Park (Park Rapids), 5-7:30 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Snowshoe, Lake Bronson State Park (Lake Bronson), 6:30-9:30 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski, Maplewood State Park (Pelican Rapids), 5-8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 27
* Candlelight Ski/Snowshoe, Lake Carlos State Park (Carlos), 6-9 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski, Old Mill State Park (Argyle), 6:30-9:30 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Snowshoe/Hike, Split Rock Lighthouse State Park (Two Harbors), 6-8:30 p.m.<br />
* Candlelight Ski, Zippel Bay State Park (Williams), 5-8 p.m.