The Cuyuna Winter Fat Biking Playbook: Trails, Tips, and Where to Warm Up After

Winter in Cuyuna is something special. Groomed singletrack winds through quiet forests, the mine lakes shine, and the small-town energy of Crosby and Ironton stays warm no matter the temperature. Whether you’re chasing fresh snow, rolling frozen dirt, or just looking for a weekend that mixes fat biking, good food, and cozy cabins, here’s your guide to making the most of Cuyuna in winter.

To plan your trip, head to Cuyuna Lakes MTB Crew and Cuyuna.com.

Photos by Cuyuna.com

Winter in Cuyuna is simple: when it snows, the crew turns it into dreamy, rideable singletrack. When it doesn’t, you can still ride frozen ground with studs and good judgment.

In a good, consistent winter, you can expect ~25 miles of groomed singletrack, and when everything aligns (awesome snow and volunteer and DNR availability), up to ~40 miles can be turned over within about a day of a storm.

Grooming takes time and is a team effort, and every storm is different. So watch the Cuyuna Lakes MTB Crew’s updates, respect closures, and plan a weekend that mixes bikes, coffee, and a sick Northwoods winter.

Making the Most of Whatever Winter We Get

The last two winters haven’t exactly delivered. 2023–24 was nearly snowless, and 2024–25 didn’t fare much better. Northwoods winters are unpredictable, sometimes a deep-freeze dream, sometimes a long stretch of frozen dirt and wishful thinking. But if we do get a real winter, make sure to get to Cuyua, and here's some basic plans for the day. Plus, Cuyuna.com is a huge, in-depth resource with adventure ideas, lodging ideas, and events all year long so make sure to browse around.

Plan A: Plenty of Snow, Freshly Groomed

After a fresh snow, start in the Yawkey Unit. It’s closest to parking, fastest for groomers to turn over, and usually the first high-quality riding you’ll find. After riding there, head over to Sagamore's trails for more flowy groomed fun. When in doubt, green trails are the easiest to groom and are your safest bet for quality In a cold winter with thick ice cover. If you're lucky, they may even pave a connector right across Sagamore Mine Lake.

Plan B: Low Snow, Frozen Ground

When snow is scarce but temps lock things up, you can still ride, just treat it like winter mountain biking. Run studs (fat or MTB), stick to greens and paved connectors, and avoid soft/muddy windows. Also note that north-facing trails (think Sand Hog, Roly Poly, Crusher/Mucker side) are prone to drifting and can be less rideable in harsh conditions.

Plan C: Blizzard Conditions, Trails Aren't Groomed and Set Up Yet

Lucky you, you read the weather and seized the moment and now you're heading to Cuyuna. But riding immediately after a huge snowfall isn't always the best time to ride. You see snow and think you can jump on the trails like you can with ski hills, but trails aren't ready for fat biking yet. The snow needs time to set and the trail crew needs time to clear and groom the snow. If you find yourself in this scenario, bring snowshoes or hok skis so you can snowshoe while groomers work the trails and the grooming sets in.

Frozen Lakes: Use Real Caution

Cuyuna’s mine lakes are deep and quirky; underwater activity means they freeze later and unevenly, and some bays may not set at all. The DNR doesn’t promote frozen lake riding. In strong winters, you may see a signed crossing folded into a Sagamore loop only when conditions allow, so make sure to follow the on-site guidance. If you ride ice elsewhere, know your ice, don't ride alone, and have a safety plan.

How to Follow Winter Trail Conditions at Cuyuna

Conditions and grooming activity change daily (and even mid-day) so you'll want to check the most recent conditions and grooming before riding. If you run into closed gates, or cones, respect those closures to keep trails in good condition. Note that a minimum of 3.7” tires are required for use on the groomed singletrack and make absolutely certain that your tire pressure is low enough to float on the snow and not leave ruts.

Here's how to stay up to date on trail conditions:

Facebook: Cuyuna Lakes MTB Crew: Follow regular grooming notes, what’s open, what's closed anything else you need to know about the most recent conditions. LINK.

Trail Conditions Page & Trailbog: Visit the trail conditions page or download the Trailbot app to get regular updates pushed to your device. Conditions are kept up to date so you can see which trails to hit and which ones to skip.

Cuyuna DNR site Head here for seasonal guidelines, winter rules, tire width recommendations, and best practices. LINK.

Cuyuna.com: This is your source for top to bottom trip planning and experiencing everything the Cuyuna Lakes area has to offer. LINK.

Make It a Weekend by Enjoying Cuyuna Off the Bike

Cuyuna’s winter scene is low-key and welcoming. Expect pop-up group rides (watch for something around Global Fat Bike Day), potential winter challenges inspired by the Galloping Goose 50 Mile Challenge energy from the fall, and a town that stays open when temps dip. Warm up at Red Raven for coffee and food, grab a post-ride drink at Cuyuna Brewing or a dinner at Iron Range Eatery. You can also check out winter farmers markets, and explore ice-fishing culture which is huge. For lodging, you’ll find a growing network of awesome cabins including the Cuyuna Cabin Collection, and Ironton Island that lean into the cozy-winter-weekend thing.

Family & Adaptive Friendly

The Sagamore adaptive trails and the paved corridor make winter more accessible for newer riders, families, and folks who want fewer roots and rocks. These aren’t just widened trails, they were purpose-built with adaptive riders in mind, and it shows in how confidently kids and aging riders can move here even in winter conditions.

Winter in Cuyuna, GO.

Winter rewards whoever shows up with a good attitude and a little flexibility. Let the weather decide the script, meet it where it is, and you’ll still come away with the quiet of the forest, the hum of tires, and a town that knows how to make you feel welcome.

Say thanks to the folks who keep this place moving, ride what’s ready, and leave it better than you found it. Pack an extra layer, save time for a slow coffee, and plan a dinner you’ll talk about on the drive home.

However the season breaks, Cuyuna gives you enough to make a weekend. Go make one.