Explore Winter’s Quiet Side
Discover miles of peaceful, snow-covered trails that wind through the heart of Minnesota’s Northwoods.
At Giants Ridge, snowshoeing is more than a winter activity. It is an escape into stillness, a chance to move at your own pace, and a front-row experience with the Superior National Forest’s natural beauty.
Our three unique routes, including Northface, Lower and Upper Sleeping Giant, and Narrows Trails, offer a combined 3.6 miles of rolling terrain, lake views, and quiet forest pathways. Some trails weave between Wynne and Sabin Lakes, others weave through deep pine stands, but all deliver that crisp-air, winter-wonderland feeling that makes snowshoeing unforgettable.
Whether you are seeking a gentle afternoon outing or a new winter adventure to share with friends and family, Giants Ridge gives you the perfect place to step off the beaten path and into nature’s quiet magic.
Before you head out, check the Mountain Report for the most current trail status and conditions.
Mountain Report
Trail Descriptions
Sleeping Giant – 1.1 miles
Accessible from the Bronze Nordic trail, on the south side of the alpine area, the trail departs the Nordic trail on the west side and ascends through the forest to the top of the mountain. After passing many of the Nordic and fat bike trails, the Sleeping Giant arrives at the mountain-top trailhead where snowshoers can then go back down the same direction, or go down the North Face Trail.
North Face – 1.2 miles
This northern route up the mountain departs from the hillside of the main chalet. The trail enters the woods on a fat-bike trail called Kitty Cat. The trail follows Kitty Cat until past the alpine area and then diverges into a winding path up and around the backside of the mountain and leads to the mountaintop trailhead.
Narrows Trail – 1.3 mi
The Narrows trail traverses the narrowest portion of the river between Wynne and Sabin Lakes. Accessible from the Mesabi Trail (snowmobile trail in the winter), the Narrows Trail begins to the south of the main entrance to the Giants Ridge alpine area. Considered a beginner level snowshoe, the Narrows trail takes hikers on a true ‘woods and waters’ hike. Adventure seekers will experience landscapes reminiscent of the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area, even though snowshoers are just steps from the base of Giants Ridge.
Trail Maps
