Northland Arboretum Unveils Minnesota's First Forest Ice Skating Trail

When was the last time a completely new winter experience arrived in the Brainerd Lakes area? This season, history is being made as Northland Arboretum unveils Minnesota's first-ever manufactured forest ice skating trail—a winding ribbon of ice through wooded terrain that's transforming how we think about winter recreation. Opening December 21, 2025, this innovative attraction drew nearly 100 visitors on its first day and hundreds more through the holiday season, generating excitement that's rippling across the state.​

This isn't your typical skating rink. Imagine gliding along a quarter- to half-mile trail that curves through jack pine forest and bur oak savannah, navigating gentle hills and elevation changes while surrounded by the serene beauty of Minnesota's winter landscape. It's skating reimagined—part outdoor adventure, part winter wonderland, and entirely unique to our region.

A Skating Experience Unlike Any Other

The Northland Arboretum forest ice skating trail distinguishes itself from every other skating venue you've experienced. Traditional rinks offer flat, predictable surfaces. Frozen lakes provide expansive uniformity. But this trail incorporates natural topographical variation—gentle hills, elevation changes, and forested corridors that create a dynamic skating experience requiring both horizontal turns and vertical grade navigation.​

The trail winds through the 400-acre nature preserve, following contours of the landscape in ways that challenge even accomplished skaters to adapt their techniques. Early visitors with professional hockey backgrounds observed that "uphill is more negotiable. Downhill is more like skiing," highlighting how the terrain creates novel biomechanical demands. The ice surface features curves, hills, and occasional bumps that require different balance adjustments than flat-surface skating, making each visit an adventure rather than a routine.​

This innovative attraction positions the Brainerd Lakes area within an emerging North American trend toward immersive forest skating experiences, following successful models at Arrowhead Provincial Park in Ontario and Boulder Junction, Wisconsin's "The Glide". But we're the first in Minnesota to offer this experience—making the Northland trail a genuine pioneer in our state's winter recreation landscape.

Born from Community Vision

The trail's creation exemplifies what happens when organizations truly listen to their communities. In 2023, Northland Arboretum conducted a comprehensive needs assessment survey to identify recreational gaps in the Brainerd Lakes area. While predictable requests for mountain biking and disc golf emerged, forest ice skating appeared as an unexpected but recurring theme.​

Executive Director Trevor Pumnea, despite his recreation management background and Ph.D. candidacy in Healthy Active Lifestyles, had never encountered the concept. His research revealed the transformative potential of forest skating—particularly in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin, where The Glide's 2024 debut immediately generated economic impact comparable to snowmobile traffic, drawing thousands from Chicago, Minneapolis, the Dakotas, and even international locations.​

Recognizing both community appetite and winter recreation diversification potential, Pumnea initiated planning that showcases entrepreneurial nonprofit thinking at its finest. Rather than constructing an entirely new path, the arboretum repurposed a section of its existing bike park—minimizing environmental impact while leveraging established infrastructure. At a public surplus auction, Pumnea secured a Zamboni for just $1,650, acquiring essential ice maintenance equipment at a fraction of retail cost.

Video courtesy of Lakeland PBS

Plan Your Visit

Operating Hours:
- Weekdays: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
- Weekends: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Daily throughout winter season, weather permitting (projected through March 2026)​

Admission Pricing:
- Arboretum members: FREE
- Adults: $10
- Youth (ages 6-17): $5
- Seniors (65+): $8
- Veterans: $8
- Children 5 and under: FREE​

The family-friendly pricing structure makes this an accessible adventure, with reduced rates that accommodate multiple children while recognizing different visitor segments.

What to Bring and Know

Visitors must bring their own ice skates currently, as the rental program remains in development. The arboretum actively solicits skate donations to build rental inventory, recognizing that equipment access represents a barrier for casual visitors and tourists. Helmet use is mandatory, reflecting the elevated fall risk on uneven terrain compared to flat rinks. All skaters complete a liability waiver at the Visitor Center before accessing the trail.​

The modern Visitor Center provides restrooms, gift shop access, and warming opportunities—essential amenities for winter comfort. Staff maintain the ice surface multiple times daily with their Zamboni, though Executive Director Pumnea candidly acknowledges the learning curve: "We are learning how difficult it is to Zamboni hills. This is not like maintaining a rink. This is so difficult. It is such a steep learning curve".

Video courtesy of Star Tribune

Beyond the Ice: A Complete Winter Destination

The forest ice skating trail complements extensive winter recreation infrastructure that positions Northland Arboretum as central Minnesota's premier cold-weather destination. The facility features 15 kilometers of groomed cross-country ski trails maintained by the Brainerd Nordic Ski Club, with 6 kilometers illuminated for evening use from 4:30-10:00 PM daily. Snowshoe trails covering 2+ miles wind through prairie restoration areas into the Jack Pine Savannah, with rentals available for $6 per day. The sledding hill, which serves as pollinator habitat during summer, provides family-friendly downhill excitement with evening lighting until 10:00 PM.​

This portfolio allows visitors to combine experiences—starting with cross-country skiing, followed by forest ice skating, and concluding with sledding—creating full-day winter outings that justify the admission cost and travel time. The variety accommodates different skill levels within family groups, ensuring everyone finds their perfect winter adventure.​

Community Response: Pure Enthusiasm

Opening weekend exceeded all organizational expectations, validating the community survey findings and demonstrating latent demand for novel winter experiences. Early visitors represented diverse demographics—from figure skaters and hockey families to tourists seeking alternative activities when weather prevented planned snowmobiling.​

Michaela Feser, a Robbinsdale resident who coaches youth hockey, brought her 10-year-old son Emerson specifically because "when we saw that there was this new trail through the woods—the first Minnesota trail through the woods—we thought it was really exciting". Her father Ken Potts, who played professional hockey in Europe, watched his grandchildren navigate slopes with ease while marveling at the unique biomechanical demands.​

Social media responses amplified this enthusiasm with declarations like "Omg yes 😭😭😭❄️🙌🥰" and "Can't wait!" Minnesota Public Radio described the concept as "Peak Minnesota," while outdoor recreation influencers featured the trail in regional winter activity roundups.​

Local businesses and tourism stakeholders have expressed significant interest in the trail's potential to drive winter visitation, with area hotels and businesses "thrilled about what this could mean for our community". This enthusiasm reflects lessons from Boulder Junction, where The Glide generated dramatic winter business increases during what traditionally represented a slow season.​

An Environmental Redemption Story

The trail's location adds compelling narrative depth to the recreational experience. Northland Arboretum was founded in 1972 on the closed Brainerd Landfill, transforming what was once environmental liability into thriving ecosystems and public recreation amenities. Over five decades, the organization has systematically restored these lands, with the 400+ acre preserve now encompassing jack pine forest, bur oak savannah, restored prairie, wetlands, and shrub bog.​

The ice skating trail represents sustainable use of already-established paths, demonstrating sophisticated seasonal land use planning that maximizes recreation value while managing environmental impacts. During summer, these trails serve mountain bikers; in winter, the same footprint accommodates skating—extracting greater public benefit from single infrastructure investments.​

Video courtesy of MPR News

Looking Ahead: Vision for Growth

The arboretum has identified trail lighting as the primary enhancement priority, with potential to extend operating hours into evening periods and create atmospheric skating experiences. Evening sessions would enable working adults whose schedules conflict with current weekday hours to participate, while torchlight or electric illumination would transform the forest aesthetic.​

Developing a comprehensive skate rental program remains essential for expanding market reach to tourists, casual users, and families. Future accessibility improvements might include designated flat sections suitable for beginning skaters and complementary programming like guided nature interpretation skate tours, photography evenings, or family events combining skating with hot chocolate.​

Your Winter Adventure Awaits

The Northland Arboretum forest ice skating trail represents more than a new attraction—it's a reimagining of winter possibilities in the Brainerd Lakes area. This locally distinctive experience deserves exploration and support, contributing to regional winter tourism infrastructure that benefits area businesses while enhancing quality of life for residents.​

As winter deepens and ice conditions optimize, this pioneering trail invites you to glide through woods, navigate gentle hills, and experience familiar landscapes from entirely novel perspectives. Whether you're an accomplished skater seeking new challenges or a family looking for memorable winter outings, Minnesota's first forest ice skating trail offers an adventure you won't find anywhere else in the state.​

Bundle up, lace up your skates, and discover why hundreds of early visitors are calling this the most exciting winter recreation development in recent memory. The woods are waiting, the ice is ready, and history is being made right here in the Brainerd Lakes area.​

For more information, visit northlandarb.org or call to confirm ice conditions before your visit.