Winter Season Opening Policy
The winter trail network may only open for the season after a substantial stretch of below freezing temperatures to allow the ground to thoroughly freeze AND after the end of the muzzleloader hunting season (this year that date is December 10, 2023).
The fatbike trails will open to fatbikes (tire 3.5 inches or wider) as long as the ground is frozen and can be ridden without causing damage to the trail surface. - If there is no snow, regular mtb tires are allowed on open trails.
The groomed ski trails will open when the ground is frozen and we have received a sufficient amount, preferably 6-8”+ of snow to groom and maintain.
The snowshoe and backcountry ski trails are open when the ground is frozen and snow coverage allows. - If there is no snow, foot travel is allowed on open trails.
For up to the minute trail conditions and information on which trails are open or closed, visit our
trail conditions page.
Winter Trail Crew
KT is proud to employ a grooming team through the winter season that grooms on a consistent basis: CJ Scott our Trail Director, Geoff Whitchurch our GIS Analyst & Trail Manager, Deste Relyea our Signage & Trail Manager, and Evening Groomers Mike Halvorsen & Emmett Hinman.
Grooming Equipment
The team uses a variety of snowmobiles and implements to groom the fatbike and nordic ski trails dependent upon conditions.
- Nordic equipment:
- Skidoo Wide Track LX snowmobile
- Yamaha VK snowmobile
- 2 Tidd Tech drags with track setters
- 2 compaction rollers
- Fat Bike equipment:
- 2014 Skidoo Tundra
- Various handbuilt drags for all conditions and commercially built drags to use in sufficient deep snowpack.
Nordic Ski Trails
The skate ski lanes are groomed and classic tracks are reset when surface conditions and snow depth is suitable.
Our groomed ski trails are closed to fat bike use. However, snowshoers are allowed on the groomed ski trails, but should be mindful to avoid disrupting the classic track set. We welcome ski use on all trails throughout the winter network.
Fatbike Trails
Fatbike trails are groomed as needed. Once the surface is packed and set up (also known as hardened); tire, snowshoe, and ski traffic can be the best method for maintaining an optimum surface. We plan to groom next when there is an accumulation of 2+ inches or the previously packed surface becomes compromised and can effectively be improved with our machinery.
While the fatbike trails may remain open after a significant snow event, we encourage people to wait until the surface sets up before accessing trails by fatbike as the soft snow creates unenjoyable conditions and tires will cause ruts that are difficult for our equipment to remove.
When temps are warm and surface conditions are soft or slushy, fatbike access is discouraged. To help riders keep track of the temperature and proceed with caution at their own discretion, there are strategically placed thermometer gauges with educational signage throughout the trail network. As a general rule, if a rider is leaving a rut or having a hard time riding in a straight line, it is best to turn around and wait for the temps to drop and the surface to set up properly before continuing.
General Grooming Policies & Procedures
During the winter season the trails will remain OPEN as long as surface conditions are safe and the ground is sufficiently frozen to accommodate ski, fatbike or snowshoe traffic without causing damage to the trail. Trail surface conditions and closures are always reported on the
trail conditions page of our website.
KT utilizes customized weather forecasts provided by Nor’Easter Weather to make the most informed decisions on how and when to groom.
When there is a base and a significant amount of snowfall is forecasted,
grooming begins after 2+ inches of accumulation and continues until the snowfall ends.
If there is low, or no existing base, this can affect the frequency of grooming. Our Crew will wait for a more significant accumulation of 6+ inches before they start grooming since thin conditions can lead to damaging the trails, like digging up dirt, or even being detrimental to our equipment. There is a balance in these scenarios when less is more, and the surface, as well as the snowpack, can remain more sustainable with less manipulation.
When grooming soft or slushy snow in warm temps, it is critical to find the window of time when the surface consistency is accessible for manipulation and our equipment is manageable, as snowmobiles are difficult to steer and drags can get bound up with heavy wet snow.
Icy conditions are also challenging as we operate without a tiller, the machinery used to break up ice. When conditions become icy, we will make sure to communicate through all avenues, the necessity for caution and recommend proper equipment such as studded tires and snowshoes with crampons. And if safety requires it, we will close trails.
Dogs
*Please remember, even in the winter, Dogs are only welcomed on the Village Trails.
Welcome Center Operations
Our visitor experiences are overseen by Sean Skrzypiec, our Operations Director, and our Membership & Experience Manager Cedelle Sirjane. The
KT Welcome Center location and hours of operation are posted
here
Parking
Parking locations to access the winter trail network are posted
here.
Membership
Trail access is allowed for KT Members. Daily, Monthly, and Annual Memberships and locally produced and sourced merchandise that supports the KT mission can be purchased at the
KT Welcome Center or from our
online store. Purchases made from the online store are shipped or are available for local pick-up, during regular business hours.
Annual KT Members who purchased their membership during the Summer season and would like to receive their Winter stickers, please email info@kingdomtrails.org and we’ll gladly pop them in the mail.
Trail Maps
A digital version of our winter map is available on the
Trail Map page of our website. You may also download the
Ondago GPS app for navigation when on the trails. Printed versions of the map are available at our Welcome Center or from the map kiosk on the exterior of the Welcome Center.
Ride With Gratitude
Please adhere to the
Ride With Gratitude Code of Conduct.
