The North Shore is a haven for outdoor winter events. Up here, we spend our winters racing everything from cross-country skis to sled dogs! Our winters are full of events,  everyone can join in the fun in some way or another. If you like being outdoors in the winter, the North Shore is the place to be.

In no particular order, since chronologically, they might vary slightly from year to year, here are a few of our favorite outdoor winter events:

Bearskin Nordic Race Series

For your chance to compete in a race at your own pace in your own time, check out the Bearskin Virtual Nordic Race Series. From the Bearskin Nordic Series Website: “The Bearskin Virtual Nordic Race Series is a season-long Nordic ski event. Throughout each month skiers will race a set course on one of the trails at Bearskin Lodge, and record their time. Prizes will be awarded to the top male and female finishers of each month’s race, and a grand prize will be awarded to the overall winners based on their finishes throughout the season. All participants will be entered in a season-ending raffle for additional prizes. Each race completed will be worth one entry into the raffle.”

So, basically, at your own time and pace, you can ski along the set course and record your time using the Strava app. Submit your time through the Bearskin Nordic Series website. You can submit multiple race times should you choose to run the course several times over the month. Plus, each month is a new competition, so you can enter each month, as well. Whether you win the month’s race or not, your name will be entered into the raffle for the chance to win even more great prizes. Plus, this is a great way to get outside It’s a win, win… even if you don’t win!

Norpine Fat Bike Classic

Fat bike racing has gained popularity in recent years, which has led to the creation of the Norpine Fat Bike Classic. The race happens annually around the first weekend of January. Experience fat biking on the Norpine Trails in Lutsen. Ride through stands of old-growth cedars on Pisten Bully groomed trails while overlooking Lake Superior- winter riding doesn’t get better than this!

Racer registration for each event can be found on their websites. Those who just want to watch the race can find spectator information closer to the race date. Most Norpine Fat Bike Classic events happen in and around Cascade Lodge and Restaurant.

Gunflint Mail Run

The North Shore has a sled dog community that is alive and well. The first of the area’s two big sled dog races is the Gunflint Mail Run. The Gunflint Mail Run typically lands on the first weekend in January, often the same date as the Norpine Fat Bike Classic, giving you two great events in one weekend! Just head up to the Gunflint Trail where the race starts and ends on Poplar Lake in the mid-trail area.

From their website: The very northeastern tip of Minnesota is Cook County, a land blessed with stunning beauty. We have Gichigami. And glacially sculpted boreal forests. And an immense network of lakes and streams. And cold weather. And snow. We are blessed with cold weather and snow here. It is in this land of remote beauty that dog sledding became a way of life. And it is this way of life that we celebrate with the Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race.  The Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race is a continuous race consisting of two legs of equal distance, separated by a mandatory layover. There are two classes in the race: a 12-dog, 100-mile race and an 8-dog, 65-mile race. Come visit us in Cook County, Minnesota to experience this spectacular race.

John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon

Each January, the beloved John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon is held in northeast Minnesota. The event is probably the most popular of the area’s outdoor winter events. The race is named after the mail carrier, John Beargrease, who delivered mail up and down the North Shore via dogsled and rowboat. It began in 1980. Today, there are three races for teams to choose from: The full marathon, the 40-mile race, and a 120-mile race.

Currently, the full marathon runs from Billy’s Bar in Duluth to the Grand Portage Lodge and Casino in Grand Portage. Although the route can change based on snow conditions. Spectators have many check points to choose from to observe teams coming and going. Check out our blog post on John Beargrease for more information and checkpoint locations to enjoy the next race.

Dog Days of Winter Dog Sled Derbies and Skijoring Races

For a lighter bit of sled dog fun, check out the Dog Days of Winter Dog Sled Derbies and Skijorning Races. The races are usually held in March on Poplar Lake in the mid-Gunflint Trail area. The same lake hosts the Gunflint Mail Run and is a checkpoint in the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. So if you want to see sled dogs, head to Poplar Lake!

From their website: Get ready to harness up those canines and head to Trail Center Lodge for a day with the dogs on beautiful Poplar Lake located halfway up the Gunflint Trail! Go Dog is teaming up again with Trail Center Lodge and Cook County Dog Mushers Inc. to offer three classes of sled dog derbies and two classes of skijoring races! There will be a 2.5 mile race and a 5 mile skijoring race to choose from. Both races are freestyle (skate or classic), have a max of two dogs per skier and will take place entirely on Poplar Lake.

Cook County Snowmobile Club-Ridge Riders Snowmobile Drag Races, Fun Run, and Trout Derby

The series of races are held in January through March. You can catch the Snowmobile Drag Races on Devil Track Lake, Hungry Jack Lake, and Poplar Lake. The Fun Run takes riders throughout the Gunflint Trail snowmobile system starting at either Devil Track Lake or Hungry Jack Lake. And the annual Trout Derby held in March takes place on Gunflint Lake. Check out the Cook County Snowmobile Club-Ridge Riders website for dates and information.