John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon: Jan. 30-Feb. 2. Longest sled dog marathon in the lower 48 states. Races start at Billy's in Duluth; marathon finishes in Grand Portage; Beargrease 120 finishes in Finland; and Beargrease 40 finishes in Two Harbors. For more info, to volunteer or to donate, visit beargrease.com .
55+ Snowshoeing: 5:30-6:30 p.m. Jan. 31, Hartley Nature Center, Duluth. Meet at nature center parking lot, 3001 Woodland Ave. Join other 55-and-over individuals for a snowshoe social and enjoy wildlife and scenery; trail options from easy to moderate. No experience necessary; snowshoes provided. Hosted by Duluth Parks and Recreation. Ages 55 and up. Fee $3. Register at secure.rec1.com/MN/duluthparks/catalog/index .
Parks After Dark: Stargazing Night Hike: 7-9 p.m. Feb. 2, Waabizheshikana Trail, Duluth. Meet at Pulaski Street Trailhead, 63rd Avenue West. Learn what creatures prefer the night to the day; practice your sense of hearing to experience nature; and do some stargazing. Hike is up to 1 mile on uneven terrain. Hosted by Duluth Parks and Recreation. All ages. Fee $5. Registration deadline Feb. 1; visit secure.rec1.com/MN/duluthparks/catalog/index .
McDavitt Road Snowshoe Hike: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 5, Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center, 8793 Owl Ave., Meadowlands. Look for tracks and finches and learn about bogs and winter ecology during this leisurely hike off South Logging Road. Snowshoes required; the Welcome Center has some available to borrow. To reserve snowshoes, email naturalist@saxzim.org . To register for the hike, visit https://bit.ly/3rnmTSp .
57th Annual Fisharama: noon-4 p.m. Feb. 5, Amnicon Lake parking lot, Superior. Cash prizes for longest live fish caught: pan fish, northern pike, other legal fish. 50/50 raffle and prize drawings on the ice. Holes drilled upon request. Hosted by Tri-Lakes Community Center. Fee $5 adults, $3 kids age 5 and under. All Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 guidelines and state and county mandates will be followed.
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Winter Encounters Snowshoe Hike: 1-2:30 p.m. Feb. 5, Jay Cooke State Park, 3 miles east of Carlton on state Highway 210. Join the park naturalist on snowshoes to discover the park during winter. After some "how-to" basics, the group will head out on a trail. Child and adult snowshoes available. The program will be canceled if temperatures/windchill reach 15 degrees below zero. For more information, contact Kristine Hiller at 218-673-7005 or kris.hiller@state.mn.us .
Sunset Snowshoe: 3:30-5:30 p.m. Feb. 5, Burntside Islands Scientific and Natural Area. Meet at Burntside Lake Public Water Access; from Ely, go 6.75 miles west on state Highway 169, then 2.25 miles north and west on County Highway 404 (Wolf Lake Road); park at water access on north. Introductory snowshoe hike takes participants to see the sunset at picturesque Burntside Islands SNA. Bring snowshoes; limited adult- and child-sized snowshoes available to borrow. Wear face coverings when unable to maintain 6 feet of social distance. Registration required; email arika.preas@state.mn.us or call 218-735-3971.
Open Archery: 10-11:30 a.m. Feb. 12, Washington Center gym, 310 N. First Ave. W., Duluth. Available for those who have completed the Intro to Archery class, this program is a chance for archers to practice skills; all equipment provided. Hosted by Duluth Parks and Recreation. Ages 9 and up. Fee $8. Registration closes Feb. 4; register at secure.rec1.com/MN/duluthparks/catalog/index .
Winter Encounters Snowshoe Hike: 10-11:30 a.m. Feb. 12, Jay Cooke State Park, 3 miles east of Carlton on state Highway 210. Join the park naturalist on snowshoes to discover the park during winter. After some "how-to" basics, the group will head out on a trail. Child and adult snowshoes available. The program will be canceled if temperatures/windchill reach 15 degrees below zero. Registration required by 5 p.m. Feb. 11; email carly.hawkinson@state.mn.us or call 218-673-7006.
Guided Snowshoe Hike: noon-3 p.m. Feb. 12, Brewers Park, Duluth. Meet at Skyline Trailhead, 24th Avenue West. All ages. Free. Hosted by Duluth Parks and Recreation. Register at secure.rec1.com/MN/duluthparks/catalog/index .
Full Moon Hike: 6-8 p.m. Feb. 16, Hartley Nature Center, Duluth. Headlamps available or bring your own. Hosted by Duluth Parks and Recreation. All ages. Fee $5. Registration deadline Feb. 15; visit secure.rec1.com/MN/duluthparks/catalog/index .
Full Moon Snowshoe: 8-9 p.m. Feb. 18, Lost Lake Peatland Scientific and Natural Area. Meet at Lost Lake Public Water Access; from Tower, go 5 miles west on state Highway 169, then 1.25 miles west on state Highway 1, then 1 mile north on County Road 476 (Holter Road), then 1 mile northwest on County Road 458 (Roberts Road); park in water access at dead end. Introductory snowshoe hike takes participants to enjoy the full moon over Lost Lake Peatland SNA Bring snowshoes; limited adult- and child-sized snowshoes available to borrow. Wear face coverings when unable to maintain 6 feet of social distance. Registration required; email arika.preas@state.mn.us or call 218-735-3971.
Snowmobile Safety Field Day: 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Feb. 19, Itasca Driftskippers Club House, 33455 Wagon Wheel Court Road, Grand Rapids. Registration starts at 8:15 a.m.; class at 9 a.m.; field day test around 10 a.m. Must be at least 11 years old before start date and have completed the online class. Students must have their printed copy of the online completion certificate to register. To register or for questions, contact Wayne Roskos at 218-244-5629 or wayneroskos@kozyradio.com .
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Winter World of Lichens Field Trip: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 19, Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center, 8793 Owl Ave., Meadowlands. Northern Minnesota is home to a diverse lichen community. These species cover nearly 8% of the terrestrial surface of the earth, yet are relatively unknown to most of us. Get firsthand experience in lichen identification, as well as to learn a few of the more common lichens in our area. The group will make small collections of lichens for the Welcome Center or personal use. Snowshoes may be used; email naturalist@saxzim.org to reserve. To register, visit https://bit.ly/3FLLIvJ .
Northern Pines Sled Dog Race: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 19, Northern Pines Golf Course, 69420 Airport Road, Iron River, Wisconsin. This sprint/mid-distance race is a downhill run through the golf course, entering the Bayfield County Trail system and the Tri-County Corridor. Food and free family events in a heated event center. Meet the mushers in the evening. For more info, visit northernpinessdr.com .
Winter Encounters Snowshoe Hike: 1-2:30 p.m. Feb. 19, Jay Cooke State Park, 3 miles east of Carlton on state Highway 210. Join the park naturalist on snowshoes to discover the park during winter. After some "how-to" basics, the group will head out on a trail. Child and adult snowshoes available. The program will be canceled if temperatures/windchill reach 15 degrees below zero. For more information, contact Kristine Hiller at 218-673-7005 or by email at kris.hiller@state.mn.us .
Snowmobile Safety Field Day: 9 a.m.-noon Feb. 20, Marcell Town Hall, Town Hall Road, Marcell. Must be at least 11 years old before start date and have completed the online class. To register or for questions, contact Sandy Wass at snowdrifters42@gmail.com or call 218-341-8522.
Snowmobile Safety Field Day: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 26, Vermilion Community College, 1900 E. Camp St., Ely. Must be at least 11 years old before start date and have completed the online class. To register or for questions, contact Dave Marshall at 218-232-1711 or at dave.marshall@ely.mn.us .
Winter Encounters Snowshoe Hike: 10-11:30 a.m. Feb. 26, Jay Cooke State Park, 3 miles east of Carlton on state Highway 210. Join the park naturalist on snowshoes to discover the park during winter. After some "how-to" basics, the group will head out on a trail. Child and adult snowshoes available. Physical distancing and masks are encouraged during interpretive programs. Registration required by 5 p.m. Feb. 25; email carly.hawkinson@state.mn.us or call 218-673-7006.
Guided Snowshoe Hike: noon-3 p.m. Feb. 26, Short Line Park, Duluth. All ages. Free. Hosted by Duluth Parks and Recreation. Register at secure.rec1.com/MN/duluthparks/catalog/index .
WolfTrack Classic Sled Dog Race: 9 a.m. Feb. 27, Ely. Includes two distances: eight-dog, 50-mile race (through boreal forest on Taconite Trail) and six-dog, 30-mile race (on Taconite Trail winding around near Purvis Lake); both start and end in Ely. Visit wolftrackclassic.com .
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Great Lakes Mono Ski Camp: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. March 2-4, Spirit Mountain, Duluth. Partnership with Spirit Mountain and Move United brings together mono-skiers and instructors to work with beginner- through advanced-level mono-skiers to improve their skiing skills. Bring equipment or use theirs. Fee $325, includes three days of professional on-hill instruction, two sessions of movement analysis, three days of lift tickets, three days of lunch vouchers, a Thursday evening social event and one merchandise item of choice. Register on the Courage Kenny website, https://bit.ly/3r1H7QS .
Snowmobile Safety Field Day: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. March 5, 626 Sixth Ave. W., Calumet Must be at least 11 years old before start date and have completed the online class. To register or for questions, call Brandon Anderson at 218-247-7753.
Dog Sledding and Sleigh Ride Adventure Day: 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. March 13, Positive Energy Outdoors, Duluth. For families of people with disabilities, held each March in partnership with Positive Energy Outdoors, this day of outdoor winter fun provides participants with the experience of dog sledding with Alaskan huskies and draft horse sleigh rides through Northwoods scenery. Fee $20. Register on the Courage Kenny website, https://bit.ly/3G1UfKk .
Lutsen Spring Adaptive Ski Day: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. March 20, Lutsen Mountains, Lutsen. One-to-one instruction from Courage Kenny ski and snowboard volunteers for stand-up, snowboard and mono ski lessons. Fee $50, includes lift ticket, four hours of instruction and use of equipment if needed. Registration only open for stand-up skiers, intermediate- and advanced-level mono-skiers. Bi-skiers should Eric Larson before registering. Register on the Courage Kenny website, https://bit.ly/35qGrMN.
