The Ursids is a minor meteor shower producing about 5-10 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Tuttle, which was first discovered in 1790. The shower runs annually from December 17-25. It peaks this year on the the night of the 21st and morning of the 22nd. The first quarter moon should set just after midnight leaving dark skies for what could be a good show.

Meteors will radiate from the constellation Ursa Minor, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

On the North Shore, sunrise will be about 7:45 am and sunset will be about 4:15 pm, making it the shortest day and longest night of the year. The South Pole of the earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will have reached its southernmost position in the sky and will be directly over the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.44 degrees south latitude. This is the first day of winter.

Lutsen Mountains will be implementing a daily capacity limit on skier visits during the 2020 – 2021 season.  While our 1,000 acres and wide-open space provide ample opportunity for social distancing on the slopes, chalets and restaurants will have limited capacity while adhering to COVID 19 operational protocols.  This will create a number of sold-out days.  We have built an online calendar to highlight these peak days and will update throughout the season as availability becomes low, sold out, or additional dates start to reach capacity.

Projected Peak Days
Dec 26 – Jan 3
Jan 16-18
Feb 13-15
Select Saturdays in February and March

This one is pretty self explanatory. Just remember in the southern hemisphere the Cold Moon is in June.

Join Michael Monroe for an enchanting evening of north shore harmonies…a performance and reception in his beautiful log home on the North Shore of Lake Superior, located 7 miles outside of Grand Marais.

2020 DATES
December 31 and January 1 2021 – special holiday pricing

Details and reservations.

Lutsen Mountains will be implementing a daily capacity limit on skier visits during the 2020 – 2021 season.  While our 1,000 acres and wide-open space provide ample opportunity for social distancing on the slopes, chalets and restaurants will have limited capacity while adhering to COVID 19 operational protocols.  This will create a number of sold-out days.  We have built an online calendar to highlight these peak days and will update throughout the season as availability becomes low, sold out, or additional dates start to reach capacity.

Projected Peak Days
Dec 26 – Jan 3
Jan 16-18
Feb 13-15
Select Saturdays in February and March

Lutsen Mountains will be implementing a daily capacity limit on skier visits during the 2020 – 2021 season.  While our 1,000 acres and wide-open space provide ample opportunity for social distancing on the slopes, chalets and restaurants will have limited capacity while adhering to COVID 19 operational protocols.  This will create a number of sold-out days.  We have built an online calendar to highlight these peak days and will update throughout the season as availability becomes low, sold out, or additional dates start to reach capacity.

Projected Peak Days
Dec 26 – Jan 3
Jan 16-18
Feb 13-15
Select Saturdays in February and March

Lake Superior freezes over completely once every 20 years, and averages about 50% ice cover. In March 2019, it froze over 91% [pictured here].

When temps warm in the spring, roads are salted to keep ice from forming. Like many of us, moose crave a little salt. Carefully drive paved roads – like the Gunflint Trail or Minnesota Highway 1 – at dusk [around 6:30 pm this time of year]. Keep an eye out and be prepared to stop. The same thing happens when temps first drop in mid-November into late December..

See more photos here

2020/2021 Season

Extended Weekend: April 17-18 and 24-25, and May 1-2

2020/2021 Season

Extended Weekend: April 24-25, and May 1-2

Ice out -when lake ice disintegrates enough for most of the lake to be ice-free – is late up north. Lake edges give way first with a few inches, then a foot of open water. The ice goes soft and gets granular. Right before it breaks up it can get very dark. We all keep our fingers crossed the lakes will be open for walleye Fishing Opener.

2020/2021 Season

Closing Weekend: May 1-2