City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival

Do both the 31K distance events - Classic on Saturday and Skate on Sunday!

If you want an adventure that mixes the great outdoors with a bit of a scavenger hunt, give this unique event a go. Hosted by the Minnesota Orienteering Club, the Ski-Orienteering Loppet is a timed event in which participants navigate on skis using map and compass to find checkpoints located throughout Theodore Wirth Park.

Orienteering is an activity that everyone in the family can enjoy, regardless of age or experience. All are welcome from experienced and competitive orienteers who fly through the woods to beginners and non-competitive orienteers who want to follow the trails and enjoy the park at a more leisurely pace.

The Ski-Orienteering Loppet usually has two different courses available to fit your experience and fitness: Medium/Long (7-9k) and Short (4-5k).

Participants will receive information on start location/details directly from MNOC.

For more information on the Minnesota Orienteering Club and to see a complete list of events for the season, visit the MNOC website.

The Open Loppet 5K is open to skiers of all ages and abilities. Whether this is your first year skiing or your eighty-first year in the sport, this event is for you!

A seeded wave start allows for skiers of varying abilities to all enjoy the event together. Teenagers whose race seasons have been cancelled this year can test their limits on this course which is the same distance as their high school races, advanced skiers will find this to be a fun and speedy course, while families looking for a non-competitive outing for both the kids and adults will be able to enjoy the beautiful trails, and new skiers hoping to complete their first 5K will be able to cross the finish line with big smiles on their faces!

This event is freestyle technique, meaning you can classic or skate ski the course. While there are prizes for the winners, fun is the goal and costumes are encouraged!

The Snowshoe Loppet is a point-to-point course from the Chain of Lakes to The Trailhead via woods and groomed ski trails (where snowshoers are not normally allowed). This snowshoe run / walk follows the same course as the 10K Classic/ Skate Ski Tours and is a perfect event to explore the beautiful woods of Theodore Wirth Park in a unique way!