East Fork of Mink Creek Nordic Center

Located just 7 miles outside of Pocatello, Idaho, East Mink Creek Nordic Center is a dedicated nordic ski and snowshoe area with 20 kilometers of world-class groomed classic and skate trails. The center is operated by the City of Pocatello through a special use permit with the United States Forest Service and through volunteer services of the Pocatello Cross-Country Ski Foundation (PXCSF).

A trail pass is required to ski at the area regardless of day or hour

Trail passes are required 24/7. Rules apply 24/7 including using designated dog trails; do not walk on groomed trails. We appreciate your help to keep the groomed trails in excellent condition by using them appropriately and supporting them financially.

Season passes are on sale at the City Parks and Recreation Offices. It is important that season pass holders sign-in at the yurt with each use, as this provides us with documentation of the necessary use numbers to justify the area staying open. There is also a red fee box located at the entrance to the trails for trail use when there is no attendant.

Trails are typically groomed daily by city employees or PXCSF volunteers.  Everyone utilizing the groomed trails needs to pay the daily trail fee or hold a season pass.  Every parking area has a fee box for mid-week and night use.  On Friday – Sunday, 9am-5pm please pay in the rental office, the A-frame, near the main parking lot.

If no one is staffing the A-frame please put your payment in the red fee box in the parking lot. To reduce costs, the honor system is in place.  Please be honest. The survival of the area depends on it.

Your donations keep the grooming machines fueled up and maintained, keep the trails level, help pay for new structures, etc. So thank you!

Grooming Report

7 Responses

  1. Groomed Mule Deer down to Creekside bridge for skate. Tim’s classic tracks were still intact so I only groomed for skate. Also, Ermine and Race Loop. Should be excellent skiing tomorrow- especially if it doesn’t rain or snow. Creekside has many gaps but everything above still has significant coverage which should hold for another week. Enjoy!

  2. From Tim: 2in new snow. Groomed both skate and classic track: Ermine, Race Course, and Creekside connectors down to bridge. Also did some grooming on Creekside. Thin conditions with some bare spots on Creekside.

  3. From Tim: Groomed Ermine, Race Course, and Creekside connectors down to bridge. Creekside is skiable but is mainly ice with a light coating of snow on the surface. It also has a 5 bare spots, that are long enough to require taking off skis.

  4. Groomed Ermine, Race Course, and Creekside connectors down to bridge. Did not groom creek side because there are some bare spots. 28F and mostly clear at 10:30pm

  5. Don’t let these warm temps fool you, there’s still a lot of snow and good skiing at the Nordic Center! Despite it being 45 degrees at my house as I type this, it was 34 at the Nordic Center when I left at 11. The trails firmed up way more and earlier than I expected them too. Due to starting later this time of the year, I only groomed Creekside, the Connector and the Race Loop. Skiing should be pretty good in the morning. If you enjoy Creekside, ski it while you can, it won’t last much longer.

  6. A late report. I did two passes in the skate lane on the Race Course and Creekside starting at 7:00 this morning. It’s been freezing overnight so early morning grooming works and it has been skiing great soon afterwards. Still a lot of snow although Creekside is getting close to being questionable for future grooming. Some winter weather may be back this weekend.

  7. I groom the skate lane for the race course, the Creekside connector and Creekside. The classic tracks are virtually gone. It was 28° when I got there this morning and 47° when I left.

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Pocatello Nordic Skiing Information

Potato Cup Update

Conditions remain excellent at Mink Creek Nordic Area. Snow coverage is good and nighttime forecasts should be below freezing all week. Mink Creek has had

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