Ski, snowshoe or hike by candlelight

On a cold winter's night, follow the twinkling lights.

The Luminary Loppet in Minneapolis. — A forest of glowing pyramids lights the way at Minneapolis' Luminary Loppet.

If you do only one thing outdoors in winter, do it by candlelight.

Nothing is more magical than a forest full of flickering lights. I got hooked when I skied in Minnesota's Mille Lacs Kathio State Park.

A fat blue moon hung in the sky, sparkling hoarfrost made twigs as nubby as reindeer antlers and more than 400 glowing bags gave the forest a fairy-tale aura.

That was especially memorable, but so was every other time: on the Red Cedar State Trail from Menomonie, past the cascading ice of the Blue Wall; on Chequamegon Bay, with fireworks bursting ahead; along the shore of Lake Bemidji, with city lights twinkling on the horizon.

But all of the events are lovely, and all end with hot drinks and bonhomie around the bonfire. They're all put on with the help of volunteers — a gift to anyone who wants to venture out on a cold winter's night.

Many parks line only their groomed ski trails with lights, but some also light trails for snowshoeing and hiking.

Most will hold a candlelight walk if there's not enough snow, but always check for cancellations, especially if it's been very cold or a storm is expected.

More and more nature centers are holding smaller events.

And you can always make your own luminary course with friends; see How to make ice luminaries.

If you want to ski with even more light, look for an event close to the full moons. In 2024, they're Jan. 25, Feb. 24 and March 25.

Some ski trails are lighted with electricity daily or on weekends. For more, see For skiers, lighted trails.

Candlelight skiing in Michigan. — State parks offer dozens of candlelight ski, snowshoe and hike nights.

Some parks rent skis and/or snowshoes. For a really special evening, rent a camper cabin or yurt and ski right up to your door when you're finished (reserve far in advance). Most events are held 5-8 or 6-9 p.m., but check for details.

Beginners can try candlelight events on bicycle trails, which are flat. The event on the Red Cedar State Trail from Menomonie, Wis., is a particularly good one.

If you need to know how to get started in the sport, see Cross-country skiing 101.

For more, see our Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing sections.

Here are the candlelight nights in 2024.

MINNESOTA

Jan. 5, Luce Line State Trail from Plymouth, walk.

Skiers relax by the bonfire. — After a candlelight ski in Michigan, skiers relax by the bonfire.

Jan. 13, Minnesota state parks: Itasca, lantern-lit snowshoe or hike.

Jan. 13, Quarry Hill Nature Center in Rochester, snowshoe or hike, $5.

Jan. 19, Spring Lake Park Reserve near Hastings, ski or hike, $8. The event sells out; register in advance.

Jan. 20, Minnesota state parks: Nerstrand Big Woods near Northfield, ski, snowshoe or hike. Lake Carlos near Alexandria, snowshoe or hike.

Jan. 26, Gateway State Trail in Mahtomedi, Minn., walk.

Jan. 26, Minnesota state parks: Lake Bemidji near Bemidji, snowshoe or hike.

Jan. 26, Voyageurs National Park near International Falls, snowshoe.

Jan. 27, Minnesota state parks: Blue Mounds near Luverne, snowshoe or hike. Lac Qui Parle near Montevideo, snowshoe or hike. Fort Ridgley near, ski, snowshoe or hike. Rice Lake near Owatonna, ski, snowshoe or hike.

Jan. 27, Quarry Hill Nature Center in Rochester, snowshoe or hike, $5.

Jan. 27, Mora Lantern Loppet at the Vasaloppet Ski Area, 15 miles north of Mora, and 10 miles east of Isle, a town on the southeast corner of Lake Mille Lacs, ski.

Jan. 27, Hartley Nature Center in Duluth, ski, snowshoe and fat-tire biking, $15 including rentals and food. Register in advance.

Feb. 3, Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge near Little Falls, ski or snowshoe.

Feb. 3, City of Lakes Luminary Loppet in Minneapolis' Uptown neighborhood, ski or snowshoe on Lake of the Isles, past magical ice ruins, pillars and a twinkling island. Reserve early for the time slot you want.

Feb. 3, Minnesota state parks: near Onamia, ski or snowshoe. Afton near St. Paul, snowshoe or hike.

Feb. 9, Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan, ski, snowshoe or hike, $8. The event sells out; register in advance.

Feb. 10, Minnesota state parks: Lake Bemidji near Bemidji, ski. Wild River near North Branch, ski, snowshoe or hike. Sibley near New London, hike. Itasca, lantern-lit snowshoe.

Candlelight skiing in a state park. — Ice candles illuminate a state-park trail in Minnesota.

Feb. 10, Ney Nature Center in Henderson, ski or snowshoe.

Feb. 16, Quarry Hill Nature Center in Rochester, Valentine's snowshoe or hike, $14.

Feb. 17, Minnesota state parks: Gooseberry Falls near Two Harbors, ski, snowshoe or hike. Lake Carlos near Alexandria, snowshoe or hike.

Feb. 17, Sugarbush Trail from Oberg Mountain trailhead near Tofte, ski, snowshoe or hike.

Feb. 24, Boulder Lake Environmental Center near Duluth, ski or snowshoe, $10 including snacks and s'mores. Register in advance.

Feb. 24, Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge near Little Falls, ski, snowshoe or hike. Rescheduled from Feb. 3.

Feb. 24, Minnesota state parks: Mille Lacs Kathio, ski, snowshoe or hike. Frontenac near Lake City, ski, snowshoe or hike. Forestville-Mystery Cave near Preston, snowshoe, hike. Big Bog near Waskish, snowshoe or hike. Maplewood near Pelican Rapids, ski, snowshoe or hike. Myre-Big Island near Albert Lea, ski, snowshoe or hike. Canceled: Minneopa near Mankato, snowshoe or hike.

The candlelight ski at Gooseberry Falls State Park. — Skiers and snowshoers gather around a bonfire during the popular candlelight event in Gooseberry Falls State Park.

March 16, Minnesota state parks: Lake Carlos near Alexandria, snowshoe or hike.

WISCONSIN

Jan. 5-6, Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve near Green Bay, snowshoe or hike, $5.

Jan. 13, Minocqua Winter Park, snowshoe.

Jan. 5, 12, 19 and 26, Riveredge Nature Center in Saukville, lantern-lit ski, snowshoe or hike, $5.

Jan. 12 and 26 and Feb. 23, Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve in Appleton, ski, snowshoe or hike.

Jan. 13, Wisconsin state parks: Wildcat Mountain near Ontario, ski, snowshoe or hike and star-gazing. Rib Mountain in Wausau, snowshoe or hike.

Jan. 12, Beaver Creek Reserve east of Eau Claire, snowshoe or hike.

Jan. 18-19, Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve near Green Bay, snowshoe or hike, $5.

Jan. 20, Mount Ashwabay near Bayfield, ski or snowshoe.

Jan. 20, Warner Park in Madison, snowshoe or hike.

Jan. 20, Wisconsin state parks: Point Beach State Forest near Two Rivers, ski. Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area near Horicon, snowshoe or hike.

Candlelight ski on the Red Cedar Trail. — On the Red Cedar State Trail, an ice wall is lighted for the late-January candlelight ski.

Jan. 26, Red Cedar State Trail from Menomonie, ski or hike. CANCELED.

Jan. 26, Navarino Wildlife Area near Appleton, snowshoe or ski, $5 or food donation.

Jan. 27, Minooka Park in Waukesha, part of the Janboree festival, hike. Sign up in advance for starting slots.

Jan. 27, MECCA Trails near Mercer, ski, snowshoe or hike, part of Winterfest.

Jan. 27, Wisconsin state parks: Whitefish Dunes near Sturgeon Bay, ski or hike. Devil's Lake near Baraboo, snowshoe or hike. Kettle Moraine-Lapham Peak near Delafield, ski or hike.

Jan. 27, Stower Seven Lakes Trail near Amery, snowshoe or hike.

Jan. 28, Wisconsin state parks: Lake Wissota near Chippewa Falls, ski, snowshoe or hike.

Feb. 2, MacKenzie Center near Poynette, snowshoe or hike.

Feb. 2, 9, 16 and 23, Riveredge Nature Center in Saukville, lantern-lit ski, snowshoe or hike, $5.

Feb. 2, Navarino Wildlife Area near Appleton, snowshoe or ski, $5 or food donation.

Feb. 2, Crex Meadows near Grantsburg, snowshoe or hike.

Feb. 3, Woodland Dunes Nature Center in Two Rivers, ski, snowshoe or hike.

Candlelight hike at St. Croix State Park. — Hikers follow a trail above the river at Minnesota's St. Croix State Park.

Feb. 3, Wisconsin state parks: Mirror Lake near Wisconsin Dells, ski, snowshoe or hike. Black River Forest near Black River Falls, ski, snowshoe or hike. Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit near Campbellsport, ski or hike. Peninsula between Fish Creek and Ephraim, ski, snowshoe or hike (get free voucher in advance). Blue Mound near Mount Horeb, ski, snowshoe or hike. Copper Falls near Mellen, ski or snowshoe. Havenwoods State Forest in Milwaukee, snowshoe or hike.

Feb. 9, Lake Mendota in Madison, ski, snowshoe or hike, part of the Memorial Union's Winter Carnival.

Feb. 9, Beaver Creek Reserve east of Eau Claire, snowshoe or hike.

Feb. 10, Wisconsin state parks: Interstate, ski, snowshoe or hike. Newport near Ellison Bay, ski, snowshoe or hike. Kettle Moraine State Forest-Pike Lake Unit, ski, snowshoe or hike. Governor Thompson near Crivitz, ski, snowshoe or hike.

Feb. 16, Navarino Wildlife Area near Appleton, snowshoe or ski, $5 or food donation.

Feb. 16, Crossroads at Big Creek Nature Preserve in Sturgeon Bay, ski, snowshoe or hike, part of Fire & Ice Weekend.

Feb. 17, Aldo Leopold Nature Center/Woodland Park in Madison, snowshoe or hike.

Feb. 17, Minocqua Winter Park, ski.

Feb. 17, Book Across the Bay benefit race/tour across Chequamegon Bay between Ashland and Washburn, 10-kilometer ski, snowshoe or walk.

Feb. 17, Wisconsin state parks: Rib Mountain in Wausau, snowshoe or hike. Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit near Eagle, ski or snowshoe. Willow River near Hudson, ski, snowshoe or hike.

Feb. 24, Three Bridges Park in Milwaukee, snowshoe or walk on the Hank Aaron State Trail.

Feb. 24, Wisconsin state parks: Hartman Creek near Waupaca, ski, snowshoe or hike. Afterhours Ski Trail in Brule River State Forest near Superior, ski or snowshoe. Sandhill Wildlife Area near Babcock, snowshoe or hike. Wyalusing near Prairie du Chien, snowshoe or hike. New Glarus Woods in New Glarus, snowshoe or hike.

March 1, Howl Adventure Center near Bayfield, ski, snowshoe or fat bike, part of Bayfield Winter Festival.

March 8, Norskedalen Nature & Heritage Center near Westby, snowshoe or hike.

March 9, Minocqua Winter Park, snowshoe or hike.

March 9, Wisconsin state parks: Big Foot Beach near Lake Geneva, hike.

U.P. AND WEST MICHIGAN

Dec. 29, Mount McSauba recreation are a in Charlevoix, ski, snowshoe or hike.

Jan. 5, 12, 19 and 26, Mount McSauba recreation area in Charlevoix, ski, snowshoe or hike.

Book Across the Bay skiers. — Skiers head out from Ashland on Book Across the Bay.

Jan. 6, Michigan state parks: Ludington, lantern-lit ski or snowshoe.

Jan. 13, Twilight Turtle Trek on Mackinac Island, lantern-lit ski or snowshoe.

Jan. 20, Michigan state parks: Ludington, lantern-lit ski or snowshoe.

Jan. 26, Grass River Natural Area east of Traverse City, ski, snowshoe or hike.

Jan. 27, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park near Silver City, ski or hike.

Skiers on the Luminary Loppet. — Skiers glide from lake to lake in Minneapolis' Luminary Loppet.

Feb. 3, Michigan state parks: Ludington, lantern-lit ski or snowshoe. Porcupine Mountains Wilderness near Silver City, ski or hike. Tahquamenon Falls near Newberry, lantern-lit snowshoe.

Feb. 2, 9, 16 and 23, Mount McSauba recreation are a in Charlevoix, ski, snowshoe or hike.

Feb. 3, Twilight Turtle Trek on Mackinac Island, lantern-lit ski or snowshoe.

Feb. 10, Michigan state parks: Tahquamenon Falls near Newberry, lantern-lit snowshoe. Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park near Silver City, lantern-lit ski, snowshoe or hike.

Feb. 10 and 17, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on the Dune Climb near Empire, hike.

Feb. 17, Michigan state parks: Tahquamenon Falls near Newberry, lantern-lit snowshoe. Ludington, lantern-lit ski or snowshoe. Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park near Silver City, lantern-lit ski, snowshoe or hike.

Candles light the Root River State Trail. — In southeast Minnesota, luminaries line the Root River State Trail for the annual candlelight ski from Whalan.

Feb. 24, Michigan state parks: Tahquamenon Falls near Newberry, lantern-lit snowshoe. Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park near Silver City, lantern-lit ski, snowshoe or hike.

March 2, Twilight Turtle Trek on Mackinac Island, lantern-lit ski or snowshoe.

March 2, Michigan state parks: Ludington, lantern-lit ski or snowshoe.

ILLINOIS

Jan. 12-13, Marengo Ridge Conservation Area near Marengo, ski or hike.

Feb. 9-10, Prairieview Education Center near Crystal Lake, ski or hike.

MORE EVENTS

For moonlight snowshoeing and other snowshoe events, check state parks in Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin (type "candlelight'' into keywords box).

Though the park events are free, most state parks and park reserves require a vehicle permit for the evening. Events in Minnesota also require a state ski pass, $10 daily and $25 annual.

In Wisconsin, some events require a state trails pass, $5 daily or $25 annual; the pass also is good for bicycling trails.

Last updated on February 5, 2022

MidwestWeekends.com (mobile)

Because life's too short to stay home …