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Ski or snowshoe by candlelight

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

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.

Here's our 2013 guide to candlelight events in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan (and one apiece in Iowa and Illinois).

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 before going if conditions seem sketchy.

If you want to ski with even more light, look for an event close to the full moons on Dec. 28 in 2012 and Jan. 26 and Feb. 25 in 2013.

Though the park events are free, most state parks and park reserves require a vehicle sticker for the evening. Events in Minnesota also require a state ski pass, $6 daily and $20 annual.

In Wisconsin, some events require a state trails pass, $4 daily or $20 annual; the pass also is good for bicycling trails. 

Some parks rent skis and/or snowshoes. For a really special evening, rent a camper cabin and ski right up to your door when you're finished (reserve far in advance). Most events are held 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. 

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

Dec. 28, LaRiviere Park in Prairie du Chien, Wis., torchlight ski, hike and sledding, part of Carp Fest.

Dec. 29, Michigan state parks: Porcupine Mountains Wilderness near Silver City, lantern-lit, ski and snowshoe (or hike unless trails are icy).

Dec. 29,  Zippel Bay State Park on Lake of the Woods near Warroad, ski.

Dec. 31, Fort Snelling State Park in the Twin Cities; walk and ice skate.

Dec. 31, Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan, Minn., snowshoeing, hiking and skating plus sledding at the New Year's Eve Party. 

Dec. 31, Michigan state parks: Porcupine Mountains Wilderness near Silver City, lantern-lit, ski and snowshoe (or hike unless trails are icy).

Jan. 1, Michigan state parks: Ludington, lantern-lit snowshoe.

Jan. 5, Wisconsin state parks: Mirror Lake near Wisconsin Dells, ski, snowshoe or hike. Harrington Beach near Belgium, ski and hike. Blue Mound State Park near Mount Horeb, Wis., ski, snowshoe or hike.

Jan. 5, Michigan state parks: Porcupine Mountains Wilderness near Silver City, lantern-lit, ski and snowshoe. 

Jan. 12, Spring Lake Park Reserve in Hastings, Minn., ski. $10, $8 in advance.

Jan. 12, Wisconsin state parks: Kohler-Andrae near Sheboygan, ski or hike.  Lake Kegonsa near Stoughton, ski. Wildcat Mountain near Ontario, torchlight ski or hike. Kettle Moraine State Forest-Lapham Peak near Delafield, ski or hike.

Jan. 12, Michigan state parks: Porcupine Mountains Wilderness near Silver City, lantern-lit, ski and snowshoe. Hartwick Pines near Grayling, lantern-lit, ski. 

Jan. 12, Mosquito Hill Nature Center near New London, Wis., snowshoe, $8, including rental, snacks and hot drinks. Reserve a week in advance.

Jan. 19, Minnesota state parks: Lake Carlos near Alexandria, ski, snowshoe or hike. Itasca, lantern-lit snowshoe.

Jan. 19, Wisconsin state parks: Cancelled: Governor Dodge near Dodgeville, ski, snowshoe and hike, and Brunet Island near Cornell, ski and snowshoe.

Jan. 19, Michigan state parks:  Porcupine Mountains Wilderness near Silver City, lantern-lit, ski and snowshoe. Van Riper west of Marquette, ski.

Jan. 19, Harmony-Preston Valley State Trail from Preston in southeast Minnesota, ski and hike, with chili around a bonfire.

Jan. 19, Horicon Marsh from the International Education Center near Horicon, Wis., snowshoe and hike. Free, and snowshoes are first-come, first-served.

Jan. 25, Red Cedar State Trail from Menomonie, Wis., ski, with candlelight walk on the Stokke Trail and candlelight snowshoe in Riverside Park. Trail pass fee is waived.

Jan. 25, Montebello Niteski in Bemidji, Minn., part of the Minnesota Finlandia event. There's a 6 kilometer race, $10 including hot food and drink, and 2 kilometer children's tour, $5. It's electric, though, not candlelight.

Jan. 25, Navarino Nature Center near Shawano, Wis., ski and snowshoe.

Jan. 26, Minnesota state parks: Buffalo River near Moorhead, ski, hike and snowshoe. Lake Bronson in the state's northwest corner, ski. Sakatah Lake near Faribault, ski. Banning near Sandstone, ski. Wild River near Taylors Falls, ski and snowshoe. Mille Lacs Kathio near Lake Mille Lacs, ski or hike. Zippel Bay State Park on Lake of the Woods near Warroad, ski. Minneopa near Mankato, ski, snowshoe and hike.

Jan. 26, Wisconsin state parks: Lake Wissota near Chippewa Falls, ski or snowshoe. Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit near Eagle, ski or hike. Hartman Creek near Waupaca, ski, snowshoe or hike. Whitefish Dunes near Sturgeon Bay, ski, snowshoe or hike. Rib Mountain in Wausau, snowshoe.

Jan. 26, Michigan state parks: Porcupine Mountains Wilderness near Silver City, lantern-lit, ski and snowshoe.

Jan. 26, Mora Lantern Loppet at the Vasaloppet Ski Area, 15 miles north of Mora, Minn., and 10 miles east of Isle, a town on the southeast corner of Lake Mille Lacs.

Jan. 26, Afterhours Ski Trail in Brule River State Forest east of Superior, Wis.

Jan. 26, Stower Seven Lakes Trail from Amery, Wis., ski, snowshoe or hike.

Jan. 26, Crex Meadows Wildlife Area in Grantsburg, Wis., ski, snowshoe or hike.

Jan. 26, Casper Bluff near Galena, Ill., ski, snowshoe or hike, $5 donation to Jo Daviess County Conservation Foundation.

Jan. 26, Waverly Rail Trail in Waverly, Iowa, ski, snowshoe and hike. 

Jan. 26, Lake Duroy near Phillips, Wis., ski, snowshoe or hike to Squaw Island, part of Phillips Winterfest.

Jan. 26, Hartley Nature Center in Duluth, ski, snowshoe and ice-skate, with a winter camping exhibit, marshmallow roasting and a taco-salad supper. Cost is $10 for non-members.

Feb. 2, Minnesota state parks: Afton near St. Paul, hike and snowshoe. Buffalo River near Moorhead, ski, snowshoe or hike. Nerstrand-Big Woods near Northfield, ski, snowshoe and hike.

Feb. 2, Wisconsin state parks: Mirror Lake near Wisconsin Dells, ski, snowshoe or hike. Big Foot Beach near Lake Geneva, hike. Flambeau River State Forest near Phillips, ski. Peninsula near Fish Creek, ski or hike. Harrington Beach near Belgium, ski and hike. Blue Mound State Park near Mount Horeb, Wis., ski, snowshoe or hike. Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit near Campbellsport, ski or hike. Black River near Black River Falls, ski and snowshoe. High Cliff near Appleton, ski or hike.

Feb. 2, Michigan state parks: Porcupine Mountains Wilderness near Silver City, lantern-lit, ski and snowshoe. Tahquamenon Falls near Paradise, lantern-lit, ski and snowshoe.

Feb. 2, Root River State Trail from Whalan, Minn., toward Lanesboro. There's a soup supper afterward at the Whalan Village Hall.

Feb. 2, City of Lakes Luminary Loppet in Minneapolis' Uptown neighborhood, ski or snowshoe on Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles, past magical ice ruins, pillars and a twinkling island.

The fee is $15 by Nov. 30, $17 by Jan. 15, $20 by Jan. 29, then $25. The weekend event also includes ski races that are fun to watch.

Feb. 2, Loop Around the Lake in Minocqua, Wis., ski, snowshoe and hike. This 5K fund-raiser around Lake Minocqua is $30 by Jan. 26, then $35.

Feb. 2, Tara Lila Nature Trail in Eagle River, Wis., snowshoe, part of the daylong Snowshoe Celebration. The trail starts from the 3 Eagle Trail south of Eagle River.

Feb. 2, Cherokee Marsh in Madison, ski. It's upstream from Lake Mendota on the Yahara River.

Feb. 2, Ice Age Trail, Bohn Lake segment east of Hancock, Wis., in Waushara County, ski, snowshoe or hike, $5 with live music, marshmallows and homemade chili and soup in a heated barn.

Feb. 8, Minnesota state parks: Jay Cooke near Duluth, ski and snowshoe. 

Feb. 8, Quarry Hill Nature Center in Rochester, Minn., ski, part of WinterFest. It's $5; register at 507-328-3950.

Feb. 9, Minnesota state parks: Lake Maria near Monticello, snowshoe. Rice Lake near Owatonna, ski, snowshoe or hike.

Feb. 9, Wisconsin state parks: Kohler-Andrae near Sheboygan, tiki-torch ski or hike. Pike Lake Unit, Kettle Moraine State Forest near Hartford, ski, snowshoe or hike. Interstate in St. Croix Falls, ski, snowshoe or hike. Copper Culture near Oconto, snowshoe or hike. Copper Falls near Mellen, ski. Lake Kegonsa near Stoughton, ski. Lapham Peak near Delafield, ski or hike. Newport near Ellison Bay, ski, snowshoe or hike.

Feb. 9, Michigan state parks:  Porcupine Mountains Wilderness near Silver City, lantern-lit, ski and snowshoe. Hartwick Pines near Grayling, lantern-lit, ski. Tahquamenon Falls near Paradise, lantern-lit, ski and snowshoe.

Feb. 9, Lebanon Hills Regional Park in St. Paul suburb of Eagan, ski, snowshoe and hike. $10, $8 in advance. Preregister at 651-554-6530.

Feb. 9, Baker Park Reserve in the Minneapolis suburb of Maple Plain, Valentine's Day ski, $25 including catered dinner and ski equipment.

Feb. 9, Gateway State Trail from the St. Paul suburb of Maplewood, hike.

Feb. 9, Woodland Dunes Nature Center in Manitowoc, Wis., ski, snowshoe or hike.

Feb. 15, Minnesota state parks: Charles A. Lindbergh in Little Falls, ski, snowshoe or hike.

Feb. 16, Minnesota state parks: Father Hennepin near Isle on Mille Lacs, ski. St. Croix near Hinckley, ski or hike. Glendalough near Battle Lake, ski. Gooseberry Falls near Two Harbor, ski, snowshoe and hike. Glacial Lakes near Starbuck, ski, snowshoe or hike.

Feb. 16, Wisconsin state parks: Governor Thompson near Crivitz, ski or hike. Richard Bong near Burlington, walk, $5 with desserts and live music. Register in advance.

Feb. 16, Michigan state parks: Porcupine Mountains Wilderness near Silver City, lantern-lit, ski and snowshoe. Van Riper west of Marquette, ski. Tahquamenon Falls near Paradise, lantern-lit, ski and snowshoe.

Feb. 16, Mosquito Hill Nature Center near New London, Wis., snowshoe, $8, including rental, snacks and hot drinks. Reserve a week in advance.

Feb. 16, Sugarbush Trails near Tofte, Minn., ski or snowshoe.

Feb. 16, Book Across the Bay benefit race/tour across Chequamegon Bay between Ashland and Washburn, Wis., 10-kilometer ski, snowshoe or walk.

Registration up to Feb. 8 is $15, $10 for children or students and $35 for a family, including shuttle from Washburn and chili feed, bonfire and music afterward. Walk-up rate is $25/$20/$50.

For more about the race and area, see Winter in Washburn.

Feb. 22-23, Navarino Nature Center near Shawano, Wis., snowshoe.

Feb. 23, Minnesota state parks: Itasca, lantern-lit snowshoe. Old Mill near Thief River Falls, ski. Lake Bemidji State Park near Bemidji, ski and snowshoe. Lake Carlos near Alexandria, ski and snowshoe. Zippel Bay State Park on Lake of the Woods near Warroad, ski.  Split Rock Lighthouse State Park near Beaver Bay, snowshoe or hike. Maplewood near Pelican Rapids, ski and snowshoe.

Feb. 23, Wisconsin state parks: Council Grounds near Merrill, ski, snowshoe or hike.

Feb. 23, Turville Point Conservation Park in Madison, ski or hike. It's next to Olin Park on Lake Monona.

Feb. 23, Michigan state parks: Porcupine Mountains Wilderness near Silver City, lantern-lit, ski and snowshoe. Tahquamenon Falls near Paradise, lantern-lit, ski and snowshoe.

March 1, Brownstone Trail in Bayfield, Wis., snowshoe or walk. It's a Winter Festival event.

More events

For moonlight snowshoeing and other snowshoe events, check Minnesota  and Wisconsin state parks.

Just across the southeast Wisconsin border in Illinois, the McHenry County Conservation District has scheduled candlelight skis on the first weekends in January and February that follow at least 4 inches of snow; sign up to be notified of dates at MCCD@MCCDistrict.org.

In January, the Friday and Saturday skis will be held at The Hollows near Cary; in February, at Marengo Ridge near Marengo.

Last updated on February 22, 2013