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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. Most of the lighted trails are in state parks, but the City of Lakes Loppet in January is on Minneapolis' Chain of Lakes, and organizers promise a luminary pyramid and an "enchanted forest'' along with the usual hot cocoa, cider and coffee.

The Book Across the Bay tour between Ashland and Washburn, Wis., crosses Chequamegon Bay on a candlelit path. At the end, there are fireworks, live music, a chili chow-down and a giant bonfire.

But all 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, and most will hold a candlelight walk if there's not enough snow.

If you want to ski with even more light, look for an event close to the full moons on Dec. 31 — a rare blue moon — and Jan. 30, Feb. 28 and March 30 in 2010.

Though the 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, $5 daily and $15 annual. In Wisconsin, some events require a state trails pass, $4 daily or $20 annual; it’s also 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.

For more, see Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing stories.

Here are the candlelight events in 2009-2010.

Dec. 19, Lake Elmo Park Reserve in Lake Elmo, Minn., just east of St. Paul, ski and hike with tiki torches to celebrate the winter solstice. Santa will be there, too.

Dec. 26, Lake Bemidji State Park near Bemidji, Minn.

Dec. 26 and 30, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park near Silver City, Mich., lantern-lit skiing.

Dec. 30, Zippel Bay State Park on Lake of the Woods near Warroad, Minn.

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

Jan. 2, Wisconsin state parks: Mirror Lake near Wisconsin Dells, ski, snowshoe or hike. Blue Mound near Mount Horeb, ski, snowshoe or hike.

Jan. 2, Michigan state parks: Porcupine Mountains Wilderness near Silver City, lantern-lit. Hartwick Pines near Grayling, lantern-lit.

Jan. 9, Wisconsin state parks: Kohler-Andrae near Sheboygan, ski or hike. Wildcat Mountain near Ontario, torchlight ski. Lapham Peak in Kettle Moraine State Forest near Delafield, ski or hike. Lake Kegonsa near Stoughton.

Jan. 9, Michigan state parks: Porcupine Mountains Wilderness near Silver City, lantern-lit.

Jan. 16, Wisconsin state parks: Rib Mountain State Park in Wausau, snowshoe. Governor Dodge near Dodgeville, ski or hike.

Jan. 16, Spring Lake Park Reserve from Schaar's Bluff Gathering Center near Hastings, Minn.

Jan. 16, Harmony-Preston Valley State Trail from Preston in southeast Minnesota, ski and hike, with free chili around a bonfire.

Jan. 16, Michigan state parks: Porcupine Mountains Wilderness near Silver City, lantern-lit. Hartwick Pines near Grayling, lantern-lit. Sleeper on Saginaw Bay east of Bay City.

Jan. 22, Montebello Niteski in Bemidji, Minn. 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. 22-23, Navarino Wildlife Area near Appleton, Wis., snowshoe.

Jan. 23, Mosquito Hill Nature Center near New London, Wis., snowshoe.

Jan. 23, Minnesota state parks: Lake Carlos near Alexandria, ski and snowshoe.  Charles A. Lindbergh in Little Falls, ski and snowshoe. Itasca, lantern-lit ski and snowshoe. Frontenac near Red Wing.

Jan. 23, Wisconsin state parks: Kettle Moraine State Forest near Palmyra, ski or hike.

Jan. 23, Michigan state parks: Porcupine Mountains Wilderness near Silver City, lantern-lit.

Jan. 27, Cascade Lodge near Lutsen, Minn., part of Volks Ski Fest.

Jan. 29, Red Cedar State Trail from Menomonie, Wis., ski, with candlelight walk on the Stokke Trail and candlelight snowshoe in Riverside Park. Snowshoe use is free, and there will be drawings for prizes.

Jan. 29, Minnesota state parks: Zippel Bay State Park on Lake of the Woods near Warroad, Minn. Old Mill near Thief River Falls, snowshoe.

Jan. 30, Minnesota state parks: Lake Bronson in the state's northwest corner. Wild River near Taylors Falls, ski, snowshoe or hike. Mille Lacs Kathio near Lake Mille Lacs. Buffalo River near Moorhead, ski, hike and snowshoe. Nerstrand Big Woods near Northfield, moonlight ski or hike.

Jan. 30, Afterhours Ski Trail in Brule River State Forest east of Superior, Wis.

Jan. 30, Wisconsin state parks: Hartman Creek near Waupaca, ski or hike. Lake Wissota near Chippewa Falls, ski or snowshoe. Whitefish Dunes near Sturgeon Bay.

Jan. 30, Michigan state parks: Porcupine Mountains Wilderness near Silver City, lantern-lit. Hartwick Pines near Grayling, lantern-lit. Hoeft near Rogers City, lantern-lit. Fayette on the Garden Peninsula of Lake Michigan between Escanaba and Manistique, lantern-lit.

Jan. 30, 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.

Feb. 6, City of Lakes Luminary Loppet in Minneapolis' Uptown neighborhood, ski or snowshoe. Fee is $14 by Nov. 30, $16 by Jan. 15, $18 by Feb. 3, then $20.

Feb. 6, Lebanon Hills Regional Park in the St. Paul suburb of Eagan, ski, snowshoe, ice skate or hike. $5. Preregister at 651-554-6530.

Feb. 6, Root River State Trail from Whalan, Minn., toward Lanesboro. There's a soup supper afterward at the Whalan Village Hall.

Feb. 6, Wisconsin state parks: Mirror Lake near Wisconsin Dells, ski, snowshoe or hike. High Cliff on Lake Winnebago, ski or hike. Peninsula near Fish Creek. Blue Mound near Mount Horeb, ski, snowshoe or hike.

Feb. 6, Minnesota state parks: Hayes Lake near Roseau. Buffalo River near Moorhead, ski, snowshoe or hike. Afton near the Twin Cities, hike and snowshoe.

Feb. 6, Flambeau Hills Trail in Wisconsin's Flambeau River State Forest, 22 miles west of Phillips, ski or hike.

Feb. 6, Ice Age Trail, Bohn Lake segment east of Hancock, Wis., in Waushara County, ski, snowshoe or hike, $5 with music and homemade chili and soup.

Feb. 6, Michigan state parks: Porcupine Mountains Wilderness near Silver City, lantern-lit.

Feb. 12, Jay Cooke State Park near Duluth, ski and snowshoe.

Feb. 13, Sugarbush Trail from the Oberg Mountain trailhead on Minnesota's North Shore, near Tofte, ski, snowshoe or hike.

Feb. 13, Wisconsin state parks: Peshtigo River State Forest near Crivitz, ski or hike. Kohler-Andrae near Sheboygan, ski or hike. Lapham Peak in Kettle Moraine State Forest near Delafield, ski or hike. Rib Mountain, snowshoe. Lake Kegonsa near Stoughton.

Feb. 13, Minnesota state parks: Lake Maria near Monticello, snowshoe or hike.

Feb. 13, Michigan state parks: Porcupine Mountains Wilderness near Silver City, lantern-lit. Hartwick Pines near Grayling, lantern-lit. Indian Lake near Manistique on the Upper Peninsula, lantern-lit.

Feb. 13, Navarino Wildlife Area near Appleton, Wis., snowshoe.

Feb. 14, Cheboygan State Park on the Straits of Mackinac in Michigan, lantern-lit.

Feb. 19, Navarino Wildlife Area near Appleton, Wis., snowshoe.

Feb. 20, Book Across the Bay benefit race/tour across Chequamegon Bay between Ashland and Washburn, Wis., 10-kilometer ski, snowshoe or walk. Registration before Feb. 10 is $15, $10 for children or students, including shuttle from Washburn and chili feed, bonfire and music afterward.

Feb. 20, Minnesota state parks: Gooseberry Falls near Two Harbors, ski, snowshoe or walk. Father Hennepin on the south shore of Lake Mille Lacs. Hayes Lake near Roseau. Glendalough near Battle Lake. Itasca, ski or snowshoe. Lake Bronson in the northwest corner of the state, snowshoe. Maplewood near Pelican Rapids. Itasca, lantern-lit ski and snowshoe.

Feb. 20, Audubon Center of the North Woods near Sandstone, Minn., ski, snowshoe and skate. Fee is $10, $25 for families; instruction and use of skis and snowshoes is included.

Feb. 20, Michigan state parks: Porcupine Mountains near Silver City, lantern-lit.

Feb. 27, Wisconsin state parks: Governor Thompson near Crivitz, ski or hike. 

Feb. 27, Minnesota state parks: Split Rock Lighthouse State Park on Minnesota's North Shore, snowshoe or hike. Lake Carlos near Alexandria. Old Mill near Thief River Falls. Zippel Bay near Warroad.

Feb. 27, Michigan state parks: Porcupine Mountains Wilderness near Silver City, lantern-lit. Hartwick Pines near Grayling, lantern-lit. Hoeft near Rogers City, lantern-lit.

March 6, Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest near Boulder Junction and Minocqua, Wis., ski, snowshoe and hike. This is one of the longest, with a three-mile ski loop.

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

Last updated on January 29, 2010