JAY C. HORMEL NATURE CENTER
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2023 Cross Country Ski & Snowshoe Rental

​Ski rentals are currently closed for the season. 
We need at least 6-8 inches of snow in order to groom our trails. Please feel free to come out with your own skis as long as we have snow! We do not require a MN Ski Pass. 
Check trail conditions before you ski! We will update trail conditions throughout the winter on our SkinnySki page.

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Hours:
• Monday-Thursday, & Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.*
• Friday: 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.* (open an hour later during free ski rental on Friday afternoons from 3:00-6:00 p.m.)
• Sunday: 1:00-5:00 p.m.*
      *Skis need to be returned 15 minutes before closing time.


Daily Fees (per-person for 3 hours):
Adults – Cross Country Ski Rental: $6.00; Snowshoe Rental: $5.00
Children 18 & Under – Cross Country Ski or Snowshoe Rental: $1.00!
Cash or check only, please.
  • We will again be offering FREE cross country ski and snowshoe rental for adults and children on Friday afternoons from 3:00 to 6:00 pm beginning when trail conditions allow and continuing into March if snow conditions allow. The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center does NOT REQUIRE the Minnesota Ski Pass on our trails.
  • Use your Canoe/Kayak Punch Card for adult cross country skiing or snow shoe rentals in the winter! We will also accept punch cards from the Albert Lea Rock Gym and vice versa! 

THANK YOU to Belita Schindler for the generous donation, in memory of Dr. Richard Schindler, of $5.00 for each child’s rental during this winter ski season, which reduces the rental fee for children to $1.00 each.
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Please be mindful of walking on trails during our busy skiing season. Please walk all the way to the sides of the trial. The larger groomed/packed section is for skate skiers, not for walking, please do not walk down the center of the trail. ​
Contact                                                   
Jay C. Hormel Nature Center
1304 21st St NE
Austin, MN 55912
Phone: (507) 437-7519
Email: info@hormelnaturecenter.org

Fax: (507) 396-2903
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"In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught."  — Baba Dioum
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  • Home
  • About
    • FAQ/Rules
    • Trail Map
    • Education Programs
    • History
    • Staff
    • Nature Center Gifts
    • Canoe & Kayak Rental
    • Injured/Abandoned Animals
    • 50th Anniversary
  • Programs & Events
    • Upcoming Programs and Events
    • Calendar of Events
    • Summer Classes
    • Trail Access Tours
    • Nature Play Afternoons
    • Senior Specials
    • Friends Bus Trip
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer
    • Friends of the Hormel Nature Center
    • Kevin Dammen Mentorship Program
  • Facility Rental
  • Sola Fide Observatory
  • Resources
    • Scavenger Hunts
    • Nature Notes
    • What's New In Nature?
    • Rain Garden
    • Pollinator Garden
    • Gravel Bed Tree Nursery
    • Sustainable Tips
    • Night Sky Viewing Guide
    • Environmental Education Resources
  • Track Power Chair Rentals