2021-2022 Cross Country Ski & Snowshoe Rental

​Ski rentals are currently open
As always 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!
Check trail conditions before you ski! We will update trail conditions throughout the winter on our SkinnySki page.

Please review our COVID adapted ski/snowshoe rental process:

• All rentals will be done by reservation online. Please schedule your rental time [here]. You will need to pay with cash or check once you arrive. We have moved to this online reservation system to limit cross traffic of different households. If you have trouble making a reservation, it is likely because we are booked out.
• Your 15 minute reservation time is used to get fitted for boots, skis, and poles. You will have 3 hours to ski from your reservation time if you reserve a time before 1:45pm (skis, boots and poles must be returned by 4:45pm)
  
• On Thursdays we offer free ski rentals from 3:00 pm-6:00 pm. Please click [here] to schedule your free rental.  
• You must RSVP for a time slot at least 15 minutes in advance.
• At the time of your reservation please proceed to the back room of the interpretive center where staff will assist you with equipment rental.  ​

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Hours:
• Monday-Wednesday, Friday, & Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.*
• Thursday: 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.* (open an hour later during free ski rental on Thursday 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 Thursday 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.

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. ​