Embrace Dark Minnesota Nights with Candle Light Events

Updated for the 2025 winter season

There is something truly enchanting about experiencing a wintery woods in the darkness. So many in the Midwest complain of the long, cold, dark winters. Then, there are those who embrace the darkness to see the glow of the snow under the moonlight. It brings out a different kind of beauty that is only witnessed by those willing to seek it.

I have compiled a list of events that take place around Minnesota to give you the opportunity to seek the beauty. Get out and enjoy a few before the winter melts away.

Northern Minnesota

Itasca State Park- January 11th, 2025 5-7:30pm & February 15th, 2025 5:30-8pm Itasca hosts a lantern light event for snowshoers and skiers on a 3.5 mile round trip trail. That’s a fair distance for nighttime skiing by lantern light. At the visitors center, limited snowshoes and skis are available on a first come first serve basis. This is a bring your own supplies style event. This includes brining your own snowshoes/skies, snacks, hot cocoa, s’more supplies, hotdogs and roasting sticks. A fire will be available for warming up and roasting dogs & mallows.

Bonus: The Twinkle Lights trail at the Bear Paw Campground is open from November 28th, 2024 to February 28th, 2025 from dusk until 10pm. Itasca also has winter camping and lodging available, make it a weekend getaway.

Passes- Day Pass to enter park ($7), Ski pass, if over 16 years old and skiing (Daily $10, yearly $25)

Gooseberry Falls State Park- February 15th 2025 6pm-8pm Hike, snowshoe or ski from the visitor’s center to the Lady Slipper Amphitheater on an illuminated trail. Gooseberry is one of Minnesota’s favorite state parks, this is sure to be an amazing event!

Passes- No passes required

Mille Lacs Kathio State Park- February 8th, 2025 6pm-9:30pm The candle light trail will be between the Trail Center and the Interpretive Center. The trail is available to snowshoers, skiers and hikers. Trails will be packed but not groomed, ski conditions vary. Snowshoe and ski rentals are available on a first come, first serve basis at $6 per snowshoe pair and $10 per ski set. There will be a fire to warm you up after your wintery hike.

Passes- Day Pass to enter park ($7), Ski pass, if over 16 years old and skiing (Daily $10, yearly $25)

Lake Bemidji State Park- January 25th, 2025 5:30pm-8pm (Snowshoe) & February 8th, 2025 6pm-8:30pm (Ski) Lake Bemidji State park will have 3 miles lit by candles for Cross Country Skiers. This is a cross country ski event on groomed trails, so a pass and skis are a must.

Passes- Day Pass to enter park ($7), Ski pass, if over 16 years old and skiing (daily $10, yearly $25)

Jay Cooke State Park- February 8th, 2025 6pm-9pm One of my favorite winter state parks in Minnesota! This event is open for snowshoeing, hiking, and skiing. Bring your gear of choice or rent snowshoes at the park office.

Note: The staff at Jay Cooke has requested that dogs do not attend as there have been incidents in the past. (Bummer!)

Passes- Day Pass to enter park ($7)

Central Minnesota

Afton State Park- February 1st, 2025 5-8pm A 3 mile loop hike lit by candlelight awaits at Afton State Park, just half an hour east of the Twin Cities. It is recommended to bring along ice cleats for boots. Dogs are welcome on leash, yay! Fire warming stations are placed at the beginning/end of the hike and at a halfway point.

Passes- Day Pass to enter park ($7)

Frontenac State Park- February 8th, 2025 6pm-8-pm Snowshoeing, skiing, or hiking at this candlelit trail event will have you in awe at this beautiful park. Campfires will greet you at either end of this trail along with a warming shelter equipped with a woodstove. Snowshoe rentals are available for $6 on a first come, first serve basis.

Passes- Day Pass to enter park ($7), Ski pass, if over 16 years old and skiing (daily $10, yearly $25)

Wild River State Park- February 8th, 2025 6pm-9pm For more miles of hiking, skiing or snowshoeing visit this park that’s an hour north of the Twin Cities. Five illuminated miles will be available for adventures and an oversized bonfire to warm up by. Skis and snowshoes are available for rent at the Trails Center and can be reserved ahead of time (651-257-0685).

Passes- Day Pass to enter park ($7), Ski pass, if over 16 years old and skiing (daily $10, yearly $25)

Sibley State Park- January 18th, 2025 7pm-9pm A short .7 mile loop trail lit by lanterns can be hiked at this western MN state park. Warm up by the fire at the amphitheater, bring your own snacks and hot cocoa.

Passes- Day Pass to enter park ($7)

Nerstrand Big Woods State Park- January 25th, 2025 5:30pm-8:30pm Hike, snowshoe or ski this enchanting old woods for a wintery night of wonder. There are rentals available (first come, first served). After your hike, warm up by a roaring fire with cider and cookies.

Passes- Day Pass to enter park ($7)

Lake Carlos State Park- January 11th, 2025 6pm-9pm & February 8th, 2025 6pm-9pm Journey along the snowshoe trail by snowshoe or winter boot. The woodstove will greet hikers and snowshoers with warmth in the Lakeview shelter. Bonus: There is a sledding hill at this park, arrive before dark for some sledding fun.

Passes- Day Pass to enter park ($7)

Southern Minnesota

Blue Mounds State Park- January 25th, 2025 5:30pm-8pm Blue Mounds offers a 3 mile hike in it’s beautiful southwest Minnesota park, near Luverne. Be sure to warm up after the hike in the picnic shelter with hot cocoa or settle in by the campfire.

Passes- Day Pass to enter Park ($7)

Minneopa State Park- January 25th, 2025 5pm-8pm Gather at the Minneopa Campground to set out on a winter hike or snowshoe following the candles lighting the trail. The loop will take hikers along the Minneopa creek and gorge. This park is split into two locations. After the hike, a quick drive to the other side of the park bring hikers to the short trail leading Minneopas frozen water fall. For more on Minneopa, follow the link.

Passes- Day Pass to enter park ($7)

Items to bring along

Beverages: Nothing warms the family up after a chilly walk in the woods like a steaming cup of hot chocolate. Here is a tip; bring a thermos of hot water and hot cocoa packets for your travel mugs (no ceramic mugs, the contrasting temps with shatter them). Thermoses are hard to wash hot cocoa out of, mugs are easier to clean up. If hot chocolate isn’t your speed bring along some tea bags or a tightly sealed thermos of coffee or cider. You’ll be happy you have it at the end of your snow adventure.

S’mores Supplies: Many of the State Park events have a roaring fire ablaze at the end of the trail, this makes for a great opportunity for some s’more making. Not all parks have s’more supplies to accompany their toasty fires, doesn’t hurt to bring your own (don’t forget the roasting stick).

Headlamp: Though the trails are well lit with candles at these events, it’s not a bad idea to bring along a headlamp just in case. We’ve used headlamps for retying boots and fastening snowshoe/ski straps. It’s nice to have a backup light for emergencies.

Warm Gear: Dress for the weather! As night falls the temperature drops. The thermometer might read a different temperature by the end of your hike. Winter boots are a must, don’t try this in summer hiking shoes. Winter hiking boots and summer hiking boots are two very different kinds of footwear. Dressing for the weather should be second nature to most Minnesotans, but I still feel it necessary to mention.

Winter Sport Gear: Bringing your own skis and snowshoes will give you better odds of completing the activity that you have your heart set on. The only other determining factor would be snow conditions. Sometimes mother nature doesn’t always deliver the snow quantity or quality that we are hoping for. When we did our snowshoe hike at Minneopa State Park last year, we ended up leaving the snowshoes in the car, the conditions were better for boot hiking.