Course & Venue Maps

Course Maps

2020 course maps will be available soon. For reference, please see the 2019 course maps listed below:

Venue, Parking & Transportation Maps

Start Area – Bde Maka Ska North Beach, 2707 Lake Street West

• Saturday: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
• Sunday: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

North Minneapolis

• Finish Area – The Trailhead (1221 Theodore Wirth Parkway)
  • Thursday and Friday: 5:00 – 8:00 pm
  • Saturday: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
  • Sunday: 11:00 am – 3:30 pm
  • Bike or bus service (Loppet or Metro Transit) advised as there will be no car parking available at the finish.
• J.D. Gardens Area/Wirth Beach – Glenwood Avenue
  • Saturday: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
  • Sunday: 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
• Wirth-394 crossing/Brownie Lake – See the unique sight of thousands of skiers, bikers, skijorers and dogsleds crossing a major interstate . . .
  • Saturday: 9:30 am – 12:00 pm
  • Sunday: 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
• Cedar Lake Park – Immediately adjacent to Cedar Lake Bike Trail
  • Saturday: 9:15 am – 12:00 pm
  • Sunday: 9:15 am – 3:00 pm

Kenwood

• Kenilworth Channel – the bridges and narrow channel make this a great place to watch and cheer
  • Saturday: 9:15 am – 12:00pm
  • Sunday: 9:15 am – 3:00 pm
• Isles Skating Rink – Skate at the historic Isles skating rink while cheering the skiers –
  • Saturday: 9:00 am – 11:30 am
  • Sunday: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Parking and Drop Off

Parking is available at the Calhoun Executive Center, on the Parkway and in surrounding neighborhoods. The North Beach Parking Lot is reserved for volunteers and race officials. However, a skier drop off zone will be available in the North Beach Parking Lot. After entering, you will be instructed to drive all the way around the lot to the other side before stopping to let out your skier. Skiers must exit the car immediately as parking will not be allowed in the drop off area. On Saturday, the drop off zone will only be open from 8:00-11:00 am. Please note that there will not be a warming tent at the start and plan/dress accordingly.

Bag Drop/Pickup

A bag-drop will be located near the start area at North Beach Parking Lot. All bags will be transported to the finish area near the Trailhead at Wirth Park. Bag Drop will be available from 8:00 – 11:00 am. Bag Pickup will be available from 10:00 am-2:30 pm. Note that the Loppet provides bag tags, but in order to avoid unnecessary waste skiers are asked to provide their own bags. Please plan to bring a duffel-type bag for your personal effects. Do NOT leave wallets or other valuables in your duffel bag as the Foundation cannot be responsible for these items.

Start Times

Racers must begin the race at their assigned start time. Failure to do so may result in disqualification.

Courses

The race courses will all be marked and there will be marshals at key intersections, but participants are responsible for staying on course.

Marathon participants follow the “blue” course.

Puoli participants follow the “red” course.

Tour participants follow the “green” course.

Race Course Aid Stations

All aid stations will have Tailwind energy drink, water and medical assistance.

Aid station location	Green Course	Red Course	Blue Course
Kenilworth Channel	1.4K	6.0K	6.9K
Interstate 394 Crossing	4.4K	9.9K	13K
Glenwood Avenue/Wirth Beach	5.8K	11.3K	20.5K
Trestle Bridge (near Trailhead South Parking Lot)	8.4K	18.4K	27.5K
Par 3 Twin/Meadow Trails	N/A	N/A	31.5K

Cutoff Times

For the safety of both skiers and volunteers, skiers must reach the following positions by the designated times. Skiers who do not reach these positions in time will be transported to the finish area.

• Glenwood Ave – 12:00 pm for Marathon/Puoli; 12:45 pm for Tour
• Trestle (Aid Station 4) – 1:00 pm for Marathon

Post-Race Amenities

Timing chips must be returned before leaving the finish area. Bag claim and a changing tent will located in the North Trailhead Parking Lot. Find food (including the always popular bowl of chili) and drinks inside the Trailhead. Please note that the changing rooms will be heated until 3:00 pm.

Saturday Amenities Schedule
6:00 – 9:00 am North Beach Volunteer Parking
700 – 11:00 am North Beach Classic Races Last Minute Bib Pickup
7:00 – 11:00 am North Beach Parking Lot Dropoff Zone
7:00 – 11:00 am North Beach Bag Drop (Got Junk trucks)
11:00 am – 4:00 pm Shuttle Bus runs between Chalet and Calhoun Executive Center
10:00 am – 2:30 pm Trailhead North Parking Lot Bag Claim
10:00 am – 3:00 pm Changing Tent Heated
10:30 am – 4:00 pm Trailhead Food Station

Wave Placements

Wave placements for the Skate Ski Loppet will be posted on the event page under the Start Format & Wave Placement section.

Parking and Drop Off

Parking is available at the Calhoun Executive Center, on the Parkway and in surrounding neighborhoods. The North Beach Parking Lot is reserved for volunteers and race officials. However, a skier drop off zone will be available in the North Beach Parking Lot. After entering, you will be instructed to drive all the way around the lot to the other side before stopping to let out your skier. Skiers must exit the car immediately as parking will not be allowed in the drop off area. On Sunday, the drop off zone will only be open from 8:00 am – 12:30 pm. Please note that there will not be a warming tent at the start and plan/dress accordingly.

Bag Drop/Pickup

A bag-drop will be located near the start area at North Beach Parking Lot. All bags will be transported to the finish area near the Trailhead at Wirth Park. Bag Drop will be available from 8:00 am – 12:30 pm. Bag Pickup will be available from 10:00 am-3:30 pm. Note that the Loppet provides bag tags, but in order to avoid unnecessary waste skiers are asked to provide their own bags. Please plan to bring a duffle type bag for your personal effect. Do NOT leave wallets or other valuables in your duffle bag as the Foundation cannot be responsible for these items.

Start Times

Racers must begin the race at their assigned start time with their assigned start wave (if applicable). Failure to do so may result in disqualification.

Courses

The race courses will all be marked and there will be marshals at key intersections, but participants are responsible for staying on course.

Marathon and, with some minor deviations noted on the Fat Tire Loppet page, Fat Tire Loppet Marathon participants follow the “blue” course.

Puoli participants follow the “red” course (note that Fat Tire Puoli participants deviate from the red course in one location).

Tour, Sunday Skijoring Loppet, Snowshoe Loppet, and Dogsled Loppet participants follow the “green” course.

Race Course Aid Stations

All aid stations will have Tailwind energy drink, water and medical assistance.

Aid station location	Green Course	Red Course	Blue Course
Kenilworth Channel	1.4K	6.0K	6.9K
Interstate 394 Crossing	4.4K	9.9K	13K
Glenwood Avenue/Wirth Beach	5.8K	11.3K	20.5K
Trestle Bridge (near Trailhead South Parking Lot)	8.4K	18.4K	27.5K
Par 3 Twin/Meadow Trails	N/A	N/A	31.5K

Cutoff Times

For the safety of both skiers and volunteers, Sunday racers must reach the following positions by the designated times. Racers who do not reach these positions in time will be transported to the finish area.

• All skiers at Glenwood Ave/Wirth Beach – 12:15 pm
• Fat bikers at Glenwood Ave/Wirth Beach – 1:45 pm

Post-Race Amenities

Timing chips must be returned before leaving the finish area. Bag claim and a changing tent will located in the North Trailhead Parking Lot. Find food (including the always popular bowl of chili) and drinks inside the Trailhead. Please note that the changing rooms will be heated until 3:00 pm.

Sunday Amenities Schedule
6:00  – 9:00 am North Beach Volunteer Parking
8:00 am – 2:00 pm North Beach Last Minute Bib Pickup
7:00 am – 2:00 pm North Beach Parking Lot Dropoff Zone
7:00 am – 1:00 pm North Beach Bag Drop (Got Junk trucks)
11:00 am – 5:00 pm Shuttle Bus runs between Chalet and Calhoun Executive Center
10:00 am – 3:30 pm Trailhead North Parking Lot Bag Claim
10:00 am – 5:00 pm Changing Tent Heated
10:30 am – 4:00 pm Trailhead Food Station