Ultimate Guide:
Winter Fun in Detroit Lakes
When it comes to winter fun in Detroit lakes, we northern Minnesotans don’t crumble with cold temperatures and a little wind chill. Rather, we embrace the snow and ice to engage in activities that can only be enjoyed in the winter months. And when you need a break from the elements, plenty of excitement exists indoors, too. Save this Ultimate Guide to Winter Fun in Detroit Lakes and view the YouTube video to plan your winter getaway: a sure cure for cabin fever!
Signature Winter Events:
Polar Fest and Poles ‘N Holes Fishing Derby
Polar Fest, happening February 6–22, 2026 in Detroit Lakes, transforms winter into a full‑blown celebration of cold‑weather fun! Spanning three lively February weekends, this beloved Detroit Lakes tradition brings together everything from exhilarating outdoor adventures to cozy indoor comfort‑food experiences. It’s the perfect blend of frosty thrills and warm‑hearted community spirit.
Celebrate the awesomeness of a winter night when the spectacular fireworks light up the skies at 7 pm Saturday, February 21. Plan a weekend getaway to see the free fireworks show!
Several brave the cold Little Detroit Lakes waters during the Boys and Girls Club 30th annual Polar Fest Plunge or cheer on the jumpers on Saturday, February 21 at 1 pm! Many dress in wild-themed costumes before taking the leap that benefits the non-profit club.
The Freeze Your Buns 5k run/walk gets your body warmed up! Come join the fun Saturday, February 14 and walk or run the 5k. The race starts at the DLCCC Parking lot, goes south on Summit Avenue to West Lake Drive, then west to Legion Road, down past Snappy park, turn east on Willow Street, turn north on Rossman Avenue to Holmes Street, then head back to the DLCCC parking on Summit Avenue.
Polar Fest in Detroit Lakes includes family-friendly events such as Cool Kites on the Lake on Sunday, February 15. Professional kite flyers color the winter sky with giant kites ranging from 10 to 100 feet in size. Weather and wind permitting, kites begin flying at 10am on Little Detroit Lake near West Lake Drive. You can bring your own kite to fly alongside the pros! This is a FREE event.
Grab your friends and head to Detroit Mountain on Friday nights for two hours of lazer tubing! Have a blast for only $25/person, starting at 5 pm.
Wow! Someone will take home this restored 1972 Viking Vigilante 340 snowmobile during ULTRA Snowmobile Club’s 23rd annual Vintage Snowmobile Rally & Swap Meet during Polar Fest! Head to the Detroit Lakes City Beach Saturday, February 21. Show registration runs 8 am-11 am. Over $10,000 in cash and prizes, with tickets available at the rally.
Have a frosty good time at other events including pond hockey, bonspiels, ax throwing, pancake feed, snowshoeing, poetry walk and lots more!
For updates on Polar Fest activities, go to the Polar Fest website.
Ice Fishing in Detroit Lakes
When winter settles in, ice fishing becomes one of Minnesota’s most beloved traditions. Sure, some anglers enjoy the quiet solitude of reeling in a walleye on their own—but Detroit Lakes ice fishing is just as much about gathering with friends and family, sharing stories, and creating memories out on the frozen lakes.
Choose from cozy day houses or treat yourself to a luxury Ice Castle fish house, where you can stay toasty warm while waiting for walleye, northern pike, bass or crappies to bite. Bring your own gear or arrive to everything set up and ready for you.
Ice house rentals are available through Baxstar Fishing, Quality Bait & Tackle and GoGo Rental—making it easy to turn a winter day into a true Minnesota experience.
Source: http://icefishingdetroitlakes.org/
To kick off the winter event Polar Fest, Detroit Lakes Breakfast Rotary hosts the annual Poles N Holes Fishing Derby Saturday, February 7, 2026. The notable fishing contest offers thousands of dollars in prizes and is fun for the whole family!
Check out Detroit Lakes lodging accommodations to start planning your ice fishing trip!
Detroit Mountain: The Best in Winter Outdoor Recreation
Skiing, Snowboarding, Fat-Tire Biking and Tubing at Detroit Mountain Recreation Area
Detroit Mountain Recreation Area reopened as a four-season recreational destination in 2014. Detroit Mountain features the Scheels Terrain Parks, one of the premier parks in the area with tricks, jumps, and rails; groomed cross-country ski trails and winter fat-biking trails; and the Landslide Tubing Park. With snow-making capabilities, the slopes are open Thursday-Monday and tubing Friday-Sunday.
Be sure to warm up in the Lodge with Live Music Fridays from 6:30 pm-9:00 pm.
Follow Detroit Mountain on Instagram to get the most up-to-date trails report.
Detroit Mountain at a glance:
- Two terrain parks with high-speed tow ropes
- Total runs: 21
- Two, triple overhead chairlifts
- Large “Learn to Ski and Snowboard” area with two magic carpet lifts
- Ski and snowboarding lessons
- Seven kilometers of groomed skate and classic Nordic trails, with fun loop options to explore
- Three miles of Groomed Winter Fat-Bike/Snowshoe Trails
- Landslide Tubing Park complete with 275 tubes and up to 10 lanes of slippery fun
- Additional snowshoeing on select trails
- Ski, snowboard, snowshoe and fat bike rentals
- Mountain Café
Notable Events: Check out the Detroit Mountain website for upcoming events!
Maplelag Resort: Known across the country for its Cross-Country Skiing
Known across the country for their cross-country ski trails, Maplelag Resort is a winter outdoor enthusiast’s dream! Play outside as long as your heart desires with 70 km of trails for skiing, fat-tire biking and snowshoeing. Maplelag offers 60 km of groomed trails for skate and classic skiing. Fat-tire biking enthusiasts can bring their bikes to enjoy 15 km of trails. Feeling adventurous? Explore Maplelag’s ungroomed snowy acres with your own snowshoes.
Get the latest snow conditions on the trail reports at Maplelag Resort.
Book a stay at the newly remodeled Maplelag cabins and pick up a souvenir at their new gift shop.
More Becker County
Cross-Country Ski Trails –
No State Ski Pass Required
Check the snow conditions on the Trail Report for information on trail grooming
The Mountain View Recreation Area
The Mountain View Recreation Area’s 5 kilometers of trails flow through a scenic mature, mixed hardwood forest.
From rolling to steeply rolling terrain, the wide and regularly groomed trails are structured to accommodate all level of skiers, from beginners to the more experienced. Skiers can engage in classical and skate-style skiing and experience several different loops. There’s parking available for 10-15 vehicles along Tower Road.
Pickerel Lake Ski Trails
Enjoy a mix of narrow, single track trails and forest roads, which total 9.1 kilometers of ski trails. Ski through hardwood forests and by many small bodies of water where wildlife is often spotted. These trails are groomed occasionally and there’s parking available for 4-6 vehicles at the end of Sunset Road off County Road 25.
Pine Lake
Skiers will appreciate the 12.2 km, two-loop cross-country ski trail. For a short jaunt, the two-mile loop winds through a field, through the oak-maple forest, and along Tamarac Lake.
For a longer ski, the Pine Lake loop takes you around Pine Lake with nearly six miles of breath-taking scenery. The terrain on these trails stays mainly even with a few short hills along this trek. Volunteers occasionally groom the trails and there’s parking available for 6-8 vehicles along County Road 29.
Frazee trails
Known for its wildlife sanctuary with 11 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails that are open to the public, the Ike Fischer Farm serves as a great community recreation resource.
Head to the east side of the Fischer property to access the Otter Tail River water trail. Directions: take Highway 87 east out of Frazee to County Road 150 for about a mile. There you’ll find a parking area.
Cross country ski trails are groomed by the Detroit Lakes Nordic Ski Club. Check the weekly grooming updates for cross country skiing and snowmobiling.
Snowmobiling
Check the snow conditions on the Trail Report for information on trail grooming
If you love to snowmobile, then more than 250 miles of groomed snowmobile trails should pique your interest! The trails are perfect for cruising over rolling hills or through beautiful scenic forests.
The Winter Wonderland Trails are the linked to neighboring trails in each direction. About 30 miles north of the trail, you’ll discover a variety of trails winding through the White Earth State Forest. From there you can circle east around Itasca State Park. Choose to head south from Detroit Lakes and you’ll launch into the Otter Country Trails to Maplewood State Park. Trails to the west connect to the Midnite Riders and to the Wolf Pack and Forest Riders trails to the east.
See the VisitDetroitLakes.com calendar for winter events such as snowmobile races, vintage snowmobile rallys and swap meets in the area. Grab a free map at the Chamber office or throughout the region. Or, download the city map and Becker County map.
Ice Skating
Peoples Park in Detroit Lakes offers one ice rink and one ice skating rink during the winter months. The warming house is open scheduled hours in January and February with a limited number of skate sizes on loan for free. For more action on the ice, Kent Freeman Sports Arena, across from People’s Park on Rossman Avenue, hosts hockey tournament action. During regular winter seasons, curling enthusiasts compete in bonspiels at the Curling Club on the northern edge of the city off Highway 59.
Stay Warm with Indoor Fun
When it’s time to take a break from the elements, explore fun indoors in Detroit Lakes.
Historic Holmes Theatre
The renovated 800+ seat performing arts theatre presents a variety of local, regional and national arts and entertainment events. View all upcoming events at the Historic Holmes Theatre.
Or walk to The Center of Detroit Lakes, connected to the Historic Holmes Theatre. There you’ll find all the indoor fitness and aquatics facilities to get your winter workout and the kiddos can play in the area’s largest indoor playland, The Backyard.
Becker County Museum
Started in 1943 by the Becker County Historical Society, a new museum building was constructed and opened in 2022. Adjoining the Historic Holmes Theatre, the two businesses share a common lobby.
The new facility has a floor dedicated to learning through play in their Science Center. There are also history displays, a research library and traveling exhibits.
Find updates on the Becker County Museum website.
Unique Shopping
Experience the true “Up North” shopping Detroit Lakes has to offer. Browse antique and candy stores and boutiques, grab yourself a delicious treat with a steaming hot cup of coffee, a bite to eat or spend the afternoon at the Washington Square Mall, which features retail stores, dining options and an opportunity to pamper yourself. Explore all shopping in Detroit Lakes by visiting the Detroit Lakes Chamber of Commerce Minnesota Retail & Shopping directory.
Craft Beer & Dine
Detroit Lakes offers a notable variety of local cuisine, as well as casual to fine foodie experiences. Treat yourself to craft beer made at the brew pub at Lakeside Tavern at West Lake Drive and Buck’s Mill Brewery on Washington Avenue. Whatever you’re craving, you won’t be disappointed dining in Detroit Lakes. Explore the variety of bars, pubs, and restaurants.