Address: 1221 Theodore Wirth Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN , 55422
Upcoming Events: Jump to Theodore Wirth Trailhead Events
Website The Trailhead
Phone 612-355-7757
The long-awaited Trailhead at Theodore Wirth Park officially opened in July of 2018. This facility, run by the Loppet Foundation, is intended to serve as a jumping off point for full slate of year-round, world-class outdoor recreation. In the summer, the Loppet Foundation offers outdoor adventure camps. Highlights of the building’s features include:
- An indoor gathering space that can seat 250
- An outdoor patio with a view of the trails and tubing area
- A shop where visitors can rent bikes or skis and get repairs; find information, directions and maps; purchase outdoor gear.
- A restaurant.
- Club Trailhead: Members receive access to locker rooms, showers and fitness studio open hours.
- Indoor/outdoor ticketing counter serving Theodore Wirth Par 3 Golf Club and snow tubing
- The Loppet Foundation offices
- Free outdoor bike wash and repair station
- Public restrooms
Winter recreation at The Trailhead at Theodore Wirth Park
Outdoor winter activities at the The Trailhead include cross-country skiing (with lessons, if desired), snowshoeing, sledding and snow tubing, snowboarding, skijording and winter fat-tire biking. The Trailhead rental shop offers equipment at reasonable prices (see here for current rates).
Snow tubing at The Trailhead
Note that there are age and height restrictions to use the tow rope (under 5 or under 44 inches are not allowed) and children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Snow is made at this hill even when, so tubing can be enjoyed even when sledding in other areas may not be available. Tubes are provided as part of the cost and outside tubes are not allowed.
Passes are sold in-person at the Trailhead – not currently online. Tubing sessions are two hours long and begin and end at the top of that day’s even operating hours. You will receive a color-specific pass for your purchased block. You can be added to a waitlist for a later session if your desired slot is full upon arrival. Cost to tube is $18/session for tow-rope tubing and $10/session for stairs only.
Sledding
Families can bring their own sled for free sledding on the tenth fairway of the golf course (the hill in front of the Chalet). Between 7am and 9pm daily when the snow cooperates. There is another sledding hill at Sunset Hill, which is a half-mile North of the Wirth Winter Recreation Area in Valley View Park.
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing in Minneapolis parks requires a Ski Trail Pass. Skiers can choose between a Natural Snow Pass and an All-Access Pass. The natural pass is for those only skiing when snow occurs naturally. An All-Access Pass allows the holder to use all groomed trails, including those with artificially created snow. If you are planning to ski at Theodore Wirth, you’ll probably want to splurge on the All-Access Pass. Passes can be bought by the season or by the day.
Note: While an avid skier may want to purchase a ski pass for the park system closest to their home, to insure more snow time; hobby skiers may want to note that Minneapolis is the most expensive of the park systems that charge cross country skiers a trail fee. If you just want to ski once or twice a year, St. Paul is the best park system for doing that. It does not require ski passes and offers free cross country skiing at three parks.
Theodore Wirth Snowboarding – The Terrain Park
Snowboarding hours at Theodore Wirth Terrain Park are offered Friday through Sunday, weather depending. Day passes are $15 and equipment rental and lessons are also available. For weather-related closures information, call 612-355-7757.
Theodore Wirth Chalet
Some good things to know about the chalet at Theodore Wirth Trailhead:
- The Chalet has concessions including items like sandwiches, hot dogs, soup, snacks, beverages;
- It also offers free wifi
- If you forget or lose your winter gear, you can purchase hats and gloves
- Group lessons are available for snowboarding and skiing
More information
- Twin Cities Snow Tubing for the Family
- Wirth Lake Beach
- Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden & Bird Sanctuary
- Theodore Wirth Regional Park, Minneapolis
- The Best Minneapolis Bike Trails for Families
Upcoming Family-Friendly Events
Events TBA
Fun Past Events We Hope to See Again
- Nature Storytime at The Trailhead (FREE) - 03/19/2026 - 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Please Note: FamilyFunTwinCities.com is an independent website run by Twin Cities families for Twin Cities families. We attempt to include the information we find most essential as parents. We make every effort to keep up with changes. However, we are not employed by or connected to this venue, and information sometimes changes without our knowledge. We recommend calling or checking the venue’s website for up-to-date information.
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