It's North Shore candlelight season

We are in the heart of North Shore winter right now, with enough snow along the shoreline and the Sawtooth Mountains for almost any of your favorite winter activities. Some of the most popular winter events in North Shore state parks are the annual Candlelight events. Clear your calendar for the next few weekend evenings, because these magic outings in the winter woods are coming soon!

These are great community events. You have never seen our parks so full of life on a dark winter night. Volunteers have worked long hours creating the luminaria, packing the trails, and lighting the lanterns.Trails disappear into the dark woods marked only by candles flickering in a block of ice or in a paper bag. The lights are just close enough that you're never wholly in the dark, yet the dark surrounds you. Often there's a bonfire somewhere off in the woods. Could even be s'mores back there.

 When you get back to the visitor center, you'll find hot chocolate and a lot of ruddy faces full of smiles and woodsmoke. Might even be live music. Ever dance in snowshoes?
 
These candlight events are not just for skiers, either. In fact, at Split Rock Lighthouse, it's just a snowshoe and a hike.

Here's a list of North Shore candlelight events:
Friday, February 8 Jay Cooke State Park, 6:00-9:00, ski and snowshoe.
 
Saturday, February 16, Gooseberry Falls State Park, 6:00-8:30, ski snowshoe and walk.
 
Saturday, February 23 Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, 6:00-8:30, snowshoe and hike.
 
I hope to see you there!