Minnesota Trails Spring 2024

BIKE TRAILS

Spring 2024

TOP BIKE RIDES

MOUNTAIN

522 Sinclair Lewis Avenue

Sauk Centre, MN 56378

www.MnTrails.com

Minnesota Trails Staff

Jan Lasar Editor/Publisher

Joyce Frericks Accounting

Karen Knoblach Page Layout & Design Graphic Design

Editorial Board

Brett Feldman Executive Director Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota

EAT / DRINK

DEERSTAND RESTAURANT & BAR

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Full Menu, Salad Bar, Cocktails, Meat Raffles and Fun!

Vol. 29, No. 1

March 2024

Minnesota Trails magazine is a continuation of Minnesota Bike Trails & Rides, published quarterly in cooperation with the Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota, a nonprofit organization that acquires, protects and enhances critical lands for public enjoyment. Your $35 membership subscription supports this work.

Minnesota Trails is not responsible for the return of unsolicited materials and reserves the right to reject unsuitable advertising. Information in this publication is as accurate as possible. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not of Minnesota Trails.

Continuing the

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Nightly, weekly, monthly lodging

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Cabins and camping right off the MTB trails.

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A boutique hotel just blocks from downtown Crosby and the bike trails

SPE

SPECIALTY STORE

COMMON GOODS

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Locations in Crosby, Baxter & Crosslake

VICTUAL

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SERVICES

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BIKE SHOP

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YOUR NOV. BALLOT: VOTE YES ON LOTTERY PROCEEDS

CURRENT AMENDMENT EXPIRES DEC. 31, 2024, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF ENVIRONMENTAL FUNDING AT RISK.

What do these projects have in common: creating pollinameasuring the impacts of boating wakes on Minnesota for Minnesota State Park? Beyond them all being environmentally focused projects funded by proceeds from the Minnesota Lottery.

Minnesotans authorized the establishment of a state lotpolls to pass a constitutional

amendment dedicating no less than 40 percent of the lottery’s proceeds (the money remainincluding paying winners) to be deposited into the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF). The remaining proceeds go to the state’s General Fund. This amendment was renewed in 1998 when voters overwhelmingly approved extending the lottery proceeds dedication until 2025.

Minnesota voters will once

again be asked to renew the amendment and dedicate the same percentage of lottery time through 2050.

CHANGE TO INCREASE SPENDING FOR EQUITY While the percentage going to the ENRTF would remain thement includes a prudent change to increase the annual spending from 5.5 to 7.0 percent of the fund’s value.

This additional 1.5 percent of spending would be directedble pool of funding for smaller BIPOC-led organizations. Such a program aims to overcome criticism that the application process for receiving ENRTF and resource-intensive that

Trail at Afton State Park. Lisa Fitler/P&TC

LAST YEAR 86 ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS WERE FUNDED TO THE TUNE OF $80 MILLION FROM THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND, MANY BENEFITTING PARKS AND TRAILS.

organizations are awarded funding. A new council would oversee the application process for this additional spend-

about $20 million a year.

Since its establishment over provided more than $875 mil-mental projects. This funding is proving especially critical today as less of the state’s General Fund goes toward conservation—less than one percent now compared with more than two percent a couple of decades ago.

The money in the ENRTF origiand those continue to be the biggest funding source by far.

principal balance is regularly invested in stocks and bonds.

from investments may surpass contributions from the Lottery.

The ENRTF is similar but distinct from the Legacy Amendment—another pot of money

created by a 2008 constitutional amendment. The Legacy Amendment generates revenue through an increase in sales tax and has increased funding for similar conservation projects.

HOW ARE PROJECTS CHOSEN FOR ENRTF

-

tions seek funding from thesota Legislature approves any vetting process overseen by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). This 17-member commission comprises legislators and citizens appointed House.

park in-holdings so they are due to a lack of available resources.

Many Minnesotans have a strong appreciation for the repeatedly chosen to dedicate important public resources to protecting and enhancing our

P&TC joined 62 other organizations in signing a letter urging the Legislature to place this issue on the ballot in 2024. We’re heartened to see this look to the citizens of Minnesota to once again step up for Minnesota’s environment and vote YES this November.

101 projects totaling $80 million to be recommended to the Legislature. Among the recommended projects is one proposed by Parks & Trails Council land for state parks. This is the

Whatever image pops into your mind when you hear the word unicycle, you’re likely as wrong as I was a few weeks ago.

Since then, I’ve learned that riding on one wheel does not involve carnival music and there is definitely no need for juggling. Instead, think of the crack of hockey sticks connecting in the heat of the game, the cheer of the crowd when an athlete clears the bar and sticks the landing, the thump of a basketball on the court, and the grind of knobby tires against rock.

Unicon, the UNIcycle CONvention, the largest unicycling gathering in the world, brings together participants from around the globe for a twelve-day world championship event every two years. Competitions include mountain unicycling, road and track races and team sports like basketball and hockey, but also Urban events where athletes jump obstacles and attempt trick riding as well as the Freestyle category, where contenders perform choreographed routines to music.

Australia, China, India, Japan and countries across Europe.

Unicon 20 brought over a thousand competitors ages 5 to 70 from 37 countries to Grenoble, France in 2022. This year, for the first time in 22 years, the games once again moves to the United States, specifically Bemidji, MN where organizers expect about 1,500 athletes from places as far away as

Unicon is a collaboration between the Unicycling Society of America (USA), established in the early 1970s, and the International Unicycling Federation (IUF), which followed in the 1980s. The local expertise comes from co-Directors Connie Cotter and Kirsten Goldstein, both members of the Twin Cities Unicycle Club. Rachel Sindelar, Communications Director for Unicon 21, says organizers chose Bemidji over other major cities in the United States for its strong local support and the community’s excitement to host this international convention. “The Unicon 21 Team has been overwhelmed by the support from the city and local businesses,” she says. Because so many of Bemidji’s locations are within unicycle riding distance, she adds, participants will be able to compete in events and take part in the convention, while maintaining a strong sense of community. Athletes’ comfort also played a role in choosing a location. “The north woods of Minnesota have an ideal climate for summer outdoor recreation,” she says.

JULY 14th to JULY 26th, 2024

BEMIDJI, MN | UNICON21.US

Events at Unicon 21 are open to the public and crowd favorites include unicycle basketball and hockey, artistic freestyle routines, street unicycling, and unicycle cyclocross, Sindelar says and adds that often at Unicons, world speed records are broken, never-before-landed tricks achieved and new distances and heights reached in jump competitions.“To see the best unicyclists in the world in each discipline of the sport is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” she says.

If you’re inspired to try unicycling, you’ll have an opportunity to learn from athletes with years of experience during Unicon 21. Unicycles will be provided.

Jan Lasar Trails Editor/Publisher

Minnesota Miles

Image courtesy of Unicon 21

MINNESOTA MOUNTAIN BIKE SERIES

MNMBS OFFERS

STATEWIDE RACING

The Minnesota Mountain Bike Series (MNMBS) offers a 10-race schedule between mid-May and Labor Day, with race classes for kids, beginner, intermediate, and advanced-level riders. The Series is truly statewide; venues range in location from south to Rochester, west to Callaway, east to St. Croix Falls and north to Cohasset. A new site for this year is Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park in Monticello

GIVING BACK TO THE TRAILS

As a volunteer-run, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, MNMBS is structured to give back. After expenses, race proceeds go to the host trail clubs or organizations who develop and maintain the trails the Series races on. In 2023, approximately $55,000 was split among the 10 local organizations who partnered with the Series for race venues.

RACE TIME IS FAMILY TIME

A sense of community and a family-friendly vibe is important for the Series. It’s led by a small board of directors, many of whom are current (or past) racers of the Series themselves. Participant Adam Emanoff sees MNMBS races as a fun way to foster family involvement. “There are so many families where everyone is racing—siblings, parents and sometimes grandparents. The number of younger racers has grown recently and bodes well for the future of the Series.” Parents find Series races a great way for young riders to engage in a healthy, outdoor activity, learn valuable life lessons and experience quality family time together.

Redhead JUNE 2 | CHISHOLM Bertram JUNE 23 | MONTICELLO

Detroit Mountain Shakedown JULY 21 | DETROIT LAKES

Tioga Thrillseeker AUG. 11 | COHASSET

Laddie’s Loppet SEPT. 1 | CALLAWAY

WWW.MNMTBSERIES.COM

AFFORDABLE, WITH BIG REWARDS

Online registration is easy and reasonable and the SuperPass offers an additional 20% savings. During the season, riders earn points based on their placing at individual races and can vie for awards based on their standings per race class and category. At the end of the season, MNMBS hosts an awards ceremony so racers can celebrate their successes, receive hard earned medals based on overall points, hang out with fellow racers to relive the season and possibly score free swag.

In the Minnesota Mountain Bike Series, you can choose to be as competitive as you want, race at whatever level works for you, discover new trails and meet people as excited about mountain biking as you are. See you at the races!

NORTHEAST MNMinnesota Mountain Bike Trails 2024

NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA HAS THE SAWTOOTH MOUNTAINS ALONG THE NORTH SHORE OF LAKE SUPERIOR, SKI HILLS AT SPIRIT MOUNTAIN AND GIANT’S RIDGE, THE DEEP FORESTS OF THE SUPERIOR AND CHIPPEWA NATIONAL FORESTS, THE 135-MILE ARROWHEAD STATE TRAIL, AND THE PRISTINE BEAUTY OF SOME OF THE STATE’S MOST BEAUTIFUL STATE PARKS.

Carlton | Jay Cooke State Park–13 miles: Trail is a mix of grass, dirt and pavement with spectacular views. Silver Creek Trail and Summer Trail are groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

Cloquet | Pine Valley Mountain Bike Trails–5 miles: Stacked loops rated beginner to intermediate with switchbacks and flow sections through stands of pine trees and open areas. These gravel trails are machine built and feature two expert and one intermediate jump trail. Because of the nature of the soil, trails remain open even when wet. Skinnies and gap jumps with b-lines keep things interesting. Groomed for fatbiking in a park that also has ski trails. A dirt parking lot with a porta-potty is available adjacent to the Cloquet hockey arena.

Cohasset | Tioga Trails–25 miles: This new mountain bike trail system in the location of a former mine pit offers trails for all skill levels as well as jump lines, flow trails and a beginner skills section. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

Details at www.mntrails.com/ mountain-bike-trails

Duluth Area

Duluth has been named Gold Level Ride Center by the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA), one of six such destinations in the world. The Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores (COGGS) maintain and develop Duluth’s extensive trail system.

• Craft Connector–1.1 miles: Two-way trail connecting the Enger Tower Scenic Overlook and the Lincoln Park Craft District. The downhill ride from Enger has some jump opportunities.

• Downer Park–0.5 miles: A work in progress for the advanced rider. More trails coming.

• Duluth Traverse–40 miles: A beginner level, two-way singletrack, the Duluth Traverse (DT) connects the city’s trail networks at Lester Park, Hartley Park, Piedmont-Brewer Park, Spirit Mountain and Mission Creek like a spine across the city.

• Hartley Park–9 miles: Beginner to intermediate trails through the hardwood forests and open marsh areas of Hartley Nature Center. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

• Lester Park–12.5 miles : Beginner to intermediate. Beautiful views of the river valley and smooth, flowing single track. There are some rocky or rooty sections, but overall the trail is non-technical and the best option in the Duluth area if you are newer to mountain biking. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

• Mission Creek–23 miles: Beginner to intermediate. Fast and flowing singletrack with many bridges, berms, and rollers. This trail network traverses a dramatic, heavily forested landscape with spectacular views of the St. Louis River Valley and Jay Cooke State Park. Groomed for fatbiking in the winter.

• Piedmont & Brewer Trails–9 miles: Intermediate to advanced, challenging trails with bridges and features. Significant elevation changes with large rocky bluffs. Groomed for fatbiking in the winter.

• Spirit Mountain Bike Park–Beginner to advanced. Outstanding views of Lake Superior are the norm at Spirit Mountain. The terrain is demanding, but is sure to reward with amazing vistas. Lift-assisted downhill mountain biking and fatbiking.

• Stone Age–1.2 miles: Short, but quite a workout even for advanced riders. A long, technical uphill is rewarded with awesome views and the way down has challenges around every corner. Just north of the Mission Creek trails.

Duluth to Grand Marais | C.J. Ramstad/North Shore State Trail–146 miles: This remote and rugged backcountry trail travels through wilderness areas on Minnesota’s North Shore. It’s primarily used for snowmobiling, but is open to hiking and biking and, in parts, ATV riding.

Ely Area

• Hidden Valley Recreation Area–24 miles: Hidden Valley’s ski trails turn into a mountain bike paradise during the warmer months. In addition to 13 miles of wide, grassy paths, there’s another 10 miles of singletrack trail. The system currently consists of four loops rated beginner to intermediate. The singletrack trail is groomed for fatbiking in the winter. Hidden Valley also has a one-mile mountain biking skills course near the club chalet.

• Fenske Lake–This area has many opportunities to explore forest and logging roads. Trails cross over rolling hills and pass through spruce forests.

• Fernberg Tower–This area is located along the Fernberg Road east of Ely. Several county and forest roads intersect giving an opportunity to explore the Superior National Forest, visit the hill that once held the Fernberg Lookout Tower and visit several lakes. The route includes both gravel and natural surface trails.

• Nickel Lake Area–This area provides rolling wooded hills, grassy bogs and beaver dams. There is access to several isolated lakes and an abandoned granite quarry that last operated in the 30s.

Grand Marais | Pincushion Mountain–10 miles: Challenging trails with awesome Lake Superior views. Switchbacks, bridges, rock gardens and lots of elevation changes. Groomed for fatbiking in the winter.

Grand Rapids Area

• Forest History Center–5 miles: Explore the Forest History Center by bike. Beginner trail through 1900s logging camp and virgin timber forest.

• Legion Trails–7 miles: Hand-built singletrack trail ranging from fast and flowing to tight, twisty and technical. Near Grand Rapids High School.

Grand Rapids to Ely | Taconite State Trail–165 miles: Popular multipurpose trail that moves through out-of-the-way forests and lakes and stretches 165 miles from Grand Rapids to Ely. It intersects with the Arrowhead State Trail just west of Lake Vermillion. Passes through Bear Head Lake State Park. Some areas may be impassable in the summer.

Hinckley | Saint Croix State Park–21 miles: Wide, grassy trail in the woods with some dirt sections on the Matthew Lourey State Trail.

Mesabi Iron Range Area

• Biwabik | Giants Ridge–10 miles: Giants Ridge offers lift-served mountain biking on eight downhill gravity trails ranging from easy to expert. The Mountain Bike Park has over

ten miles of purpose-built trails on rolling hills through the Superior National Forest. In the winter, 60km of the groomed ski trails are available for fatbiking and the resort also offers lift-served downhill fatbiking on select downhill runs.

Tioga Recreation Area, Cohasset, MN | Jan Lasar photo

NORTHEAST MNMinnesota Mountain Bike Trails 2024

• Chisholm | Redhead Mountain Bike Park–25 miles: A new, developing trail system on the grounds of the Minnesota Discovery Center. Built around a series of former mine pits, this challenging trail system has some beginner trails, but is mostly for intermediate to advanced riders. Punchy climbs and descents, plenty of rock gardens and jumps make for a great ride while the scenery is nothing short of spectacular with its ravines, red cliffs and views of deep, blue lakes. There’s even a waterfall crossing on Fractured Falls Trail. The ultimate goal is to expand the system to 30 miles and offer trolley rides to some of the far trail loops near the Glen location, a restored, historic mining village. The Discovery Center has restrooms and a restaurant. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

• Hibbing | Maple Hill Park–4 miles:

Intermediate, two-way singletrack with a dirt surface in a 133-acre city park.

• Virginia

Big Aspen Trail–21 miles: The Big Aspen Trail in the Superior National Forest has many loop opportunities and beautiful scenic vistas. The trail is part of old logging roads and abandoned railroad grades from the Virginia and Rainy Lake Lumber Company. It is a multi-use trail, allowing mountain bikes, ATVs, horses, and in the winter, cross-country skiers. Lookout Mountain–11 miles: This trail system in the Superior National Forest has five miles of dedicated mountain bike singletrack with

berms, bridges and rock gardens and six miles of rideable ski trails. Once you get to the top of a large hill it’s mostly rolling hills through forestland. There are a few large rock features and some challenging intermediate skill level sections. The trails are two-way, look out for oncoming bikes and hikers. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

Side Lake | McCarthy Beach State Park–17 miles: A choice of nice rides is available on the park trails and the low maintenance St. Louis County roads inside the park boundary. Bikers can venture out of the park on the Taconite State Trail.

Tofte | Britton Peak Trails–5.5 miles: Trails are intermediate to advanced with a short beginner loop. Enjoy views of the Temperance River Valley and some advanced features like a rock garden and boardwalk. Access the Jackpot/ High Climber Trail System from the Britton Peak parking lot.

Tofte/Lutsen | Jackpot and High Climber Trails–16 miles: This unique ride follows the rolling ridges overlooking Lake Superior and features machine-built flow trail with big berms, rock gardens, drops, jumps and rock-armored creek crossings in a wilderness setting. It’s laid out to be beginner-rated, but technical b-line options are up to expert level. Parking is available on either end at Britton Peak Trailhead (Tofte) and Ski Hill Road Trailhead (Lutsen Mountains) as well as on Onion River Road.

Details at www.mntrails.com/mountain-bike-trails

Tower to International Falls | Arrowhead State Trail–135 miles: Approximately 69 miles of the trail are suitable for mountain biking in the summer, but there may be wet areas. Intersects with the Taconite State Trail. Mountain bikers should call the nearest Parks and Trails Area office before leaving for their destination to inquire about local trail conditions and amenities. This is a multi-use trail, including horseback riding.

Two Harbors Area

• Donald D. Ferguson Demonstration Forest–10 miles: Easy beginner trails through boreal woods in the Superior National Forest, shared with hikers. Trail system is set to expand, with the ultimate goal of 15-20 miles. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter, skis and snowshoes are also allowed.

• Split Rock Lighthouse State Park–3 miles: Easy trail with a mix of dirt and grass shared with hikers. No singletrack. Great views of the Split Rock Lighthouse along Lake Superior. Can be combined with a return on the paved Gitchi Gami Trail for a 6 mile loop. Snowshoers and fatbikers share a groomed 8-mile loop.

• Split Rock Wilds Trail–24 miles: The newest mountain bike trail system in northeastern Minnesota offers a challenging, point to point backcountry riding experience connecting the new Shipwreck Creek campground at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park with the Cove Point Lodge property. Trail conditions vary from rugged and rocky to fast and flowy and include multiple advanced and expert level features like jumps, rock rolls and drops. There is, however a beginner-friendly loop near the campground.

Redhead Mountain Bike Park, Chisholm, MN | Jan Lasar photo

METRO AREA Minnesota Mountain Bike Trails 2024

Bethel | Bethel Haunted Forest Trails–

6 miles: A series of interconnected loops in an 80-acre wooded area, one mile south of the town of Bethel. Rated easy to intermediate with advanced sections featuring hills, twists and log crossings. Trails are shared with hikers and are open for fatbiking and snowshoeing in the winter.

Bloomington | Minnesota River Trail–

11 miles: Intermediate: Nicknamed Minnesota River Bottoms. Mostly singletrack winds through wooded area near river. Challenging trail that can be muddy after rain. Plenty of jumps and some obstacles. Fatbike here in the winter.

Burnsville Area

• Buck Hill–6 miles: Beginner to intermediate, includes two downhill flow trails. Skills Park featuring a bermed course with drops, rock garden, skinnies and a dragon tail.

• Terrace Oaks–2.3 miles: Intermediate: Mainly singletrack. A fairly technical trail with lots of climbs and amazing descents.

Cambridge | Springvale County Park–

3 miles: Flowy singletrack trails with banked turns and beautiful rolling jumps weaving up and around a lake, traversing streams, swamps, forests and glacier moraine berms. These trails are fast and are great for beginner to intermediate riders. Constructed drops, teetertotters, rolling jumps, boardwalk sections and rock gardens keep the ride interesting. Trails can be accessed from both the North and South parking lots. There is a bike repair station along with a bathroom and drinking fountain in the South parking lot. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

Chaska | Hawk’s Ridge Mountain Bike Trail–

4 miles: Hawk’s Ridge occupies a narrow sliver of land just east of Pioneer Ridge Middle School. It’s primarily an open, hilly, multi-use trail, handbuilt by volunteers of the Carver Trails group. Trails are beginner and intermediate levels with great views, challenging corners and verticals carved into the hillside. There is a green (easy) trail around the perimeter of the park, a short black (most difficult) trail as well. Note: Parking is available across the street at Pioneer Ridge Middle School during off-school hours only. Since there’s no parking on any of the residential streets around Hawk’s Ridge, riders need to park at nearby city parks and ride in during school hours.

Cottage Grove | Cottage Grove Bike Park–This family-friendly bike park at 26-acre West Draw Park includes a 4x track, two pump tracks, and a complete dirt jump plaza.

Eagan | Lebanon Hills Regional Park–

12 miles: This all skill level trail is a favorite for many. Good mixture of rolling hills and more technical singletrack. Woods provide secluded feel in suburban area. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

Inver Grove Heights | Salem Hills–

4.4 miles: Gently rolling hills through woods and reclaimed prairie consisting of three loops: Harmon Park, Sawmill, Foul Pond Loop.

Lake Elmo Area

• Lake Elmo Park Reserve–14 miles: Beginner to intermediate: Beautiful park with a pleasant view of Eagle Point Lake. This is a multi-use trail, including horseback riding and features some hard-packed singletrack, some grassy trail. Fatbikes are allowed on Big Bluestem Trail in the winter.

• Reid Park Trails–1 mile: This beginner-friendly trail at 30-acre Reid Park is a work in progress.

• Sunfish Lake Park–6 miles: Three loops with distinct ratings of easy, intermediate and advanced skill levels. Features include a bridge, logs and switchbacks. Note that other trails exist in this park and biking is only allowed on the singletrack trails. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

Lakeville | West Lake Marion Trail–5 miles: Beginner to advanced: Hard-packed singletrack through woods and fields on the west side of Lake Marion near Casperson Park. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

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Lino Lakes | Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park–3.2 miles: Singletrack trails consist of two separate, one-way trail loops, one on the east side of the park (Sherman Lake Loop) and one on the west side (Rice Lake Loop), about two miles apart. Both are continuous loops with a single entry and exit point connected to an existing paved trail riders will use to access the loops. The two trails ride similarly with a flowy design, but a slightly different feel. Both are entry-level trails suitable for most riders. The trail loop on the west side features a few challenging climbs combined with fun, flowy segments for a total length of approximately 1.4 miles. The 1.8-mile east side loop features a few jump opportunities with a couple of downhill segments that should add a little thrill for gravity trail fans. The plan is to eventually have additional miles of trails in separate nodes across the park.

Maple Grove | Elm Creek Park Preserve–12.7 miles: Interconnected singletrack loop trails. Built to accommodate all skill levels of riders, but mostly intermediate with short sections of easy and advanced trails. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

THE MANY COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE UP THE METROPOLITAN AREA OF THE TWIN CITIES PROVIDE AN EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF RUGGED SINGLE TRACK AND EASY TO MODERATE MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS. MANY REGIONAL AND CITY PARKS MAINTAIN TRAILS TO PROVIDE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE CLOSE TO A MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREA.

•

West Lake Marion Mountain Bike Trail, Lakeville, MN | Jan Lasar photo

Minnesota Mountain Bike Trails 2024

Minneapolis | Theodore Wirth Park–12 miles: Intermediate to advanced singletrack has twists and turns with many technical features. A great trail system consisting of several separate loops, just minutes from downtown Minneapolis. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

Minnetonka | Lone Lake Park–5 miles: This trail system is designed to accommodate a variety of mountain biking skill levels. It offers ample challenges, from the steep topography to the fast, flowy single-track. The trail is also open to hiking and trail running in dry months, as well as snowshoeing and fatbiking in the winter. Two trailheads provide users easy access from Rowland Road, in the park’s southwest section, or Shady Oak Road in the east.

Monticello Area

• Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park–14.25 miles: This trail offers many options for all skills levels including a fast singletrack, switchbacks and a meandering doubletrack. Be ready to deal with logs, roots, and wooden bridges. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

• Montiview Mountain Bike Challenge Course–2.75 miles: As the name implies, this trail demands good bike handling skills to negotiate. A very tight and twisty singletrack route with many short, steep hills runs through the woods and some open spots with great views of the surrounding area. Jumps, bridges, teeters, rock gardens, boulder piles and other features keep the ride interesting. The park also features a sculpture by a local artist and a bike repair station. Montiview Park is a work in progress, look for more trails to be developed here in the future. Parking and a restroom are available near the trailhead located at the top of Holy

Spirit Trail, and the park can also be accessed from the off-road paved path off Jason Ave. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

Oak Park Heights| Valley View Trails–

3.2 miles: Intermediate singletrack with some beginner and advanced sections. Features include a bridge, boardwalk, rock garden and switchbacks. Trails are one way with an estimated 400’ elevation change.

Rockford | Lake Rebecca Park Reserve–13.25 miles: Easy to advanced singletrack loops through wooded landscape with wetlands. Start at the Hilltop picnic area. Groomed for fat bikes in the winter.

Saint Paul Area

• Battle Creek Regional Park-West–8 miles: Intermediate to advanced. Battle Creek features a wide selection of trails within its boundaries, including 3.3 miles of multi-use trails and 4.5 miles of singletrack. Thickly wooded, some limited visibility on turns.

• Fort Snelling State Park–10 miles: Beginner: Enjoyable ride along the Dakota County side of the river. Generally flat trail, but scenic. Starts as a wide double track, then narrows to singletrack. Trails are multi-use and include fatbiking in the winter.

Savage | Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve–10 miles: This trail features glacial ridges, hilly terrain and an extensive, lush forest. This is a challenging trail and a favorite for mountain bikers. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

Details at

Shakopee | Excel Energy Mountain Bike Park–

4 miles: Loop trails circling Quarry Lake are rated beginner to intermediate. The singletrack course weaves between the tree cover and a larger prairie area, taking advantage of natural and constructed topography. This trail was designed and built to be ridden in any kind of weather, so it doesn’t close when it’s wet. One special feature is the so-called chicken foot, a fallen oak tree that’s been cut flat for riders to balance on as they ride across it. The park also has a pumptrack.

Waconia | Monarch Singletrack–10 miles: This trails system at Carver Park Reserve is made up of five connected loops that accommodate all experience levels. Easy Rider features wider tread and few sharp turns and climbs, making it ideal for hand cyclists and beginners. The Raptor Ridge loop has flowy trails and a highlight of the entire singletrack: A vista overlooking Parley Lake followed by berms and a roller descent. Paradise Trail has the longest climb of the system and an expert feature area with a concrete rollout, jumps, a slalom section and a shorter, technical climb. It offers bypasses for the difficult features, to accommodate intermediate level riders. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

Woodbury | Carver Lake Park–4 miles: Series of interconnected loops and switchbacks on the south side of Carver Lake. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

CENTRAL MN 2024

Minnesota Mountain Bike Trails

THERE’S GREAT MOUNTAIN BIKING IN THE HEART OF MINNESOTA. FROM THE PURPOSE-BUILT RED DIRT FLOW TRAILS OF THE CUYUNA LAKES, TO THE GRANITE OUTCROPPINGS OF QUARRY PARK IN ST. CLOUD, THE CENTER OF THE STATE HAS A GREAT VARIETY OF TRAILS TO EXPLORE. Great solitude and backcountry riding. Groomed only for skiing in the winter.

Alexandria | Lake Brophy County Park–6.5 miles: Beginner to expert gravity flow trail singletrack with 200’ elevation change. The top overlooks the entire park and the city of Alexandria and has a prairie landscape. Dock jumps, drops and a rock garden can be found on the more technical, expert sections on the west side of the trail system. The eastern part is more of a cross-country ride with long straightaways and sweeping turns. There are bathrooms, beach access and a playground. The paved Central Lakes Trail skirts the park and provides access by bike.

Cuyuna, Crosby, Ironton | Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area–About 70 miles: An IMBA Silver Level Ride Center. Clearly marked, one-way singletrack trails from easy beginner to hardcore expert with stunning views from the top of overburden piles left from the area’s mining days. Deep mine lakes offer refreshment after a hard ride and invite you to dive in or take the kayak out for a paddle. Many trails are groomed for fat tire biking in the winter, including the paved Cuyuna State Trail, which runs through the heart of the system and connects many of the mountain bike trail clusters. The town of Cuyuna also has a pump track.

Elk River | Hillside Park–6 miles: Mostly advanced to expert trail that is either climbing or descending for the entire course. Good skills practice. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

Fergus Falls | Ferber Park–2.2 miles: A mix of rolling hills and flat terrain in wooded and grassy areas with less difficult to more challenging trails. Trails were developed by volunteers with help from the City of Fergus Falls and continue

to be improved. Look for additional trails in the future.

Glenwood | Barsness Park– 7 miles: Beginner to intermediate single track with two challenging climbs to panoramic views of Lake Minnewaska near downtown Glenwood. This system packs in a lot of rollers, berms and fun, flowy sections including some rock obstacles.

Hutchinson | Stahl’s Lake County Park–3 miles: Moderate terrain with some small hills, a balance beam and seesaw.

Kensington | Kensington Rune Stone Park–7.5 miles: Beginner to intermediate, dedicated singletrack. The park has a visitor center with bathrooms. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

McGregor | Savanna Portage State Park–10 miles: Mixture of grass and dirt doubletrack. The trail offers varied topography in its several loops with a challenging climb up the Continental Divide with an awesome view as a reward.

Milaca | Milaca City Trails–14 miles: Located near the Rum River, this singletrack offers a variety of trail options for riders of all skill levels. Most of the trails are singletrack and go through a mix of woods, hills and fields. Trails are groomed for skiing and fat biking in the winter.

Pillager | Pillsbury State Forest–27 miles: Mixture of gravel logging roads, grass and dirt. The trail winds and twists through forest and past lakes with rolling terrain. All trails are multiuse, some include horseback riding.

Pine River | Cut Lake Trail–10 miles: Wide, grassy trails through the forest around Deer and Cut Lakes, ranging from beginner to intermediate.

Saint Cloud Area

• Jail Trail–7.5 miles: Beginner to intermediate with advanced options. Singletrack trail runs through dense woods with sections along the fence of the Minnesota Correctional Facility. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

• River Bluffs Regional Park–3 miles: Beginner singletrack loop near the Mississippi River. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

Sartell | Sauk River Regional Park-2 miles: A great beginner trail for a quick round or running laps in a 46-acre park on the Sauk River. One technical line runs along a berm. Rock gardens in the woods add to the fun. Skills area at the trail head lets beginners practice bike handling skills.

Spicer | Prairie Woods ELC–4 miles: Easy singletrack trails at the Environmental Learning Center starts at the parking lot and winds through a mix of open prairie and deciduous woods.

Wadena | Black’s Grove–8 miles: Beginner to advanced scenic trails that wind through a wooded setting and along Oak Creek. Groomed for skis and fat bikes in the winter.

Waite Park | Quarry Park–2.2 miles:

Intermediate: Doubletrack with a mixture of gravel, dirt and grass around some granite outcroppings. Runs through a heavily wooded area with a few fairly technical sections where you bike over billion-year old bedrock. This park has separate trails for walking, skiing and fatbiking in the winter.

Bemidji Area

Minnesota Mountain Bike Trails

NORTHWEST MN

MANY OF THE MOST POPULAR MOUNTAIN BIKE DESTINATIONS IN NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA CAN BE FOUND IN STATE PARKS AND FORESTS. THIS AREA OFFERS MORE TWISTS AND TURNS AND A GREATER CHANCE TO COME ACROSS WILDLIFE WHILE ROLLING DOWN A HILL OR ALONG A HARD-PACKED SINGLETRACK.

• Lake Bemidji State Park–5 miles: Beginner to advanced: Park has much to offer with dirt and packed grass trails. System is well maintained. Forested terrain has some challenging sections.

• Movil Maze–8 miles: This system lives up to its name, so bring a compass and use the map of the area. There are several spurs that branch off this trail. The trail is a combination of grassy sections and dirt singletrack with ramps. Parts of the system are groomed for fatbiking in the winter.

Callaway | Maplelag–23 miles: Mixture of challenging singletrack and grassy double track. Easy to expert. About 25km are groomed for fatbiking in the winter.

Detroit Lakes Area

• Detroit Mountain–10 miles: This trail system has trails from beginner to expert. Ride contour flow trails, or take the lift up to the top and zip down the downhill flow trails, or ride the skills park. Lodge with bathrooms, bar, and concessions is a must-see. Connecting trail takes you to Mountain View Rec Area. Groomed fatbike trails are available in the winter.

• Dunton Locks County Park–3 miles: Trail loops along the shores between Lake Sallie and Muskrat Lake. Some wind through hardwood forested hills. Trails are shared with hikers and are groomed for skiing in the winter.

• Mountain View Recreation Area–

6 miles: Single track loops through mature, mixed hardwood forest. Trails are laid out to be challenging. Connecting trail takes you to Detroit Mountain.

Lake Bronson | Lake Bronson State Park–

5 miles: Good variety of easy trails and loops to allow for different choices. The trails go through forest and prairie and are a mixture of grass and gravel.

Fargo/Moorhead Area

• Gooseberry Park–3.5 miles: Flat and wide singletrack loops on the banks of the Red River of the North. Connects to a short skills building trail with bridges and rock gardens in Horn Park. Beginner-friendly, because obstacles have ridearound options. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

• M.B. Johnson Park–5 miles: Singletrack loops along the banks of the Red River of the North with some obstacles. Trailhead has bathrooms, water and a shelter. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

• Iwen Park (Fargo)–7 miles: Beginner-friendly trail consisting of a north and south section. Not groomed for fatbikes, but usually well-traveled by snowshoers.

Roseau Area

• Hayes Lake State Park–5 miles: Beginner trail on grassy, level terrain in a wooded area. Trails start at Hayes Dam.

• Mount Roseau–6 miles: Twisting trails on rolling hills in an open, grassy area, rated beginner to intermediate. Lots of switchbacks on this 60-foot artificial hill keep you on your toes.

Ulen to Crookston | Agassiz Recreational Trail–53 miles: This abandoned railroad grade is a designated multiple use trail shared by pedestrians, cyclists, equestrians and ATV riders. It passes through Ulen, Twin Valley, Gary, Fertile and Crookston and offers scenic views of the Sand Hill and Wild Rice Rivers and Minnesota farmland.

Photo Credit: Explore MN

MN

Albert Lea | Myre Big Island State Park–7 miles: Intermediate: Well-marked trails shared with hikers through forested hills and by Albert Lea Lake. Lots of trails to choose from, but limited access when wet.

Austin | Schindler’s Way–5 miles: This flat and fast singletrack system flows through forest and prairie and sweeps along the Cedar River near the Hormel Foods campus and Todd Park. A great beginner trail that’s groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

Faribault Area

• Caron Park–2 miles: Beginner and intermediate singletrack loops with a dirt surface through a completely wooded area. Runs by Prairie Creek and features a natural waterfall. One interesting feature is a large erratic boulder on the intermediate loop. Trails are bi-directional.

• River Bend Nature Center–10 miles: Multi-use, dirt and grass trail is shared with hikers and travels through hardwoods along the Straight River with scenic bluff views. Fatbikes are allowed in the winter, but must stay off groomed ski trails.

• Shattuck St. Mary’s Trail–3 to 6 miles: The trails at Shattuck-St. Mary’s are built into the side of the riverbank above the Straight River in Faribault. Hand built, old school singletrack traverses up one ravine and down the next.

Although the trails aren’t rated as expert, fitness and skills for riding switchbacks are key as you make your way up and down the many ravines. The trail is an out and back with a loop at both ends. Ridden as an out and back there is about 6 miles of trail.

Over17milesoftrails

Minnesota Mountain Bike Trails

Henderson | Ney Nature Center Trail–1.5 miles: Two single-direction trails: Trail one is rated intermediate and trail two is rated difficult with berms, drops and a rock garden. Trail access is not on Ney Nature Center property, but just north of the intersection of Henderson Station Road and County Road 19.

Jackson | Belmont Park-5.3 miles: Beginner to advanced natural surface singletrack under the mature canopies of Oak, Walnut and Ash trees with a beautiful view of the Des Moines River. Bobsled-style flow trails on intermediate and advanced portions of the trails system have plenty of switchbacks, berms and jumps as they drop 120 feet into the river valley. The one-mile beginner trail near the parking lot is balancebike friendly. Other amenities are an enclosed log shelter house with fireplace, picnic tables, outdoor grills, bonfire area, hand pump for water and an enclosed pit bathroom.

Lanesboro | Eagle Bluff Environmental

Learning Center–3 miles: This flow trail travels through the 250-acre campus of Eagle Bluff and rolls through mixed hardwood forest with views of the Root River in the valley below. The goal is to expand the trail system to about 10 miles.

Lynd | Camden State Park–5.25 miles: Beginner to advanced: Mixture of fire roads and singletrack rolls through hardwood forests and prairie with a 1-mile section of rake-and-ride trail on top of the river valley.

Mankato Area

• Ft. LeHillier Skills Trail–2.2 miles: A short skills building area south of Mankato on the Blue Earth River with rollers and berms winding through the wooded river bottom contours. This is a perfect trail to get new riders acquainted with their bike. Trails are bidirectional. Located on the intersection of Hwy. 66 and 90 just south of Mount Kato.

• Kiwanis Mountain Bike Trail–6 miles: Two single-direction loops on the Minnesota River. The short beginner loop consists of rolling, berm filled singletrack in the river bottom land with no obstacles or challenging climbs for the novice rider. More advanced features and options like log piles, jumps and drops can be found on b-lines with ride-arounds on the intermediate loop. A kids’ loop and skill park are accessible from the trailhead. Groomed for fatbiking in the winter.

• Mount Kato–7 miles: Mount Kato has roughly seven miles of cross-country singletrack winding through the wooded hills of their ski area for novice to expert riders. Riders who like a challenge will enjoy the climbs and descents.

• Seven Mile Creek–8 miles: Seven Mile Creek’s multi-use bi-directional trails feature little technical challenge but some climbs and descents are steep and very challenging. The area transitions from the Minnesota River to grasslands in the valley, to deciduous forests on either side and up the bluffs of the creek.

Mount Kato, Mankato, MN

Jan Lasar photo

FINDATRAIL

STUNNING BLUFF COUNTRY, MEANDERING RIVERS AND OPEN PRAIRIES GIVE SOUTHERN MINNESOTA A WIDE VARIETY OF NATURAL TERRAIN FOR MOUNTAIN BIKERS TO ENJOY. GO SOUTH AND FIND OUT WHAT TRAILS ARE WAITING FOR YOU.

Northfield Area

• Heath Creek Trail–1 mile: Across County Road 78 from the Sechler Park Trails you’ll find a short, more technical trail with a rock garden along Heath Creek. Great views in a densely wooded area.

• Sechler Park–1.75 miles: Trail is designed to introduce beginners to mountain biking and runs along the woods on the shore of the Cannon River. Part of this system is a skills park with berms, jumps, drops, log piles, a teetertotter and more. Connects to Heath Creek Trail across County Road 78.

Owatonna | Kaplan’s Woods–6 miles: Moderately difficult singletrack through hardwood forest in a 225-acre park. Some log jumps add challenges. The Owatonna Trails Association maintains six miles of mountain bike trail and grooms for fat bikes in the winter.

Red Wing | Memorial Park Trails–12 miles: This beginner to advanced trail has many options: long climbs, challenging obstacles, outstanding views, twisting singletrack. Select a ride that matches your skills and enjoy the view off Sorin’s Bluff. 7.5 miles of this system is dedicated singletrack; the rest is shared with hikers.

Rochester Area

• Eastwood Park–7 miles: Three easy and two intermediate trails by Eastwood Golf Course. Trail is mostly wooded with many tight twists and turns along the Zumbro River.

• Gamehaven Trails–12 miles: Five easy and two intermediate singletrack loops with scenic overlooks on Gamehaven Lake. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.

St. Peter | Traverse des Sioux Park–11 miles: This system consists of rolling and winding trail through the Minnesota River bottoms weaving through the trees and over the undulating flood plain. The trails are bidirectional with trail difficulty rated easy and beginner friendly. These trails have some of the area’s best views of the Minnesota River.

Winona | Bluffside Park–15 miles: Easy to difficult singletrack. From a short, blufftop beginner loop to steep, twisty expert lines, this growing system is just minutes from downtown and offers views of the Mississippi River. Some trails are groomed for fatbikes. The Bluffs Traverse Recreation and Conservation Area project links Bluffside, Garvin Heights and Sugar Loaf parks in an ambitious effort to expand the Winona mountain bike trail system in the future.

Mountain Bike Trail Guide Sources: BAMB, LAMBAT, Fargo Moorhead Trail Builders, MNDNR, MTBProject.com, Singletracks.com, TrailForks.com, individual cities, counties and organizations.

Details at www.mntrails.com/ mountain-bike-trails

Trails at Bluffside Park, Winona, MN | Liz Chrisman/IMBA photo. Story on page 24.

Bike Rides & Tours 2024

Fat And Happy

Gravel/Road | Stillwater, MN

April 13, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/fat-and-happy

Earth Day Gravel Grinder Gravel | Northfield, MN

April 27, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/earth-day-gravelgrinder

BIRDS AND BISON BIKE TOUR

Trail | Hastings, MN and Prescott, WI

May 4, 2024

Get outdoors this spring and enjoy two river towns at the confluence of the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers. Take a ride on the Point Douglas Trail between Hastings on the Minnesota side and its neighbor across the river, Prescott, WI. www.visithastingsmn.org/bike-tours

Fulton Gran Fondo

Road | Minneapolis, MN

May 4, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/fulton-gran-fondo

Granny’s Gravel Grinder

Gravel | Princeton, MN May 4, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/grannys-gravelgrinder

LAKE ALICE 100

Road | Fergus Falls, MN

May 11, 2024

No, you don’t have to ride 100 miles, but if you do, 87 laps around the lake will get you there. It’s always held the Saturday before Mother’s Day and always free.

www.bikemn.org/all-events/lake-alice-100

Bike MS: Twin Cities

Road | Saint Paul, MN May 11, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/bike-ms-twincities-ride

The Heywood

Gravel | Northfield, MN May 18, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/the-heywood

ORANGE CITY TULIP FESTIVAL TOUR DE TULIPS

Road | Orange City, IA

May 18, 2024

This supported ride is only part of the fun of Orange City’s Dutch heritage celebration. Off the bike, take part in the festivities for an unforgettable experience Distances: 20 or 33 miles

www.bit.ly/467vjOL

Lake Pepin 3-Speed Tour

Road | Red Wing, MN

May 18-19, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/lake-pepin-3speed-tour

Hidden Valley Hammer Series

Mountain Bike | Ely, MN

Fridays, May 24-June 14, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/hiddenvalley-hammer-mountain-bike-raceseries-2/2024-05-24/

Le Grand Du Nord

Gravel | Grand Marais, MN

May 25, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/le-grand-du-nord

MED CITY MEANDER

Trail | Rochester, MN

May 25, 2024

Join the team behind BikeMN’s Chapter, We Bike Rochester, to celebrate the great trail network that meanders around Minnesota’s third largest city on this inaugural ride.

www.bikemn.org/all-events/med-citymeander

LUVERNE LOOP TOUR

Trail | Luverne, MN

May 30, 2024

Enjoy a leisurely spring loop around Luverne on the 7.4-mile trail, register for prize drawings and gather for a treat! Stick around for the weekend and celebrate Luverne’s annual Buffalo Days. www.luvernechamber.com

The Log Jam

Mountain Bike | Cloquet, MN June 1, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/the-log-jam

2024 MINNESOTA TOUR DE CURE

Road | Minneapolis, MN

June 1, 2024

Tour de Cure is a premier cycling event for all ages and abilities. All routes will be fully supported with bike mechanics, volunteer route marshals, rest stops with food and water, cheering volunteers and more.

www.diabetes.org/mntourdecure

The Freebike

Road/Trail | Minneapolis, MN

June 1, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/the-freebike

TOUR DE PEPIN

Road | Lake City, MN

June 1, 2024

Tour de Pepin is one of the Midwest’s most unique cycling tours where riders have several options to ride through the captivating terrain and historic towns around Lake Pepin. Distances: 32, 44, 50, 72, 100 miles.

www.lakecity.org/tour-de-pepin

Tour of Lakes

Road | Brainerd, MN

June 1, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/tour-of-lakes

ZEB PIKE-RIDE TO THE RIVER

Trail | Holdingford, MN

June 1, 2024

Follow in the footsteps of explorer Zebulon Pike, who set out to discover the source of the Mississippi River. This family-friendly 20-mile roundtrip will take you down the Lake Wobegon and Soo Line Trails to the impressive trestle-bridge crossing at the world’s most famous river. www.artinmotiononthelakewobegontrail. com/events

Bike MS: MS 150

Road, Trail | Proctor, MN

June 8-9, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/bike-ms-ms-150

CARAMEL ROLL RIDE

Trail | Albany, MN

June 8, 2024

Choose from three options: East to Avon, Collegeville and Saint Joseph, west to Freeport, and of course, north to Holdingford and the covered bridge, then on the Soo Line Trail to Bowlus and Blanchard Dam on the Mississippi River. www.lakewobegontrail.com/lwta-rides

KKD Gravel

Gravel | Farmington, MN

June 8, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/kkd-gravel

River Towns Tour Road | Hastings, MN

June 9-14, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/river-towns-bike-tour

LADY SLIPPER RIDE

Trail | Avon, MN

June 15, 2024

See the Minnesota State Flower, the Pink and White Showy Lady’s Slipper in full bloom. This is a short ride to see the beautiful Lady’s Slipper orchids growing along the Lake Wobegon Trail. It’s a free ride, but donations will be accepted.

www.lakewobegontrail.com/lwta-rides

Iron Trail Road Tour Road | Duluth, MN June 15-21, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/iron-trail-road-tour

THE TOUR OF MINNESOTA

Road/Trail | Central MN

June 15-22, 2024

The 50th annual Tour of Minnesota, formerly the Klobuchar Bike Ride, will visit the Cannon Falls area in 2024. Daily trip length will vary, but riders will travel a total of about 350 miles with a rest day. www.tourofminnesota.com

DAM2DAM RIDE

Road | Little Falls, MN

June 15, 2024

Follow the Great River Road through Charles A. Lindbergh State Park to historic Blanchard Dam and enjoy miles of Mississippi riverfront and quiet back roads. The Dam2Dam Bike Ride is a great way to experience the Mississippi River and the Little Falls area and it’s free! Distances: 20, 40 miles.

www.mntrails.com/event/dam2dam-ride

MICKELSON SUMMER TRAIL TREK

Trail/Gravel | Custer, SD

June 21-23, 2024

Enjoy the beauty of the heart of the Black Hills as you travel through the scenic valleys, old railroad tunnels and historic mining towns on the 119-mile Mickelson Trail. It’s a great way to explore the Black Hills at a slower pace. Registration includes trail pass, shuttle, refreshments and meals.

https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/george-s-mickelson-trail/

The Fox

Gravel | Finland, MN

June 22-23, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/the-fox

THE SPRING BIKE FLING

Trail | Walker, MN

June 22, 2024

Take a ride on the Paul Bunyan Trail from Walker to Hackensack and experience the beauty of the Chippewa National Forest in Paul Bunyan’s back yard. Your ride options are plentiful: A 24 or 48-mile out and back or a 36-mile loop ride. Included in the registration are a t-shirt and a bag full of awesome swag.

www.leech-lake.com/spring-bike-fling

Lutsen 99er

Mountain Bike | Lutsen, MN

June 29, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/lutsen-99er

GREAT SCOTT BIKE RIDE Road | Prior Lake, MN

July 4, 2024

Enjoy the sights and sounds of rural Scott County on this ride hosted by the Great Scott Cycling Club. Route choices are 25 and 50 miles. SAG and rest stops are provided along with lunch after the ride.

www.mntrails.com/event/great-scott-bike-ride

FREEDHEM 76

Gravel | Freedhem, MN

July 6, 2024

The Freedhem 76 is a race/ride on north central Minnesota’s finest gravel, minimum maintenance roads and trails to celebrate Independence Day. There’s lots of gravel, lots of lakes and scenery galore.

www.freedhem76.com

BLUENOSE GOPHER 50

Gravel | Granite Falls, MN

July 13, 2024

This gravel ride explores the challenging ups and downs of the Minnesota River Valley in search of the route of a longforgotten 1890s bike race. Breathtaking views, billion-year-old granite and quiet back roads make for a unique ride. www.bluenose.coop/bluenosegopher50

Unicon 21

Mountain, track and road unicycling | Bemidji, MN

July 14-26, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/unicon-21

The Wolf

Gravel | Two Harbors, MN

July 19-21, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/the-wolf

TOUR OF SAINTS

Road/Trail | Saint Joseph, MN

July 21, 2024

It’s not a race. It’s a heavenly little ride. From cities across Minnesota and neighboring states, each year 1,000 or more cyclists gather in St. Joseph to wind their way along quiet byways and rolling hills of central Minnesota. Distances: 18, 35, 50 miles.

www.bikemn.org/all-events/tour-of-saints

Bike MS: Ride Across Minnesota 2024

Road | Northfield, MN July 22-26, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/bike-ms-rideacross-minnesota-2024

The Hotdish Gravel | Winona, MN July 27, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/the-hotdish

SCENIC SHORE BIKE TOUR

Road | Mequon, WI

July 27-28, 2024

The Scenic Shore Bike Tour is a two-day, 150-mile, fully supported cycling event on the beautiful shoreline of Lake Michigan. Pedal 25, 75 or 150-miles with 1,500 cycling enthusiasts in support of a cure for blood cancer.

www.scenicshore150.org

TOUR DE BUN BICYCLE CLASSIC

Road | Montgomery, MN

July 27, 2024

Ride your bike in the heart of Minnesota Czech Country in scenic Le Sueur County. Each route will have refreshment stops at various points and will provide scenic rural countryside on paved, lightly traveled roads.

www.montgomerymn.org/tour-de-bun-bikeclassic

JDRF Ride

Road | La Crosse, WI

August 1-4, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/jdrf-ride

CANDAK

Road | Garrison, ND

August 3-10, 2024

This ride carries on the tradition of the CANDISK ride of North Dakota with daily routes ranging from 35 to 70 miles and a century option. This is a multi-day tour through North Dakota with terrain varying from flat fields to steep hills.

www.candak.net

TOUR DE TONKA

Road | Minnetonka, MN August 3, 2024

Tour de Tonka is a scenic bike ride through the Lake Minnetonka area and its surrounding communities. With so many different route options, there’s a ride for everyone.

www.tourdetonka.org

GREAT RIVER ENERGY

MESABI TRAIL TOUR

Trail | Buhl, MN

August 10, 2024

While you pedal fully supported along one of Minnesota’s premiere paved bicycle trails you will encounter historic & scenic points of interest, enjoy food & music at rest stops. In 2024, the ride will travel between Buhl and Calumet, a round trip of 70 miles.

www.mesabitrail.com/events-and-tours/ annual tour

The Day Across MN (DAMN)

Gravel | Gary, SD

August 10, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/the-day-acrossminnesota-damn

Hollo Gravel Classic

Gravel | Battle Lake, MN

August 10, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/hollo-gravel-classic

ROCK-N-ROLL THE LAKES

Road | Albert Lea, MN

August 10, 2024

Albert Lea knows how to rock! Riders can choose from one of three different routes—10, 30 or 50 miles—of SAGsupported, “rolling” fun around our lakes and community. All three courses hug picturesque lakeshores and offer a variety of beautiful southern Minnesota scenery.

www.bikemn.org/all-events/rock-and-rollthe-lakes

One

CaNDak.net

rivers, lakes & fields

bridge the valley bike rally

August 11, 2024

Stillwater, MN

BridgeTheValley.org

PEDAL PRIOR PRIOR LAKE ROTARY

August 24, 2024

Prior Lake, MN

PedalPrior.com

NORTHFIELD ROTARY

BIKE TOUR

September 7, 2024

Northfield, MN

NorthfieldRotary.org road, gravel and family routes

Bike Rides & Tours 2024

BRIDGE THE VALLEY BIKE RALLY

Road/Gravel | Stillwater, MN

August 11, 2024

Join the Stillwater Sunrise Rotary Club on an epic trip through the hills and valleys around Stillwater, MN. Part of the Rivers, Lakes, Fields Tri-Ride Series including Pedal Prior and the Northfield Rotary Bike Tour. Ride all three for extra swag and prize drawings.

www.bridgethevalley.org

Bicycling Around Minnesota (BAM)

Road/Trail | Minnesota’s Iron Range

August 15-18, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/bicycling-aroundminnesota-bam

GITCHI-GAMI TRAIL RIDE

Trail | Gooseberry Falls State Park, MN

August 17, 2024

Enjoy a supported, recreational ride on the Gitchi-Gami State Trail along Lake Superior’s scenic North Shore. You’ll get up close and personal with some superior views, be serenaded by waterfalls, wind through multiple state parks and don’t forget: Snacks, t-shirts and sag support are provided! Ride lengths: 8, 28, 34 and 55 miles. www.ggta.org/ride.php

PEDAL PRIOR

Road/Trail | Prior Lake, MN

August 24, 2024

Discover beautiful Prior Lake and Scott County as you pedal your way through quaint towns, picturesque lakes and rolling farmland. Part of the Rivers, Lakes, Fields Tri-Ride Series including Bridge the Valley Bike Rally and the Northfield Rotary Bike Tour. Ride all three for extra swag and prize drawings.

www.pedalprior.com

River Valley 100

Road or Gravel | Mankato, MN August 25, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/river-valley-100

Gray Duck Grit

Gravel | Northfield, MN August 31-September 1, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/gray-duck-grit

CARAMEL APPLE RIDE

Trail | Sauk Centre, MN

September 7, 2024

Enjoy the fall colors and great apple refreshments at all the rest stops including caramel apples and other treats from local vendors. Spend the day riding the great Lake Wobegon Trail Country.

www.lakewobegontrail.com/lwta-rides

NORTHFIELD ROTARY BIKE TOUR

Road/Gravel | Northfield, MN

September 7, 2024

There’s a route for everyone: Road, gravel or family. Part of the Rivers, Lakes, Fields Tri-Ride Series including Bridge the Valley Bike Rally and the Pedal Prior. Ride all three for extra swag and prize drawings. www.northfieldrotary.org/page/northfieldrotary-bike-tour

RIDEMN1

Road | Oslo, MN

September 7-14, 2024

RideMN1 holds an annual bicycle ride across Minnesota to raise awareness about cancer. This time they visit Oslo, Warren, Grygla, Red Lake, Effie, Cook, Ely and Silver Bay.

www.ridemn1.org

Saint Paul Classic Bike Tour

Trail/Road | Saint Paul, MN

September 8, 2024

URL to be determined.

North Star Bicycle Race

Road | Saint Paul, MN to US-Canada border

September 11, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/north-star-bicyclerace

Gritty Goose Gravel Grinder Gravel | Monticello, MN

September 14, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/gritty-goose

LOONS CHALLENGE RIDE

Trail | Twin Cities, MN

September 15, 2024

Join in the fight against type one diabetes as we challenge you to push your limits and ride up to 100 miles through the scenic Twin Cities landscape. For more information email minnesotadakotas@jdrf.org

TWIN CITIES BIKE TOUR

Road/Trail | Minneapolis, MN

September 15, 2024

Be a part of this inaugural cycling event, destined to be a celebration of the trails and communities that fuel thriving bicycling culture.

www.bikemn.org/all-events/twin-cities-biketour

TOMASSONI TOUR

Trail | Tower, MN

September 19-22, 2024

At this fundraising ride cyclists will be able to choose between two different ride lengths on the beautiful Mesabi Trail and experience white glove treatment as they help in the fight against ALS. www.neversurrenderinc.org

MICKELSON TRAIL TREK

Trail/Gravel | Custer, SD

September 20-22, 2024

Enjoy the beauty of the heart of the Black Hills as you travel through the scenic valleys, old railroad tunnels and historic mining towns on the 119-mile Mickelson Trail. It’s a great way to explore the Black Hills at a slower pace. Registration includes trail pass, shuttle, refreshments and meals.

https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/george-s-mickelson-trail/

MORA BIKE TOUR

Road | Mora, MN

September 21, 2024

The annual Mora Bike Tour starts and finishes at the Vasaloppet Nordic Center and offers two routes on rural country roads. Rest stops keep riders hydrated and a mobile repair van lends assistance if needed.

www.vasaloppet.us/mora-bike-tour

RIDE THE RIDGES

Road | Winona, MN

September 21, 2024

Ride the Ridges will take riders through some of the most scenic areas in southeastern Minnesota, from lush valleys along streams to bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. All routes have well-stocked rest stops featuring local delicacies. Distances: 22, 44, 70, 110 miles.

www.ridetheridges.bike

Tour of Lakeville

Road/Trail | Lakeville, MN September 21, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/tour-of-lakeville Headwaters 100 Road | Park Rapids, MN September 28, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/headwaters-100

Heck of the North Gravel | Two Harbors, MN September 28, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/heck-of-the-north ROSEWOOD GRAMBLE

Road, Gravel | Thief River Falls, MN September 28, 2024

Join Bike Thief River Falls on this ramble on gravel (Gramble) and see rural Pennington and Marshall counties. You’ll ride the former beach ridges of Glacial Lake Agassiz, minimum maintenance roads and a bit of trail.

www.bikemn.org/all-events/rosewoodgramble

WHEELIN’ TO WALL

Road/Gravel | Wall, SD

September 28-29, 2024

Experience the magic of Badlands National Park and its striking rock formations on this two-day cycling celebration. Road and gravel routes are available on this supported ride and a Pedal Parade of Lights and a poker run are part of the fun.

www.wheelintowall.com

Fall de Tonka

Road | Minnetonka, MN

September 29, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/fall-de-tonka

The Gunflint Scramble!

Mountain Bike | Grand Marais, MN

October 5, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/the-gunflintscramble

MANKATO RIVER RAMBLE

Road | Mankato, MN

October 6, 2024

This fall classic features great rest stops, ride support, delicious food and beverages, live music and much more. All routes pass through beautiful Sibley Park where the Blue Earth River joins the Minnesota River. Distances:12, 26, 42 miles.

www.bikemn.org/all-events/mankato-riverramble

Ride to End Alz

Road | Maple Grove, MN

Elm Creek Park Reserve

October 13, 2024

www.mntrails.com/event/ride-to-end-alz

As of deadline, the information in this calendar was accurate. Check www.MnTrails. com/events for additional information.

FAT

on a mountain bike trail 400 feet above

Winona, following a Sherman tank. I loped around a baker’s dozen hairpin switchbacks to get here, on the dimpled track of Scott Sherman, town mayor and gracious host of an escorted tour of Minnesota’s newest fat tire trails. So new, in fact, the dust had hardly settled from the summer’s (2023) trail building, part of Winona’s ambitious Bluffs Traverse Recreation and Conservation Area project linking Bluffside Park, Garvin Heights Park, and Sugar Loaf, the area’s marquee rock spire. When complete, the trifecta of bulbous bluffs will be linked via sinuous trails and an adventurous spirit welcoming bikers, hikers, skiers, and even ice climbers into the fold.

climb through folds of the ancient

On this early December day, I feel welcome, indeed. After the long climb folds of the ancient bluff in dense oak forest, Sherman leads me along a short connector road to Chickadee Circuit, a 1.5-mile, multiuse beginner loop shaped like an upside-down Christmas tree. The trail is hard-packed white from a recent snow, snaking through a thick blanket of faded brown leaves. It’s like riding a wiggle of frosting on a chocolate cake and just as sweet. At an overlook with faraway views of Winona and the sprawling river valley, Sherman shares the allure of Chickadee.

“We almost had too much expert and hard blue level trail here; rocky, technical, old-school stuff. It taught you to be a better rider, but it wasn’t great for introducing new people to the sport.” Especially for younger riders, the original green trail, with 400 feet of elevation gain, was too difficult. “This new trail will be huge and infuse ‘hey, I can ride this’ confidence. It’s exactly what we needed.” Thanks to the partnership of Winona’s Outdoor Recreation department, Winona Area Mountain Bikers (WAMB), the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA), the artistr y of Rock Solid Trail Contracting, and other dedicated groups, fat tracks fans now have top-shelf riding in their back yard.

Alicia Lano, Winona’s outdoor recreation coordinator, echoes Sherman’s sentiment. A walking

example of this project’s buzz around town, Lano is excited about the big picture. “There’s true passion going into this, and the trails are super cool. We’re really proud of them, but there’s a lot of other cool things going on too. We want to make sure people understand this isn’t just about building mountain bike trails.”

“Since we’ve put a trail out there, people are getting to spaces they’ve never been before, this little gem hiding up there that nobody used, and through recreation, we’re promoting conservation too.” Among the project’s broader benefits are restoration of five different bluff prairies, removal of invasive buckthorn, and protection of the threatened timber rattlesnake. The Bluffs Traverse work took the snake’s protection seriously during trail building and for me, knowing they’re out here brings added connection to the place.

Zipping along the top of a steep bluff face on the Wildwood trail, I feel that energy, a vibe that is radiating through town. This heaping helping of outdoors decadence right outside your door is pretty tough to beat and a of IMBA’s core vision of “more trails close to home.” It feels like it happened overnight but today, Winona is solidly on the map as destination mountain biking on par with Duluth, the Iron Range trails, Cuyuna, and even the mountain west. Serious bragging rights from a sleepy river town with a oncehaphazard tangle of sketchy trails.

vibrant example of IMBA’s core vision

I remember riding here in “the old days” and where the original trail network was a bewildering spiderweb, the current iteration is a strategically planned masterpiece

Mike Repyak, IMBA’s director of planning and design, heralded Winona’s lumpiness as especially attractive for bike-optimized trails, like the lively green level High and Low Rollers flow trails. “There is nearly 500 feet of elevation change at Bluffside Park,” said Repyak. “Not too often we get to play that much vert in the Upper Midwest. Adjacent slopes and great soils made for awesome trail building conditions.” The Chickadee trail received similar praise. “The blufftops have gentle slopes overlooking steep hillsides, setting us up to provide rolling trails with nice views. Families of all ages will really enjoy the experience up there.”

TSTORY BY STEVE JOHNSON LIZ CHRISMAN/IMBA PHOTOS

Other don’t-miss highlights include Danger Noodle, the park’s expert-caliber showcase; a full mile dropping 400 feet, with sweeping, 16-foot berms; Zinger, another long expert path plunging down the bluff’s eastern face, with plenty of “pucker points” along the way to the historic Holzinger Lodge; and the Cistern-Quarry combo. It’s easy to make a day of it out here, with 15 miles of rollicking good fun. Plans in the next five to eight years feature 25 miles of sustainably built, fun-to-ride trails with challenge levels from easy introductory trail to “I’ve never ridden anything like this in the Midwest.”

Winona also boasts a high school and middle school mountain bike team with more than 60 riders that can train on some of Minnesota’s most technically advanced and elevation-heavy trails. Sherman regularly pumps up the riders with a “our trails are better than theirs” rally cry. “You have an advantage here. If you can ride this stuff and ride it fast, you are capable of being a state champion.”

I’ll leave full-speed racing to the youngsters, sticking to my blue level skills tailing Sherman on the Wildwood loop, with a stop at the top of Danger Noodle for a look at the gnarliest, wallsteep turns I’ve ever seen. A couple more turns and we’re back to Ope!, flowing back down to the trailhead. Post-ride, Sherman beams. “I’ve been working on this project for 20, 25 years. I was the Winona Area Mountain Bikers president for many years, I’ve been an advocate across our region for many years, and I always had these dreams of singletrack ribbons through our bluffs here. There’s a lot of momentum to get more people into the sport; it’s attracting people to our area.”

And it’s just getting started. Sherman is confident that in the next 20 years, this little big town will have 50-plus miles of trail. “I am so lucky to be in office right now as these trails are being built and opened. For me, it’s a storybook ending.”

TWINONA IS SOLIDLY ON THE MAP AS DESTINATION MOUNTAIN BIKING

ON PAR WITH DULUTH, THE IRON RANGE TRAILS, CUYUNA, AND EVEN THE MOUNTAIN WEST.

HittingtheTrailsinThief RiverFalls

STORY&PHOTOSBY JANLASAR

During our last visit to Thief River Falls my wife Jen and I learned the paved trails in town not only offer locals a place to walk the dog, but also take visitors to places they want to see (www. issuu.com/minnesotatrailsmagazine/ docs/minnesota_trails_2023_summer).

We returned to take a look at more people-powered outdoor recreation in the far northwestern corner of the state.

It felt good to stretch the legs after the road trip as we pedaled our way from the hotel to Red Robe Park, where members of the Bike ief River Falls group were having a dropin bike repair clinic. Glen Kajewski and Andy Mueller were gathered around the new Dero bike repair stand, helping a young father overhaul several children’s bikes on a pleasant evening. In absence of a local bike shop, Kajewski said, the group will hold these no-appointment fix-it sessions on a regular basis. These activities and the fact that Thief River Falls is relatively easy to navigate by bike, has earned the town a bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community award from the League of American Bicyclists in late 2022. Our trip from the hotel to the park and back took us down paved trails or marked bike lanes only.

e streets of Thief River Falls were deserted early the next morning and we turned our wheels toward the river again. As soon as we entered the River Walk, a shared pedestrian and bike trail, we found out where everyone was. It was the Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener and every available spot along the banks of the Red Lake River was taken up by someone holding a fishing pole. We made our way to the Northland College Trails and got off the pavement for a little while. These woods adjacent to the schoolhouse are home to a couple of miles of dirt trails, some of which follow the banks of the Thief River. We made our rounds and then rode the River Walk to the Greenwood Recreation Area, again via the River

trails along the Thief River at Northland er; Parker Pool observation platform at

Walk. At Greenwood we took on some more dirt, riding through the woods, this time along the Red Lake River.

Most Thief River Fallsians identify as Norwegian American, and every year the Snorre Lodge of the Sons of Norway takes one week to celebrate this fact during Nordic Fest. The event to kick it all off, Uff Da Day, was held at the Peder Engelstad Pioneer Village, across the street from the Greenwood Trails. Part of the festivities was a Viking reenactment group and we were just in time for the chainmail-clad and helmeted band to assemble and the show to start. Unlike in the 8th century, however, there was a post-battle photo op with the warriors.

We pedaled back to the hotel where we got ready for part two of our day, a kayak fishing trip. It was opener weekend, after all.

The path of the Red Lake river through town is a sort of squiggly, upside-down V and it’s joined by the Thief River from the north. Near that intersection, at LaFave Park, a newly installed kayak launch made getting into the water easy. The kayak is supported by a cradle when you sit down and you pull yourself toward the water, gripping a railing on each side to effortlessly glide in on rollers. Getting out is just as easy and the inside of your kayak stays clean and dry.

We paddled up the Thief River on calm waters. It was sunny with just a light breeze, perfect conditions for floating and casting. As we moved north up the river, past stands of trees and reed-lined banks, it was easy to forget we were just a few miles away from town. We spent a couple of hours casting and reeling again and again, changing lures, paddling, drifting and watching bales of turtles plop into the water when we went by a snag in the river. It was very relaxing, except the fish weren’t aware that it was fishing opener. One last cast yielded a small Northern for me and we once more lived up to our fishing motto ‘At least we didn’t get skunked.’

Sunday was set aside for a visit to a very special place.

61,000-acre Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge stands out from the map as a green patch within the checkerboard of roads and farm fields that is northwestern Minnesota. The contrast is amazing. We drove through agricultural scenery for 25 miles, took one turn down a dirt road and entered into a wildlife haven. The refuge protects a huge amount of wetland as well as a 9,000-acre tamarack bog wilderness and is home to countless birds and mammals, including moose and wolves. There are a couple of spots with designated walking trails, but for the most part it’s a drive-through trip. We stopped at the Parker Pool observation platform to take a look at the landscape

from above car seat height. The expanse laid out in front of us was a patchwork of ponds and brown reeds as far as we could see. Things were just beginning to bud in the low shrubs and aspen, but the birds were out in full force on this wonderful early summer day. There was no wind to drown out the chorus of thousands and thousands of birds gathered in this sanctuary. The sign at the platform mentioned redhead, ringneck and ruddy ducks as well as buffleheads and when we looked through the scope, all of these birds were in a nearby pond, neatly lined up like they were expecting us. It was almost too easy. We moved on and took a short, interpretive walk at the Headquarters building, then drove down Habitat Drive, a one-way road with a slow speed limit. The narrow trail followed the shore of a larger body of water where we saw dozens of yellowheaded blackbirds clinging to the swaying reeds, sitting on tree branches and pecking at the dusty ground in front of us. This bird is not usually seen where we live, so this was a treat.

As much as we would have liked to hang around and find more birds, the road was calling and it was time to go. The roads inside the refuge would make for a wonderful gravel ride, but we’ll have to do that next time.

Members of Bike Thief River Falls hold an outdoors drop-in bike repair session.

Viking Storm Wolves perform at Peder Engelstad Pioneer Village.

There’s a ribbon of singletrack in northeast Minnesota that just may become your new favorite.

Jackpot Trail is in the Sawtooth Mountains and connects Britton Peak to Lutsen Mountains Resort with the help of High Climber Trail on the Lutsen end. The nine miles of Jackpot officially end at Onion River Road, but that is no reason to stop. High Climber seamlessly extends the trail an additional five miles into the ski area. With connector trails on both ends, plan on a total of 17 miles one way or 34 miles round trip. It’s a two-way out and back trail with breathtaking beauty and variety along the entire route. Built in 2019 by Rock Solid Trail Contracting out of Copper Harbor, MI, the intermediate level flow trail incorporates many of the natural features of the area with precision-built rock gardens, berms and bridges. Riders of any ability will have a fantastic time here. You can turn around at any time to customize your own distance and walk around the technical features if they’re beyond your ability. The author of this article is no expert

on navigating rock gardens but found most of them ridable with a little confidence.

My son, Sam, and I made an early departure from Duluth and were treated to a beautiful sunrise over Lake Superior. There was rain in the forecast for the afternoon and the clock was ticking. It was a 2-hour drive to the Britton Peak Trailhead which is 3 miles up Highway 2, Sawbill Trail, from Tofte. Ample parking, restrooms and trail signage are available here. We headed out on the Short Stacker and Skookum trails which are part of the Britton Peak trail system and connect to the start of Jackpot. It was late September and fall leaves were peaking with the best display of colors I saw all season. Red, yellow and orange were the backdrop along the heavily forested trail lined with cedars and maples. The downside was fallen leaves covered much of the trail which concealed some rocks and made the path difficult to see at times. We had to stay focused the entire ride. There were a few sections where trail maintenance was done with a leaf

blower and this allowed us to get more aggressive on the exposed dirt.

Jackpot is a flow trail with enough variety to always be interesting and engaging for everyone. The hills are long, fast and filled with berms that allow speed through the many curves. However, they are not too steep to be extremely dangerous to descend or soul-crushing to go up. The many B-lines along the route deliver jumps, rocks and other technical features if you want to test your abilities. I even saw other riders negotiate a few drops. Bridges of varying widths offer a chance to test your balance, but the rock gardens really stand out to me. Many are natural rock slab formations unique to this area, smooth in nature, yet still challenging due to their size, length and steepness. The manufactured rock garden sections are very well built and can push you to the limit.

One in particular grabbed my front tire at the bottom of a hill and sent me over the handlebars. I landed in the grass on the side of the trail, but the only thing

STORY

JACKPOT IS A FLOW TRAIL WITH ENOUGH VARIETY TO ALWAYS BE INTERESTING AND ENGAGING FOR EVERYONE. THE HILLS ARE LONG, FAST AND FILLED WITH BERMS THAT ALLOW SPEED THROUGH THE MANY CURVES. HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT TOO STEEP TO BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DESCEND OR SOULCRUSHING TO GO UP.

hurt was my pride. Sam rode this section without a problem, so I blame my riding abilities for this crash. There are no shortcuts off this trail and it’ll be a long hike out if you have a major mechanical problem, so a multi-tool for repairs is a must. There is a limited supply of snacks and beverages in The Mountain Shop at Lutsen Mountains, but bring along plenty of your own food and water.

A loud clap of thunder was our signal to wrap up the mid-point Lutsen break and get back on the bikes. Riding the trail back felt like all new terrain. The fast downhills on our way out were now our long climbs heading back. I prefer riding loop trails but this out and back continually provided new

perspectives of the surrounding landscape. The first drops started falling as forecast when we were about a mile from the trailhead. In all, it was just under 4 hours of ride time with more than 3,100 feet of climbing. By the time we packed everything up and were back in the car, a steady rain was falling.

Jackpot Trail is off the beaten path, so it doesn’t get as many riders as other mountain bike trails in Minnesota. We didn’t see anyone on the trail going to Lutsen and there were only a couple of groups on our way back. When I asked another rider if she was having a good time, she replied “Best mountain bike trail in Minnesota.” It very well may be and it should be on everyone’s bucket list.

April 5-28, 2024

Tettegouche

Those little moments become big memories.

effects

Throughout my childhood, my family and I traveled to the Iron Range at least twice a year to visit my grandparents. My memories are good ones, filled with swimming, fishing, canoeing, and walks through the woods following my dad and brother while they hunted grouse and pheasant. The lake my grandparents lived on was surrounded by dense forests giving the eerie illusion of deep dark water which I found both refreshing and intimidating. There weren’t many folks around and I would bike or rollerblade the surrounding backcountry roads without a worry.

After my grandparents moved away, I didn’t have a reason to visit anymore. Years went by and I didn’t return to the Iron Range until 2017 when I was invited to go mountain biking in Cuyuna. I remember asking for clarification, because up until this point I’d only known the Crosby-Ironton area to be a part of what I thought of as the Iron Range, and in my mind that did not include mountain biking. It turns out mountain biking trails had been growing there for years, causing ripple effects across the region.

My partner Tony and I stayed at True North Basecamp in Crosby one weekend where we set up our tent in a spot overlooking Portsmouth Mine Lake. In the morning, we biked into town to enjoy some delicious coffee and breakfast at Red Raven, a combination bike and coffee shop. From there, we headed straight to the mountain bike trails where we spent the rest of our day, coming back to camp only for lunch, followed by more biking.

At the end of the day, I watched the signature red dirt on my skin wash away in the crystal-clear, turquoise waters of Huntington Mine Lake. This weekend had a significant impact on my life as I fell more in love with mountain biking thanks to these red dirt trails and the most refreshing water I’d swam in since my time out on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington.

I went on to mountain bike in other places across the United States, and eventually returned in 2023 to bring my Unruly Women mountain biking retreats right back to where it all began for me.

There were 13 of us and, of course, we stayed at the True North Basecamp campground. Friday evening began with a bonfire-cooked meal and getting to know one another. We began each morning and ended each night with yoga around the fire pit.

During the day, my co-coaches and I taught skills clinics and guided group rides throughout the Cuyuna Country State Rec Area. Learning in a group setting like this is extremely encouraging, and everyone attempted their new skills on flat land before applying them on the trails. Many individuals told me they were more likely to ride trails and attempt features they wouldn’t otherwise have, had we not been in our group of women.

It truly was a weekend for doing the intimidating things like mountain biking and community activities, while also learning to be mindful, to listen to your intuition. It was a time to find confidence to make the decisions that are right for you without guilt or shame of not riding

more or feeling pressure to do what everyone else is doing. Some women would continue to ride, some would swim or paddleboard and some would head back to camp to rest.

Mountain biking is a cis-white-male dominated sport. Even with its growing popularity among women, girls under the age of 18 participate in competitions in significantly fewer numbers than their male counterparts. Retreats and races that focus on diversifying mountain biking spaces, are incredibly life changing. The environment is encouraging, welcoming, and there’s a kind of magic that happens when we all come together in one space that reflects our riding and overall experience. There is so much power in representation and seeing someone like you helps you see that it’s possible for you. This is why diversifying these outdoor spaces is of utmost importance, especially for individuals who have historically been excluded and continue to be underrepresented. Everyone deserves to have the feeling of belonging while recreating in the great outdoors.

Today, the Cuyuna Country State Rec Area has put the Iron Range on the map, as an exciting destination to visit, and we have mountain biking to thank for that. We can’t forget that, because of mining, we now have the deep, turquoise lakes and mountain-like hills and as long as we continue to be stewards of the land we’re recreating on, there’s no reason we can’t have a symbiotic relationship with a multi-generational impact on this community and those who visit.

STORY & PHOTOS BY MONICA SHOBERG, FOUNDER, UNRULY WOMEN, LLC

My mind was racing with schedules and deadlines and Thursday afternoon traffic on 35W wasn’t helping. As the Minneapolis skyline faded in the rearview mirror, my hands relaxed and loosened their grip on the steering wheel and my mind began to shift towards nature and possibilities. The further north I drove, the more I began to look forward to a hard, but fulfilling weekend of clearing trail.

I was on my way to the north shore to log some solo volunteer hours on the Superior Hiking Trail, then continue towards Grand Marais, MN for a very special event. The nonprofit organization I founded, Unruly Women, helps create a more inclusive and accessible outdoor experience to empower all women and femme-leaning non-binary individuals and we partnered with the North Country Trail Association for our very first weekend of trail work on the Kekekabic Trail.

At the last minute, I had decided to bring my bike with me just in case, and as adventure unfolded, I was glad I did.

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS AS SOON AS YOU LEAVE HOME,

dreamy glow. Hungrier than ever, we were welcomed back home with a delicious and nutritious meal of home-cooked chicken and leafy greens, thanks to Jon’s mom Mary. As always, her cooking truly hit the spot, especially after an evening of swimming and biking around town.

UNEXPECTED C X NEX E U E P TED

NOT WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT YOUR DESTINATION.

STORY & PHOTOS BY MONICA SHOBERG, FOUNDER, UNRULY WOMEN, LLC

My intention was to stop briefly in Duluth for a quick swim in Lake Superior with my friend Jon and then to be on my way up the North Shore.

But before descending into Duluth, I made a pit stop at the Thompson Hill Welcome Center on Skyline Drive. I suddenly felt the itch to put some miles on my bike and spontaneously decided to go for a ride. Hartley Park offers multipurpose trails, single track mountain bike trails and has a visitor center. The trails here are well maintained with plenty of signs to help navigate the trail system. My suspensionless Salsa adventure touring bike isn’t ideal for mountain biking, but it is called an adventure bike for a reason. I made a few minor adjustments by letting some air out of the tires for better traction and trail preservation, and lowering my seat for better riding ergonomics.

My bike handling skills kicked into overdrive as I was jostled around by roots and rocks, ready to get bucked over the

handlebars at any moment. This threw me into endless fits of laughter as I was having the time of my life making my way through the ever-changing terrain. White spruce and balsam fir lined the trail edges as the quaking aspen cheered me on for not having fallen, yet. The butterflies, dragonflies and deer that followed alongside a good part of my ride made me feel like an enchanted Disney princess being escorted through the forest by my wildlife companions.

Once I made it back to my car, I was more than ready for a cold plunge into Lake Superior. I met up with Jon on Park Point and we went straight for the lake. Fully immersed in the frigidly refreshing water, I felt alive again. Embracing this surge of energy, we then went for an evening bike ride. Starting at Park Point we casually pedaled through Canal Park, making our way down to the lighthouse along the canal and through Bayfront Park. Occasionally we would stop to look out over the endless waters and talk as old friends do. We crossed over idyllic bridges and weaved our way around town until it was time for dinner. The evening ride back was most enjoyable as traffic had died down and the sun’s weakening rays at the golden hour showered everything with a perfect

Early the next morning, I continued my drive north towards Two Harbors. A lastminute decision to take scenic Highway 61, was a good one. The way the sun rose from the horizon of Lake Superior and the fog hovered over glassy water sprinkled with boats was pure magic. On a whim, I pulled off on McQuade Road about ten miles southwest of Two Harbors, to park and squeeze in a bike ride. It was much too beautiful of a morning to pass up the opportunity. The air was a cool 45 degrees and became numbing the faster I rode north along the shoulder of highway 61, but it was nothing less than rejuvenating. Once in Two Harbors, I stopped at my favorite breakfast spot, Cedar Coffee Company. As the sun beamed down, I took my sweet time, enjoying my cold brew coffee and croissant breakfast sandwich in the cedar grove behind the coffee shop. Thoroughly refueled, I returned to the car and made my way farther up the shore for some muchneeded trail work.

Speaking from experience, the best memories have come from the most unexpected adventures that I couldn’t have planned even if I had tried. Before your next endeavor, I recommend you give embracing spontaneity a try. Have a general destination, make a list of possible things to do, come prepared with gear you might need and make stops along the way to help your journey unfold. With loose plans, there’s room for impulse and more chances for your intuition to say yes, rather than no. The adventure begins as soon as you leave your home, not when you arrive at your destination.

Monica Shoberg lives in North Minneapolis with her partner Tony and their two rescue pups, Griz and Wild. With her small business, Unruly Women, LLC, she guides backpacking retreats along the Superior Hiking Trail and biking trips in northern Wisconsin and central Minnesota. She also teaches mountain biking skills clinics and workshops and leads group rides throughout the Twin Cities.

GET TO W IN MINNESOTA

By Lisa Filter, Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota

If you’ve spent time on Minnesota trails in the last few years, you may have noticed a growing trend: Electric bicycles, or e-bikes now make up the fastest-growing bicycle

segment. And all projections say their momentum is just building.

It’s easy to see why. Just ask someone who has ridden one and you’ll hear, they’re just plain fun. But, amid the growth and excitement, also reigned confusion. The variety of designs and capabilities left regulators unsure where e-bikes fit—are they more like bicycles, scooters, or motorcycles? We’re finally getting some clarity.

The trade association, PeopleForBikes, has played a pivotal role in defining e-bikes into three classes, a classification now adopted by 42 states, including Minnesota as of 2021. These classes share a basic definition of bicycles (operable pedals and 2-3 wheel) and limit the electric motor to 750 watts. The class difference comes into play with the pedaling requirement and the maximum speed of the motor (see table). In Minnesota, bicycle manufacturers or distributors must affix a label to all e-bikes according to this classification.

E-BIKES ALLOWED ON MOST TRAILS

Nationwide there is a growing acceptance of e-bikes on trails. In 2020, the National Park Service finalized regulations that give discretion to park superintendents but generally treat e-bikes similarly to traditional bicycles. Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Voyageurs allow all classes of e-bikes wherever traditional bicycles are allowed.

Similarly, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources allows e-bikes on state trails, although restrictions on class 3 e-bikes, which offer a pedal-assist of up to 28 mph, may be reassessed as they are considering a broad rules update. As for regional and city trails in Minnesota, most allow all e-bike classes, but some enforce limits on the rider’s speed ranging from 10-20mph.

THE JOYS OF E-BIKES

The benefits of e-bikes are notable, offering expanded cycling options for individuals limited by physical fitness, age, or disability. They make Minnesota’s extensive system of long-distance trails more accessible.

They appeal to all types of people for all types of reasons. From young people forgoing cars to older ones extending their riding years, commuters looking to arrive at work less sweaty to recreationists looking to go farther than they ever could before.

They have environmental benefits too. According to the Department of Transportation, more than half of people’s trips are three miles or less. By using e-bikes, we

would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel consumption and improve air quality.

20 IS PLENTY?

While e-bikes gain acceptance, safety concerns persist, particularly with class 2 and 3 e-bikes. Their increased speed and weight compared to traditional bicycles hint at the potential for more serious crashes. The top speed of a class 3 e-bike, 28 mph, is faster than the average Tour de France speed. Meanwhile, when it comes to automobiles, some cities embrace the motto “20 is plenty” to encourage driving no faster than 20 mph on city roads. This begs the question, why should bicycles on a trail go faster than what’s considered prudent for a car on a street?

Another concern is the blurring of lines with bicycles that propel themselves (e.g., class 2 e-bikes) hardly fitting the traditionalists’ understanding of bicycles as human-powered vehicles. Battery safety is another concern, with reports of deadly fires. In response, legislation is making its way through Congress to mandate safety standards for lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes.

MINNESOTA E-BIKE REBATES IN 2024

For those looking to buy an e-bike, this summer and next could be a good time to do it with a new rebate program being rolled out to Minnesotans. Starting in July, residents can apply for a certificate for 50-75% off the value of an e-bike up to $1,500. This certificate must be presented at participating retailers, who will reduce the price of the e-bike according to the value of the certificate. The maximum rebate of 75% is limited to individuals earning $25,000 or less per year. There is no income limitation on the 50% rebate. Keep an eye out for more info this summer.

MINNESOTA CODIFIES E-BIKE CLASSES & OFFERS REBATES

READY FOR ADVENTURE

Marlin+ is an affordable e-mountain bike that combines the best features of Trek and Bosch to enhance off-road rides. With a reliable Bosch mid-drive motor and Trek’s renowned bike design, this e-MTB offers seamless pedal-assist for enjoyable extended rides on trails and in urban environments. Marlin+ doesn’t skimp on performance and reliability, instead blending them together to deliver a premium e-MTB experience at a price that’s accessible to a wider range of riders.

Visit your authorized Trek retailer today!

Adventure Cycle & Ski advcycle.com | Winona, MN

DL Bike Shop dlbikeshop.com | Detroit Lakes, MN

Downtown Bicycles downtownbicyclesllc.com | Northfield, MN

Gateway Cycle gatewaycycle.com | Oakdale, MN

Jake’s Bikes jakesbikes.com | Alexandria, MN

Martin’s Cycling & Fitness martinscyclingandfitness.com | Albert Lea, MN

Outdoor Motion outdoormotionbikes.com | Hutchinson, MN

Ramsey Bicycle ramseybicycle.com | Ramsey, MN

Red Wing Bicycle Co. redwingbikes.com | Red Wing, MN

Revolution Cycle and Ski revolutioncycleandski.com | St. Cloud, MN

Rick’s Cycling and Sports Center rickscycling.com | Willmar, MN

Rochester Cycling cycling-fitness.com | Rochester, MN

Rydjor Bike Shop rydjor.com | Austin, MN

Straight River Sports straightriversports.com | Owatonna, MN

The Bike Shop thebikeshopmarshall.com | Marshall, MN

Minnesota’s bike trails, long distance hiking trails, water trails, state parks, state recreation areas and biomes

TRAIL PARTNERS

You need a place to eat, stay, play and upgrade your gear? Our Trail Partners are here to help!

BIKE SHOPS

CYKEL 218-772-0177

324 Curtis Avenue, Ironton www.cykelonline.com

FITZHARRIS BIKE & SPORT 320-251-2844 105 7th Avenue S, St. Cloud www.fitzharrismn.com

JAKE’S BIKES 320-219-7433

419 N. Nokomis St., Alexandria www.jakesbikes.com

REVOLUTION CYCLE AND SKI 320-251-2453 160 29th Avenue South, St. Cloud www.revolutioncycleandski.com

TOURIGHT BICYCLE SHOP 320-639-2453

124 2nd Street NE, Little Falls www.tourightbicycleshop.com

BIKE KING 651-457-7766 6489 Cahill Avenue, Inver Grove Heights www.bike-king.com

CARS BIKE SHOP 763-784-6966

2661 Co Road I & Old Hwy 10, Mounds View www.carsbikeshop.com

RAMSEY BICYCLE 763-323-6666

6825 Hwy. 10 NW, Ramsey www.ramseybicycles.com

B&Bs

GREEN HERON B&B 218-999-5795 2810 Meyers Bay Road, Grand Rapids www.greenheronbandb.com

LODGING/CAMPING

BIG RIVER RESORT 651-565-9932 1110 Hiawatha Dr. E www.bigriverresort.com

CUYUNA LAKES STAY 218-866-2353 23688 Forest Road, Deerwood www.cuyunalakesstay.com

RED RIDER RESORT 218-838-6858 23457 Co. Rd. 31, Crosby www.redriderresort.com

THE SANCTUARY 218-622-0321 222 2nd Street NW, Crosby www.thesanctuarycrosby.com

EAT & DRINK

THE DEERSTAND RESTAURANT AND BAR 24188 Mohs Street, Deerwood 218-534-9253 www.deerstandrestaurant.com

THE HUDSON SMOKEHOUSE 218-772-0096 208 Curtis Avenue, Ironton www.hudson218.com

SPECIALTY STORES

COMMON GOODS 218-772-2999 27 W Main Street, Crosby www.commongoodsmn.org

LITTLE ROCKS DESIGN STICKERS Melrose 320-333-2520 www.littlerocksdesign.com

VICTUAL 218-545-1000 124 West Main Street, Crosby www.shopvictual.com

SERVICES

COLDWELL BANKER CROWN REALTORS Hwy. 6 & 210, Crosby 218-546-8346 www.coldwellbankercrown.com

CUYUNA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER 320 East Main Street, Crosby 218-546-7000 www.cuyunamed.org

DEERWOOD BANK 218-534-3111 21236 Archibald Road, Deerwood www.deerwoodbank.com

MID MINNESOTA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION 117 West Main Street, Crosby 218-546-5428 www.mmfcu.org

OARS-N-MINE 218-546-6912 22640 MN-6, Crosby www.oarsnmine.com

TIMBER BUILDING SUPPLY 218-678-2063 14506 State Highway 6, Deerwood www.timberbuildingsupply.com

WING WELLNESS PLLC MEDICAL SPA 14693 Woodrow Rd., Brainerd 218-839-9463 www.wingwellness.com

INFORMATION

HUTCHINSON CHAMBER 320-587-5252 2 Main St., Hutchinson www.explorehutchinson.com

VISIT BRAINERD 800-450-7247 14084 Baxter Drive, STE 12, Brainerd www.visitbrainerd.com

LOVIN’ LAKE COUNTY 218-391-5081 1330 MN-61, Two Harbors www.lovinlakecounty.com

WHERE WILL YOUR TAKE YOU?