6 minute read
IRON RANGE
IRON RANGE Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area • Genoa Trail • Alborn-Pengilly Railroad Trail • Goodland Trail • Chisholm Trail • Little Moose Trail • Mesabi Mountain Trail • Thistledew Trail
Iron Range with Genoa Spur Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area - Gilbert
The 4,046-acre Iron Range OHV State Recreation Area in Gilbert is Minnesota’s premier OHV experience. This huge park is devoted to riders and machines of every type, ranging from motorcycles to Hummers and everything in between. In the heart of Minnesota’s mining country, riders of all skill levels can enjoy 36 miles of trails and a multi-purpose event area, 4x4 rock crawl and obstacle course, toughtruck competition course, sand and mud drags, hill climbs, motorcycle track and more. The rugged landscape is framed by huge mountains of iron ore, stretching for more than 20 miles around the play zone. All OHVs must be registered but there is no admission fee.
Distance: 36 miles Difficulty: Easiest to Most Difficult Parking/Trailhead Location(s): From Gilbert, go east on Highway 135 to the entrance on Enterprise Trail. Season: Open year round but with reduced winter hours
Vehicles Allowed:
Facilities: Eveleth/Gilbert: food, fuel, restrooms, lodging More Information: Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area, 218-735-3830
The Alborn-Pengilly Railroad Trail runs for 39 miles along an abandoned railroad grade between the towns of Alborn and Pengilly. It’s a great place for beginners to get comfortable with their machines while enjoying quiet northwoods bog scenery and making fun river and stream crossings on former railroad trestles. The trail runs past the Whiteface River State Forest, alternating between shaded woods and open areas.
Distance: 39 miles Difficulty: Easiest Parking/Trailhead Location(s): From Highway 169 north of Pengilly, head south for a half-mile on Highway 65. Trail access is on the right. To the south, access is in Alborn off Highway 7. Season: April 1 to November 30
Vehicles Allowed:
Facilities: Pengilly/Hibbing: food, fuel, restroom, lodging; Meadowlands: food, fuel, restroom; Alborn: food, restrooms More Information: Jack Benolken, 218-885-1250
Genoa Trail
From Gilbert, zip over to Eveleth on the three-mile Genoa Trail. This quick and easy way begins east of the highway 53/37 junction and ends at the Sherwood Forest Campground, which also connects to the popular Iron Range OHV State Recreation Area. The Genoa Trail runs parallel to the Mesabi Trail and cuts through the old Genoa mining operation.
Distance: 3 miles Difficulty: Easiest Parking/Trailhead Location(s): Located in Eveleth at the intersection of U.S. Highway 53 and State Highway 37. Season: Year-round
Vehicles Allowed:
Facilities: Eveleth/Gilbert: food, fuel, restrooms, lodging More Information: 218-300-7843
37
Sparta Road
Sparta Broadway Street Gillbert
Goodland Trail
Winding through the northern hardwood forest, the Goodland Trail is a popular place to leaf peep via ATV in the fall. The 19-mile trail offers pleasing views of woods, lakes and bogs, and those who wish to explore further can link up to the Alborn-Pengilly Trail.
Distance: 19 miles Difficulty: Easiest Parking/Trailhead Location(s): From Highway 169 north of Pengilly head south for a half-mile on Highway 65. Trail access is on the right. Access in Goodland on Highway 65. Season: May 15 to October 31
Vehicles Allowed:
Facilities: Pengilly: food, fuel, restroom, lodging; Goodland: fuel, restrooms More Information: Jon Korpi, 218-969-4297
Chisholm Trail
The city of Chisholm allows responsible riding in town from 6 a.m.-10:30 p.m., but if you just need to get out of civilization for a while, take the 11mile Chisholm Trail straight out of town and into the Superior National Forest. Here, mixed pines and hardwoods give you a proper wilderness backdrop for a satisfying course of tight turns and challenging hills.
Distance: 11 miles Difficulty: Easiest Parking/Trailhead Location(s): Half mile north of Chisholm to Sever Road, or access the trail at the intersection of Highway. 5 and Connors Road. Season: Year-round, with selected areas closed for deer hunting season
Vehicles Allowed:
Facilities: Chisholm: food, fuel, restrooms, lodging More Information: 218-300-7843
ExpEriEncE Autumn’s SplEndor
test Drive the New freeDoM riDge offroaD Park
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›Anytime Anywhere cElEBrATE OuR AccoMpliSHMEnTS
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riDe with Us OFFrOaD EVEnts FOr 2015
THE MINNESOTA OFFROAD TRAIL RIDER’S GUIDEBOOK
MINNESOTA 2015 ATVentures atveNtUres iNsiDe YOUr GUiDE tO minnEsOta atV traiLs
a caPacity crawl 4 the cUre DowN & Dirty at QUaDNa
New 2016 MachiNes Can-am POLaris HOnDa
cheers! • nEW traiLs • PrO-OFFrOaD LaWs • anD mOrE sUMMer fUN …COmE riDE WitH Us More access • Miller-Black Bear Trail opens • road-riding in iTasca, lake and sT. louis counTies • Trails proposed in iron range
New MachiNes Can-am’s: DefeNDerarCtiC Cat’s: alterra aN aPPreciatioN Bash
Little Moose Trail
The 18-mile Little Moose Trail will get an extension in 2017. It’s no surprise people asked to see more of this appealing area, and we’re looking forward to continuing deeper into the mixed northern woodlands of the George Washington State Forest. Look for wildlife as you pass Hartley, Scooty and Wolf lakes, which border the trail, and take in some sweet vistas over the Prairie River. If you want to stick around a while, the Wolf Lake county campground is accessible from the trail.
Distance: 18 miles Difficulty: Easiest Parking/Trailhead Location(s): The West Lot is north of County Highway 7 on County Road 337. The East Lot is on Highway 65, near the Taconite State Trail. Season: May 15 to November 1
Vehicles Allowed:
Mesabi Mountain Trail
It’s only four miles long — but what a four miles. The Mesabi Mountain ORV Trail, Minnesota’s first Grant-in-Aid ORV trail, covers some of the state’s most gripping terrain, including rocky gorges, granite boulders and a ridge along part of the Laurentian Divide.
Distance: 4 miles Difficulty: Most difficult Parking/Trailhead Location(s): From Eveleth, take Highway 53 to Industrial Park Drive, follow to Progress Park Parkway and turn right. Season: Year-round, with selected areas closed for deer hunting season
Vehicles Allowed:
Facilities: Grand Rapids: food, fuel, restroom, lodging; Balsam: food, fuel, restrooms More Information: Ron Houwman, 218-326-6045
Thistledew Trails
Itasca County is known for its towering pines and vast forests, and the Thistledew ATV Trails take full advantage of this special landscape of mature Norway pines and aspen. The 25-mile system consists of a north and south loop through the George Washington State Forest that are shared with horseback riders. The north loop showcases Five Island, Buttonbox and Crumb lakes, while the south loop winds around Thistledew Lake. Riders can camp at the Buttonbox and Thistledew campgrounds in the George Washington State Forest.
Distance: 25 miles Difficulty: More Difficult Parking/Trailhead Location(s): From Nashwauk go north on Highway 65 for 32 miles, then left on Highway 1 for three and a half miles. Continue north on County Road 452 to parking. Season: April 1 to November 30
Vehicles Allowed:
Facilities: Gilbert/Eveleth: food, fuel, restrooms, lodging More Information: 218-300-7843
NEW! Alvwood Squaw Lake Trail
The newest trail to make its entry into the Arrowhead region is the 159-mile Alvwood Squaw Lake Trail. This Grant-in-Aid trail utilizes county and forest service roads for an easy ride through both the Chippewa and Bowstring forests, where you’ll be treated to pine plantations and aspen trees. Watch for two additional trails currently under development to offer connections in the summer of 2017.
Distance: 159 miles Difficulty: Easiest Parking/Trailhead Location(s): Parking at many businesses in Alvwood and Squaw Lake, including Leino’s Resort, Hill Restaurant, Gosh Dam Place, Hoot n Holler, Fish Tales Bar & Grill and more. Season: Year-round except for forest service road closure March 15 – May 2
Vehicles Allowed:
Facilities: Grand Rapids: food, fuel, restrooms, lodging; Togo: food More Information: MN DNR Parks and Trails – Grand Rapids, 218-328-8983 Facilities: Alvwood/Squaw Lake: food, fuel, restrooms, lodging More Information: Sarah Thompson, Itasca County Land Department, 218-327-7393
