East Central
NEW! Saginaw Grade-Lumberjack Multi-use Trail/Soo Line South/Soo Pits Trail/Red Top Trail/Solana Loop - Solana State Forest/Gandy Dancer Trail /St. Croix State Forest Trails/Nemadji State Forest Trails - Straight Arrows - Washington Ramsey/ Matthew Lourey State Trail/Fond du Lac State Forest Trails/Chengwatana State Forest Trails/General C.C. Andrews State Forest Trails
Distance: 5 miles Difficulty: More Difficult Parking/Trailhead Location(s): From Moose Lake, parking is located a half-mile east on Highway 27 Season: April 1 to November 30 Facilities: Moose Lake: food, fuel, restrooms, lodging More Information: 218-460-7020
Soo Line South
NEW! Saginaw Grade/Lumberjack Multi-use Trail In an area already booming with riding opportunities, the new Saginaw Grade/ Lumberjack Multi-use Trail provides another option for those eager to explore more of the East Central region. From the town of Cloquet, this old railroad grade skirts the St. Louis River for about half of its 10-mile span before continuing straight north when the river winds west. The trail ends near Saginaw, a historic area in St. Louis County. Distance: 10 miles Difficulty: Easiest Parking/Trailhead Location(s): Park at Spafford Park, off of Main Street in Cloquet Season: April 1 to November 30 Facilities: Cloquet: food, fuel, restrooms, lodging More Information: Eric Senarigh, 218-380-8730 or ccridersmn@gmail.com
Soo Pits Trail Make a stop at this fun scramble area adjacent to the Soo Line South Trail between Highway 61 and I-35W. It features 5 miles of twisties, with the highlight of a pit with piles, steep walls and rims for climbing and scrambling. This area is suited to a more experienced rider, or those who want to build skills. The Evergreen PAC ATV Club maintains this area.
The Soo Line South Trail, stretching through five counties and two states, is the longest single trail in the state at 126 miles. The Minnesota section is 115 miles long with one end in Morrison County near Royalton and the other at Saunders, south of Superior, Wis., where it is called the Saunders State Trail. The trail is built primarily on former railroad grade for a flat trail with sweeping turns. The eastern portion of the trail, in Carlton County, is especially scenic with a trestle bridge over the Kettle River and woodsy terrain. Its trail cousin, Soo Line North, bisects the north-central area of Minnesota. The two intersect in Moose Lake. The Soo Line South also connects to the Red Top Trail, Solana State Forest and Loop, the Soo Pits ATV trails and Foxy Loop. The counties and local ATV clubs maintain the trail. Distance: 115 miles in Minnesota; 8 miles in Wisconsin Difficulty: Easiest Parking/Trailhead Location(s): McGrath (Aitkin County): Moose Lake (Carlton County): Isle (Mille Lacs County): Genola and Hillman (Morrison County) Season: Aitkin, Mille Lacs and Pine counties: April 1 to November 30; Carlton County: year-round (traffic will be detoured from Carlton County Highway 3 north to County Road 4 then east to the state line starting this summer); Morrison County Facilities: Isle, Moose Lake, Willow River and Superior, Wis.: food, fuel, restrooms, lodging; Genola: food, fuel; Denham: fuel, restroom; McGrath: food More Information: Aitkin County: Rich Courtemanche, 218-927-7364; Carlton County: Jim Gassert, 218-485-4486; Mille Lacs County: Tina Chapman, 612-6768664; Morrison County: David Lanners, 320-360-4927 or www.easternmorrisoncountyatv.com; Pine County: Mike Weske, 218-461-6040 or weskemike2002@gmail.com
ATVentures 2019 15
