With the ever-increasing popularity of fatbikes, Winter trail access in Minnesota is growing. The Minnesota DNR issued a News Release last week adding 58 new miles open to fatbiking in Minnesota State Parks and on State Trails. These are not the only new places to ride in Minnesota this Winter, more are popping up around the state.
Twin Cities Area
The City of Golden Valley has partnered with the Three Rivers Park District and will groom two multi-use trails at Brookview Golf Course that will be open to fatbiking. Trail lengths will be 3/4 mile and 3 1/2 miles of unlit corduroy that will be maintained through late February. The Brookview Grill will be open for food and cocktails Friday through Sunday until February 16th. For more information see my post Brookview Golf Course Opens to Fatbikes This Winter.
Lake Elmo Park Reserve has 2.5 miles on the Big Bluestem Trail that will be packed multi-use and includes fatbiking. A Washington County Parks Vehicle Permit is required on all vehicles entering the park. More information can be found in the Washington County Parks Winter Trails-Lake Elmo Park Reserve Brochure.
Lake Elmo Park Reserve has 2.5 miles on the Big Bluestem Trail that will be packed multi-use and includes fatbiking. A Washington County Parks Vehicle Permit is required on all vehicles entering the park. More information can be found in the Washington County Parks Winter Trails-Lake Elmo Park Reserve Brochure.
Cleary Lake Regional Park in Prior Lake grooms trails for cross-country skiing and according to Explore Minnesota it also has a "fat tire" trail with bike rentals available during the winter. Call Cleary Lake Regional Park (763-694-7777) for more information.
As part of the announcement from the Minnesota DNR last week, Fort Snelling State Park has added 6 new miles of packed multi-use trails. The Luce Line State Trail is groomed for multi-use including fatbiking from Vicksburg Lane to Stubbs Bay Road. The Gateway State Trail is plowed from Cuyuga Street to Jamaca Avenue opening up 11.9 miles of trails to all winter biking.
Southern MN
CROCT (Cannon River Offroad Cycling and Trails) opened their first mtb trail at Sechler Park in Northfield on November 15th. The 1.2 mile two-way singletrack runs through the wooded floodplain along the Cannon River and is open to Winter biking. For the latest trail conditions follow @CROCTconditions on Twitter.
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| Sechler Park River Bottoms Trail |
The Mankato Area Mountain Bikers (MAMB) have finished the two loops of mountain bike trails at the Kiwanis Recreation Area and they are open for Winter fatbiking. The short loop is a 1 mile beginner-rated trail and the long loop is a 4 mile intermediate-rated trail. For updated trail conditions at the Kiwanis MTB Trail, visit the MAMB Facebook page.
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| Kiwanis Mountain Bike Trail |
The Winona Area Mountain Bikers (WAMB) will be grooming the trails at the top of Cherry Hill and portions of Holzinger Lodge this Winter. According to a post on the MORC Trail Conditions Forum for Holzinger Lodge, "WAMB has come to an agreement with the City of Winona to groom portions
of the trail that are accessible by snow machine. This will include the
Low Rollers and the Wildwood Loop at the top. Cistern, Horse Trail and
Quarry will not be groomed due to the rough terrain." For updates on these two trails, visit the WAMB Facebook page.
The Minnesota DNR has opened 13 miles of groomed trails from Pine Island to Rochester on the Douglas State Trail to fatbiking as well as 6 miles of groomed trails at the Blazing Star State Trail/Myre-Big Island State Park.
Central & Northern MN
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| Image Credit: Stearns County Parks |
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| Soo Line West |
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| Soo Line East |
The Morrison County Board of Commissioners recently reviewed its rules for recreational trails including the use of fatbikes. The Recreational Trail Rules and Regulations Ordinance that will affect the Soo Line East and Soo Line West trails would allow snowmobiling, fat-tire bicycling and cross country skiing from December 1st through March 31st as long as there is snow cover of three or more inches on the trail. This will provide 36 miles of trail for fatbiking. The ordinance also states “the trail is closed and may not be used for any purpose (hiking, biking, skiing, ATVing or snowmobiling) from Nov. 1 through Nov. 30 of each year.” For more information or questions regarding the use of these trails should contact the Morrison County Public Works Department at 320-632-0121.
COGGS (Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores) will be grooming six miles of newly completed trails at Mission Creek and “purposeful snowshoeing” the trails at Brewers Park in Duluth to pack the trails for fatbike riding. Brewer Park consists of Brewer Park (beginner), Homebrew, Lollygagger and Kissing Booth and links up with Piedmont across Haines Road. For trail conditions at Mission Creek visit @COGGSMissionCrk and Piedmont/Brewer Park visit @COGGSPiedmontTC. 
The Minnesota DNR has 20 miles of groomed trails at Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area. New trails include 5.4 miles of groomed trails at Jay Cooke State Park and 8.7 miles of groomed trails for fatbikes and ski skating at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park.
Remember to always follow IMBA's Fat Bike Best Practices and help give our sport a good name to gain more trail access in the future.
Thanks. This is a more informative article on fat bike trail options than the DNR press release.
ReplyDeleteBrent,
ReplyDeleteThanks, I hope to add more as new trails open to fatbiking this Winter.