Singletrack Alternatives to Continue Riding During Freeze/Thaw Periods

The unusually warm December weather we are experiencing has put us in a freeze/thaw cycle closing many of the singletrack trails around the state.  To keep the legs fresh and still get some miles in the saddle on a regular basis I have put together some places to ride until the snow comes offering us some groomed singletrack.

Gravel

If it's one thing Minnesota has plenty of it's gravel.  With an ever growing list of gravel rides and races throughout the year, you're sure to have plenty of route options following one of these courses. If you're new to gravel, Gravelmap.com will help you find roads to ride.  I have also posted some of my favorite gravel rides on MN Bike Trail Navigator complete with maps, cue sheets, gpx file download links and Strava route links.  Gravel never closes and is a great way to get in some miles with varied terrain and climbing.

Aggregate Trails

Minnesota has several aggregate trails that are similar to riding gravel.  Most are built on former railway beds so there won't be much elevation change but they will allow you to get in some miles, none the less.  Some of these include the Luce Line State Trail, Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail, Lake Minnetonka LRT Regional Trail.

State Trails

Several of Minnesota's State Trails have a natural surface treadway suitable for horseback riding or mtb/fatbike use.  If sharing the trail with horseback riders please use proper trail etiquette.  These trails include:

Casey Jones State Trail     Map

C.J. Ramstad/North Shore State Trail     Map

Douglas State Trail    Map 

Gateway State Trail     Map 

Glacial Lakes State Trail     Map 

Goodhue Pionneer State Trail     Map 

Great River Ridge State Trail    Map

Heartland State Trail     Map 

Luce Line State Trail     Map 

Matthew Lourey State Trail     Map

Minnesota Valley State Trail     Map 

 

River Bottoms Bushwacking

River bottoms floodplains have some great riding opportunities.  Two of the areas I have done some "bushwacking" are the Vermillion River Bottoms and the Minnesota River Bottoms.  Bushwacking is riding through areas where there is no trail and river bottoms floodplains are a great place to do this.  Fall and early Winter are great times to ride these areas of flat wooded expanses.

The Mississippi National River & Recreation Area near Ravenna TWP southeast of Hastings along the Vermillion River is definitely worth exploring.  The Minnesota River Bottoms is also a good place to roll through floodplain forests and fields.  Respect the area you ride and remember to leave no trace.

Forest Service/Logging Roads

Image Credit: Joe Sacco

The Chippewa National Forest and Superior National Forest have plenty of Forest Service roads, logging roads and unpaved trails with some beautiful scenery to be explored.  Some of these areas are remote so make sure you have everything you need to get you out of a jam and back to where you started.

Chippewa National Forest Biking Brochure

Superior National Forest Recreation Opportunity Guides

State Forests

Image Credit: Joe Sacco

Minnesota State Forests are also full of riding opportunities.  These opportunities include non-motorized trails, multi-use trails, State Forest roads, Minimum Maintenance Forest Roads and OHV/ATV trails.  Below are links to maps and more information on these State Forests.

Southern MN State Forests

Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest 

• Bronk Unit Plowline Trail     Map 
• Kruger Campground & Management Unit     Map 
• Oak Ridge/Wet Bark Recreation Area     Map 
• Snake Creek Management Unit     Map
• Trout Valley Management Unit     Map

Central MN State Forests

 Birch Lakes State Forest     Map

Chengwatana State Forest     Map

Rum River State Forest     Map

St. Croix State Forest     Map

Sand Dunes State Forest     Map

Northern MN State Forests

Bear Island State Forest     Map

Beltrami Island State Forest     Map

Cloquet Valley State Forest     Map

Emily State Forest

Finland State Forest     Map

Fond Du Lac State Forest     Map

Foot Hills State Forest     Map

George Washington State Forest     Map

Golden Anniversary State Forest     Map

Grand Portage State Forest     Map

Hill River State Forest     Map

Kabetogama State Forest     Map

Koochiching State Forest     Map

Land O' Lakes State Forest     Map

Lyons State Forest

Nemadji State Forest     Map

Paul Bunyan State Forest     Map

Pillsbury State Forest     Map       

Pine Island State Forest     Map

Savanna State Forest     Map

Smoky Hills State Forest     Map

Sturgeon River State Forest     Map

Two Inlets State Forest     Map

White Earth State Forest     Map 

The Minnesota DNR reminds you, when biking in State Forests:

• Mountain biking is permitted on all state forest roads and trails unless posted closed with the exception of Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State forest, where mountain bikes are permitted only on designated trails.
• State forest roads can range from asphalt to gravel, maintained to minimal maintenance road surfaces.
• Forest roads are used by cars, logging trucks, and other forest users (hikers, hunters, horseback riders, ATVs, and off-highway motorcycles).
• All laws for public road use must be followed on state forest roads.
• Watch out for logging trucks and heavy equipment in a state forest.
• Check the state forest maps and Web site for road and trail closures.
• Share the trail with others.
• Stay on designated trails.
• Keep right so others can pass.
• Keep all pets on leash.
• Obey traffic signs and rules.
• Pack out all garbage and litter.
• Respect adjoining landowners’ rights and privacy.
• Warn other trail users when passing by giving an audible signal.
• Let horses know you are passing. Some may be spooked by quiet bikers or inline skaters.
• Overnight camping and campfires are permitted only on designated campsites.
• Do not leave campfires unattended.
• Enjoy the beauty of wild plants and animals, but leave them undisturbed for all to enjoy.

For more information on mountain biking in Minnesota State Forests, see my post, Explore Minnesota's State Forests by Mountain Bike With Resources From the MN DNR.

To order a State Forest map, contact the Minnesota DNR Information Center.

Phone:  651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367
Email:   info.dnr@state.mn.us
Address:  500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155-4040

Paved Trails

Paved trails are always open and many of them in Minnesota have some great scenery.  For a list of trails throughout the state of Minnesota with links to more information and maps visit the appropriate MN Bike Trail Navigator trail links page for your area.

Twin Cities Area Map Links

Southern MN Map Links 

Central MN Map Links 

Northern MN Map Links

MN Fatbike Enthusiast Recommendations 

I received several recommendations from MN Fatbike Enthusiasts Facebook Group members when posed with this question "...places to ride for mountain bikers/fat bikers during this freeze/thaw period that we are in. With the trails closed, where are you guys riding to get miles in?

"7 mile creek park in Nicollet county...located off Hwy 169 between Mankato and St. Peter. Their multi-use trails have gravel and are always open." - Clay Haglund

"Road bike on the trackstand, and fat-bike at Wayside Prairie and Dalbo Memorial Forest County Parks. Both dry off quickly after rain do to heavy pine cover." - Hans Erdman

"The MRT trails in St. Paul along the river. I've been doing lots of 'urban exploring'. I've also ridden some gravel out towards Rosemount." - Tony Lema

"All early morning rides...... Forest road/woods/mining areas, frozen gravel. Paved trails..... anywhere but established sweat earned single track goodness.... that will come next week!!" - Joe Sacco

"Gateway Trail heading towards Pine Point park (don't ride in Pine Point). Lots of horse trail and singletrack there . All sand and good water wicking dirt and back." - Papito Gregorio

"Soo Line Recreation Trails in Central MN. (Approxiately 50 miles one way of trail). Lots of minimum maintenence roads that connect to these trails. Several county parks, forests, and some state trails. Check out Stearns County Recreational Trails for a list of fat bike friendly locations. I would suggest get a hold of your local bike shops, trail advocates, and bike clubs for a complete list of fat bike friendly routes. Then there is lots and lots of gravel roads winding through the country side. Several turn into minimum maintenance roads. Get up to Central MN and "get your fat on"." - Theresa Gregory

Hopefully this post will give you some ideas of where to ride so you can keep getting miles of riding enjoyment in until the singletrack trails open once we get some snow and below freezing temperatures.

Best Times and Places For Fall Color Rides With Help From the MN DNR

Image Credit: MN DNR

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year for bicycling and the Minnesota DNR has several tools available to help you experience the color changes throughout the state.  The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Fall Color Map has now gone live and will be updated by State Park and State Recreation Area (SRA's) staff by noon every Thursday.  With the wet Spring Minnesota has had and a good growing season during the Summer, trees are very healthy and a magnificent color display is expected throughout the state now through mid-October. 

To coincide your bike rides with the peak color changes using your smartphone or tablet, the MN DNR also has a Fall Colors Mobile version that is integrated with Google Maps.  It will display a map for typical peak colors around the state and provide a list view or  map view of State Park and SRA's with percentage of color change.  Click on any listing for more details on where to go, what you'll see and other things of interest.  Each listing also has links to events, a map view and the corresponding MN DNR webpage.

Minnesota has 24 State Trails with scenic views to check out the fall colors.  Whether you prefer to ride on paved, aggregate or natural surface trail, there are many miles to explore.  Visit the Minnesota State Trails Start Up Guide to pick a trail that is right for you.

I published a four part series of posts entitled "Favorite Trails for Fall Color Rides" two years ago that list some of my favorite places to ride during the Fall.  These are some really fun trails with great scenery.  They can be read at the following links:  Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.  Give them a try, they will not disappoint.

Image Credit:  MN DNR

If adventure riding or forest roads are a little more your style the Minnesota DNR has a page with information about biking in Minnesota State Forests.  There are over 2000 miles of forest roads and thousands of logging trails to explore.  See my post Explore Minnesota's State Forests by Mountain Bike With Resources From the MN DNR.

Fall is a wonderful time of year for biking and with a little help from the MN DNR you can find out where and when to go for a great riding experience.

Resources To Help You Plan Your Minnesota Summer Biking Trips

Root River State Trail

Now that the weather is beginning to warm up and summer is fast approaching, you may be thinking about planning your Minnesota biking trip(s).  With so many biking destinations around our great state, you may want to get more information to help you decide where to go and where to stay.  There are so many resources available at your fingertips that planning your trip has become easier than ever.  Cities and regions around Minnesota are competing for your travel dollars this summer and they have made it easy to find more information about their destinations to attract you.

Willard Munger State Trail

A great place to start is the Explore Minnesota website.  There is a lot of information here to help you plan the kind of rides you would like to take.  It contains an array of brochures that you can download, view online or have mailed to you.  Quite a few free regional brochures are listed for all areas of the state that can also be selected for mailing.  Go to the Explore Minnesota Travel Guides page to access these brochures.  There are also planning tools beyond just the website, Explore Minnesota Tourism staffs a travel information center with travel counselors that will help you with customized information (by phone, mail or e-mail) for planning your trip.

Red Jacket Trail

One brochure you may find particularly useful is the 2013/2014 Explore Minnesota Biking Guide.  It contains maps of bike trails, trail information by region (Southern, Central, Northeast, Northwest and Twin Cities area), on-road touring and information about Minnesota's best mountain biking destinations.  The Trail Listings segment informs you about the trails, area businesses and scheduled monthly bike rides complete with website links to bring you more details.  Another useful source of Minnesota cycling information is the Pedal Minnesota website that is filled with upcoming events, places to ride, trail information and trip planning resources.

Lake Wobegon Regional Trail

If you have a destination in mind for your trip, try heading to the tourism or visitor's bureau website for that area or city.  Sites like Visitduluth.com, Minneapolis.org, Cuyunalakes.com and Lanesboro.com are full of information that will help you find lodging, dining, attractions, events and area trails.  Visit my MN Tourism Resources page for a huge listing of online resources throughout the state.

Afton State Park

Minnesota has an abundance of State Parks with scenic trails for biking, mountain biking and hiking.  These State Parks are scattered throughout Minnesota and chances are there is one near you or your vacation destination.  The Minnesota DNR provides a lot of information on it's website about our State Parks and all they have to offer.  Go to the Minnesota State Parks page to find out more.

Summer is right around the corner, so use the wealth of information available on the internet to make planning your next biking trip a breeze.  For easy to find trail maps and trail information for the Twin Cities Area, Southern MN, Central MN, Northern MN and MN MTB Project Trails, don't forget about MN Bike Trail Navigator.  I have already done the research to find the links so you don't have to.

Exploring the Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area by Mountain Bike

With over 29 miles of multi-use natural surface trail, the Minnesota Valley Trail runs from Chaska to Belle Plaine along the Minnesota River through the Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area.  I had never biked here before and it was on my list of places to ride this Summer so I headed down there one extremely hot Sunday afternoon.

My starting point was the trail access parking area off of Chestnut Blvd. just south of Chaska.  I would follow the river southwest to see where the day would take me.  The temperature would be hovering around 100° so I made sure to bring along plenty of water.  I figured at least a good portion of the ride wouldn't be too hot as the trail leads its way through shade of the wooded Minnesota River Bottoms.

My ride started out at the paved trail on the north end of the parking lot and I followed it west towards the Co. Rd. 41 bridge that leads across the river into Chaska.  I had to take a dirt trail down under the bridge to cross to the other side of the road and follow it to the start of the Minnesota Valley Trail.  Later I would come to find that the start of the trail was just across the street from gravel road that led into the parking lot.

Parking area trail access

Because of the heat I planned on riding just past the Thompson Ferry Landing and turning around.  This route would take me through the Gifford Lake Area, Carver Rapids, Louisville Swamp and Thompson Ferry.  The terrain would changed as I pass through each section to include wetlands, prairie, floodplain forests and wooded bluffs.

The trail starts out in the floodplain forest as it follows the river  through the Gifford Lake Area to a grassy section just southeast of Carver.

The prairie and wetlands section of trail in the Gifford Lake Area weaved its way in and out of the woods with slight elevation changes.  The Minnesota DNR has kept these sections mowed to make travel a little easier.

A little further along I entered the Louisville Swamp which soon brought me to a fork in the trail.  This intersection leads to a trailhead parking area on 145th St. off of Hwy. 169 or Carver Rapids.  To continue on my chosen route I followed the sign leading to Carver Rapids which brought me down a steep hill.

At the bottom of the hill was a bridge crossing for Sand Creek.  The creek was extremely low from the flood stage it had seen earlier this year.  I stopped for a short while to take in the view before moving on.

Riding through the Carver Rapids section was my favorite part of the trail.  It was heavily wooded with old growth river bottoms forest and the Johnson Slough made it seem like you were in bayou country.  The mosquitoes were so thick I kept moving at a brisk pace to avoid being eaten alive.  

As I reentered Louisville Swamp there were many more beautiful and tranquil sights to see as the trail as led me through fields, woods and past creeks with fallen timber.

Loose sand and silt from years of flooding from Louisville Swamp to the Thompson Ferry Landing slowed my roll a bit.  I maintained my pace exerting a little more energy than the previous more packed sections.  Soon I was at the Thompson Ferry Landing where I stopped for a rest and decided to travel a little further down the trail to see what it had in store.

I crossed the road to another parking area where the trail picked up again.  There was a picnic area here and a nice view of a big bend in the river.

From here the trail would lead through very sandy river bottoms that were almost impossible to ride through.  Some areas were packed enough to ride but most of it I had to hike-a-bike through.

Soon I came to a steep sandy ascent. I figured I would scale it to the top and check out the view high above the river before turning around for the ride back.  It was way too sandy and far too hot to even consider riding beyond this point.  I'm glad I made it this far because the view from up here was amazing.  The thick sand was perfect habitat for turtle nesting grounds.  There were depressions all over that had once contained eggs, but now the sand was littered with the broken shells and all those little guys had long since slid down the hill into the river.

On my way back I noticed several vantage points of the river that I had missed the first time around.  I stopped to get some photos and quickly got back to riding.  By now the temperature was 100°, my water was getting low and I just wanted to get back to my car and crank the air conditioning.  Round trip the ride was just short of 23 miles.

It was definitely a fun ride, while there were no real technical features there were some challenging sections. Because of its muti-use designation, the Minnesota Valley Trail isn't all just your traditional single or double track, the sandy river bottoms and grassy fields will slow you down a bit and give your legs a workout.  The scenery was the best part of visiting the Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area.  The floodplain forests, swamps, sloughs and creeks provided an ever changing landscape and some spectacular scenery for the entire length of the ride.  I look forward to coming back for a Fall change of colors ride.

I have created the Flickr photo set "Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area" that contains all of the day's ride photography and also a photo map showing the geo-location of every picture. 

The Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area is open 8:00 am to 10:00 pm 365 days a year.  For more information visit the MN DNR Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area home page.  For a printable map with facilities and features information, click here.

Planning that Minnesota Summer Biking Vacation: The Iron Range

 

The Iron Range region of northeastern Minnesota should be on your list of biking destinations this Summer.  It boasts one of the state's premier trails, the Mesabi Trail, that has been named the Best Rural Bike Trail in StarTribune's 2013 Best of Minnesota.  If mountain biking is more your style, there are miles of trails that include dirt singletrack, old logging roads, abandoned railroad grades, cross country ski trails and natural surface snowmobile trails.  There is something here for everyone from the beginner to advanced mountain biker, the long distance road cyclist and those looking for a fun, family bike outing.  Head to the Iron Range this Summer or catch the changing colors this Fall and experience all of the biking opportunities this area has to offer.   

The Iron Range Tourism Bureau has made it easy to plan your trip with a wealth of information on its Ironrange.org website.  Plan your trip two ways, order free travel guides or online with My Trip by creating a My Trip account.  The site will help you explore area towns, places to stay and things to do including a section on where to bike.  

Trail Highlights

The Mesabi Trail

The Mesabi Trail stretches 115 paved miles from Grand Rapids to just past Giants Ridge in Biwabik.  When completed it will span 132 miles from Grand Rapids to Ely connecting 28 communities along the way making it one of the longest paved trails in the US. 

Image Credit:  Iron Range Tourism Bureau

The 10' wide paved surface was partially built on old railroad beds, logging and mining roads that will take you on a scenic tour of the Iron Range.  A Wheel Pass is required for riders over 18 and can be purchased at businesses along the trail, at self-pay boxes at entry point kiosks (Grand Rapids, Bovey, Calumet, Keewatin, Hibbing, Chisholm, Buhl, Mountain Iron, Virginia, Eveleth, Giants Ridge near Biwabik) and online.  A Wheel Pass is a great deal at $5 for a 3-day pass or $15 for a season pass and revenue raised supports the Mesabi Trail.

Image Credit:  Iron Range Tourism Bureau

Shuttle service is available May 1st through October 15th from Grand Rapids to Aurora (and all point in between) and can accommodate up to 12 bikes and passengers per trip.  The Mesabi Trail Shuttle Service also has a Lodge to Lodge program that can help you plan lodging, luggage shuttle, box lunches and recommend sites to see and places to eat along the trail, returning you and your bike to your vehicle when your are done.

Iron Range Tourism Bureau

Paper maps can be ordered online or download a PDF copy.  The Mesabi Trail website also has an interactive map that has locations of trail amenities such as lodging, dining, attractions, shopping and bicycle services.  It will also show you where to find wheel pass vendors and trail entry points.  To see more photos of the Mesabi Trail visit the Photo Gallery page of the Mesabi Trail website. 

Giants Ridge

Giants Ridge in Biwabik has over 24 miles of beginner to advanced singletrack, cross country ski trails, snowmobile trails and abandoned logging roads to ride May through October.  Mountain biking here is a great deal, only $5 for the day or $50 for the season.  Mountain bike rentals are also available at the Summer Rental Shop.  Trail Map 

John Filander talks about mountain biking at Giants Ridge

McCarthy Beach State Park

Image Credit:  Minnesotaseasons.com

McCarthy Beach State park is located near Hibbing, MN and contains 17 miles of park trails and low maintenance roads ideal for mountain biking.  These trails meander their way through the heavily wooded hills and around the lakes of the state park.  The Taconite State Trail that passes through the boundary of the park can also be explored.  McCarthy Beach State Park map     Taconite State Trail map

Superior National Forest

Image Credit:  Evergreenmagazine.com

Superior National Forest is prime for the mountain biking enthusiast.  It's trails may not be as technical as designed trails, but they have a lot to offer the off-road adventurer.  There are miles of trails to ride that include old logging roads, forest roads, county roads, old railroad grades, grassy cross country ski trails and natural surface trails.  You will definitely want to bring your GPS unit along to keep from getting lost.  See my post Great Mountain Biking Awaits You In Superior National Forest for more information.

Big Aspen Recreation Area

The Big Aspen Recreation Area in Superior National Forest, located 11 miles north of Virginia, is a multi-use trail system that allows mountain bikers, ATV's, hikers and horses.  These looping trails travel through pine and hardwood forests on old logging roads and abandoned railroad grades providing trail uses with several scenic vistas.  Trail Map

Taconite State Trail

Image Credit:  Johnny Eloranta

The Taconite State Trail is a 165 mile trail that starts in Grand Rapids and goes all the way to Ely through aspen, birch and pine forests, State Forests and three State Parks (Bear Head Lake, Soudan Underground Mine and McCarthy Beach).  The trail is paved for first 6 miles leading out of Grand Rapids after which it becomes natural treadway.  Some areas along the trail may have standing water in summer, but others are suitable for mountain biking and hiking.  Trail Map

Arrowhead State Trail

Image Credit:  Sevenminutemiles.com

The Arrowhead State Trail is a 135 mile trail that intersects the Taconite State Trail near Tower and stretches northward just short of International Falls.  This natural surface trail is mostly used in winter by snowmobilers but about 69 miles of the trail are suitable for mountain biking and hiking in summer months.  Most of the trail travels through the heavily wooded Kabetogama State Forest and may contain wet areas in summer.  Trail Map

Events

Tour de Togo

The Tour de Togo is a three day fundraiser tour for the Flaming Pine Youth Camp that takes place July 12, 13 & 14.  The routes take riders along quiet scenic country roads and portions of the Mesabi Trail.

Bike MS:  TRAM Ride 2013

The MS TRAM is a fundraiser tour for the National MS Society July 14th through the 19th that follows a route from the Canadian border, through the Iron Range and down Lake Superior's North Shore. 

Great River Energy Mesabi Trail Tour 

The Great River Energy Mesabi Trail Tour takes place August 3rd in support of recreational trails and AMPERS-"Diverse Radio for Minnesota Communities".  There are four routes to choose from this year including a metric century (62 miles), and three shorter ones of 48, 26 and 13 miles all leading to Alcott Park in Virginia.  Transportation for riders and their bikes from the finish to the chosen starting point before the ride will be provided.  At the end of the day there will be a picnic and concert.

Follow

Iron Range Tourism Bureau
Twitter:  @IronRangeMN
Facebook:  Iron Range Tourism Bureau

The Mesabi Trail

Facebook:  Mesabi Trail

Great River Energy-Mesabi Trail Tour
Twitter:  @MesabiTrailTour
Facebook:  Great River Energy - Mesabi Trail Tour