True North Basecamp is the Place to Stay for Mountain Biking Cuyuna

True North Basecamp is the place to go when visiting the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails for some "shred the red" fun.  It even made Outside Magazine's 26 Best Trips to Take Right Now.  Located just blocks from downtown Crosby it gives you the feel of being out in the wilderness with the comfort of being close to town and is only about a 2+ hour drive from the Twin Cities.

Located on Armour Mine Pit #2 Lake, the rustic lakefront cabins provide great views to help you unwind after a day of riding the trails.  Each of the 6 cabins have heat and a fire ring outside for a campfire on those chilly evenings and air conditioning for the hot days.  They sleep up to five people and have wi-fi access and USB charging ports for electronic devices.

If camping is more your style, True North Basecamp also has 23 scenic campsites and 3 camper sites for pop-ups and pull-behind trailers.

Campsite amenities include a fire ring, picnic table, on-property wi-fi access and drinking water.  Each of the three camping areas has vault toilets and it's a short walk to the shower house.

True North Basecamp has the simple things needed to make your stay comfortable but you will need to bring your bedding/sleeping bag, pillow and towels for your stay whether you camp or rent one of the lakeside cabins.  If you plan on doing some cooking during your stay you will want to bring a cooler with ice to keep your food cold, a crockpot for cooking/reheating prepared meals, a campstove to cook on or cook over the open fire of the provided fire pit with cooking grate.

One of my favorite amenities of True North Basecamp is the on-site access to 30+ miles of Minnesota's best mountain biking in the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area and the Cuyuna Lakes State Trail is just across the lake.

When I'm ready to hit the mountain bike trails all I have to do is cross the little bridge over Serpent Creek near the cabins and I can access the Cuyuna Lakes State Trail which will take me to the trails in the Mahnomen Unit or I can jump on the Dragline trail to the Portsmouth and Yawkey Unit trails.  The nice thing about being trail connected is I can easily ride back to the "Basecamp" for some lunch or a cold one and then get right back to riding.

After a day of riding in the Summer heat one of the first things you're going to want to do when you get back to the Basecamp is get out of your sweaty cycling clothes and take a shower.  The shower house which is located right behind the lakefront cabins has what you need to get feeling refreshed.  After a shower with conditioned water and a change of clothes you're ready to relax back at your campsite or cabin.

True North Basecamp has special weekday rates that can save you a bunch of cash.  Rent one of the lakefront cabins Sunday through Thursday for only $69 a night, Friday and Saturday nights are just $125 a night.  Camping is even more thrifty Sunday through Thursday for only $19 a night and $29 a night on Fridays and Saturdays.  Check in time is at 4:00pm and check out is at noon.

To book your stay visit the True North Basecamp website for Cabin and Camping reservations.  For updates and more information visit the True North Basecamp Facebook Page, Twitter Page or send them a message on their contact page.

Summer Getaway to True North Basecamp

Image Credit: Dan Jurek

Since opening last Fall, True North Basecamp has become the place to go when visiting the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails for some "shred the red" fun.  They offer cyclists a great place to stay just blocks from downtown Crosby and they are "trail-connected" to the World Class mountain biking that the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area has become known for.  Whether you like a little comfort or choose to rough-it, True North Basecamp has the accommodations for you.

Image Credit: Dan Jurek

I'm not much of a camper, so when I visit Cuyuna I like to stay in one of True North's rustic lakefront cabins.  They offer me and my friends a comfortable place to settle in or to just take a break from riding.  Being trail-connected I can ride for a few hours and head back to the cabin to cool off in the air conditioning, grab a cold one and a bite to eat.  For those chilly evenings the cabins have heat and a fire ring outside for a campfire.  Each of their six cabins has a wonderful view of the Armour Mine Pit #2 Lake, one full and three twin beds, Wifi access to stay connected, USB charging ports for electronics and is right next door to the shower house.

Image Credit: Dan Jurek

For those that prefer to camp, there are 33 wooded campsites each with a fire ring and picnic table.  In addition to tent camping, True North Basecamp does allow pop-up and teardrop campers but they do not have hook ups or pull through sites.  Vault toilets are located throughout the campsite area and it's a short walk to the shower house.

Image Credit: Dan Jurek

After a day of riding in the Summer heat one of the first things you're going to want to do when you get back to the Basecamp is get out of your sweaty cycling clothes and take a shower.  The shower house which is located right behind the lakefront cabins has what you need to get feeling refreshed.  After a shower with conditioned water and a change of clothes you're ready to relax back at your campsite or cabin.

True North Basecamp has the simple things needed to make your stay comfortable but you will need to bring your bedding/sleeping bag, pillow and towels for your stay whether you camp or rent one of the lakeside cabins.  If you plan on doing some cooking during your stay you will want to bring a cooler with ice to keep your food cold, a crockpot for cooking/reheating prepared meals, a campstove to cook on or cook over the open fire of the provided fire pit.

For those that would rather have someone else do the cooking, Crosby is just a couple of blocks away with restaurants and bars that serve up food.  If you would rather stay in, Louie's Bucket of Bones now delivers to True North Basecamp.

Image Credit: Dan Jurek

Access to 30+ miles of Minnesota's best mountain biking is right on the premises and the Cuyuna Lakes State Trail is just across the lake.  If you want to cool off after a day out on the trails, there is a sandy swimming beach on the shores of the Armour Mine Pit #2 lake.  Another new addition this Summer is that pets are now allowed, so bring your trail dog with for the trip.

If you are in need of a bike rental during your stay, Cycle Path and Paddle in Crosby delivers bike rentals to True North Basecamp.  Rates for a hardtail mountain bike are $35/half day or $45/full day.  Fat bikes, road bikes, canoes/kayaks and paddle boards are also available for rent.  Delivery schedule information is available on their website or call 218-545-4545 for more information.

Image Credit: Dan Jurek

True North Basecamp has special weekday rates that can save you a bunch of cash.  Rent one of the lakefront cabins Sunday through Thursday for only $69 a night, Friday and Saturday nights are just $125 a night.  Camping is even more thrifty Sunday through Thursday for only $19 a night and $29 a night on Fridays and Saturdays.  Check in time is at 4:00pm and check out is at noon.

For a list of frequently ask questions about True North Basecamp visit the FAQ page.  To book your stay visit the True North Basecamp Booking page for Cabin and Camping reservations.  For updates and more information visit the True North Basecamp Facebook Page, Twitter Page or send them a message on their contact page.

Resources for Planning a Minnesota Summer Biking Vacation

Summer is just around the corner and now is the time to start planning your Summer biking vacation(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.

Minnesota has a lot to offer cyclists whether your discipline is road cycling, mountain biking, gravel, trail or bikepacking.  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.

The 2015-16 Pedal MN Minnesota Biking Guide is another great place to start.  This free publication is available to view online, download or have mailed to you.  It is full of information on paved trails, on-road touring and mountain biking around the state.  It also contains links to trail maps, events and biking destination areas.  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.

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 Visit Duluth, Iron Range Tourism, Cuyuna Lake Chamber of Commerce and Root River Trail Towns are full of information that will help you find lodging, dining, attractions, events and area trails.  You may also visit my MN Tourism Resources page for a huge listing of online resources throughout the state.

The Minnesota DNR website contains all sorts of information on biking including State Trails, State Parks & Recreation Areas, State Forests, camping/lodging and other biking opportunities.  If you're looking to get off the beaten path, do some bikepacking or ride somewhere with great scenery, the DNR website is a great choice to get you started.

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 and Northern MN, don't forget about MN Bike Trail Navigator.  I have already done the research to find the links so you don't have to.

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.

Desert Mountain Bike Winter Getaway with Help From Arizona Outback Adventures

I recently took a winter getaway vacation to the Phoenix area of Arizona and after fatbiking snowy singletrack for the last few months, I was ready to do some mountain biking on dirt again.  It has been a long cold winter here in Minnesota and a ride through the desert with the warm sun shining down would be a welcome and much needed change.  It would also be an opportunity to introduce my wife to mountain biking, which she has never done before.

After reading many positive reviews on TripAdvisor and Yelp, I contacted Arizona's premier adventure tour company, Arizona Outback Adventures.  For the best possible ride experience I wanted to get set up with quality mountain bike rentals and expert recommendations of where to ride.  This would be my wife's first time out on the singletrack and I wanted her to be confident with the bike, trails and riding conditions while still being challenged making it a positive experience for her.  Annemarie and the rest of the staff at Arizona Outback Adventures made this all possible.

There were several locations nearby to ride with varying terrain and technical difficulty so the AOA staff consulted us and helped select the appropriate trails to match our riding criteria.  Coming from Minnesota, I didn't want to do a lot of difficult rapid elevation climbs and because my wife would be riding with me also, advanced technical trails would not be a good choice either.  We wanted to ride through the desert, take in the spectacular scenery and be challenged while still having some elevation gain and fast downhills.  The AOA staff recommended McDowell Mountain Regional Park which includes the Pemberton Trail and many connecting trails and washes in the area.  Then they supplied us with maps, quality well maintained mountain bikes (Giant XTC 29'er w/ front suspension) for the type of terrain we would be riding, and a bike rack to get them there since it would be about a 40 minute drive to reach the park.

After paying the $6 entry fee to the park, we headed toward the Trailhead Staging Area.  The scenery was already breathtaking with all of the desert vegetation and the McDowell Mountains in the distance.  We decided to ride the 15.4 mile Pemberton Trail in a clockwise loop through the park.

We took it slow during the first 8 miles to take in all of the scenery as we drew closer to the McDowell Mountains, which became about 650 feet of climbing.  The climb was fun and challenging in some of the rocky steeper areas but not too difficult for my wife who is a novice mountain biker.  She had a great time on her first mountain biking expedition.  The only thing that intimidated her was coming across a large rattlesnake that was only two feet off the trail under some scrub brush five minutes into our ride.  It warned us with its rattle and quickly scurried away into the brush.  We kept our eyes peeled for more of them after that brief encounter.

The second half of the Pemberton loop was all downhill and like riding a flow trail.  Not much pedaling and plenty of braking and weight shifting in the turns made it fast and fun.  Arizona Outback Adventures' staff had provided the perfect recommendation of where to ride.  The Pemberton Trail was exactly what we were looking for in our first mountain biking adventure in the desert.  

Below is the RideWithGPS track of our ride with geo-tagged photos.  To view all of our photos, visit my Flickr Set, Mountain Biking McDowell Mountain Regional Park and Map for geo-location of each photo.

To get a video overview of the Pemberton Trail, watch the YouTube video below.

If you plan on visiting the Phoenix/Scottsdale area and want to get in some great mountain biking, I highly recommend Arizona Outback Adventures.  The bike rentals, consultation and experienced staff recommendations were all top-notch.  AOA not only has bike rentals (MTB, Road, Hybrid and Childrens), but has guided Mountain Bike Adventure Tours and Half-Day Mountain Biking Tours.  Escape the cold for warm desert singletrack with the help of Arizona Outback Adventures!

For more information on Arizona Outback Adventures, visit their website or give them a call at 1-866-455-1601.