Winter Getaway to True North Basecamp

Now that True North Basecamp is open for Winter riding I had to get up there and check it out for myself.  I have only ridden the red dirt singletrack of the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails in the Summer so a visit there was bound to be a real treat.  Co-Founders Dan Jurek and Jeff Bajek invited me to come up for a stay at one of their lakefront cabins where I could ride ride onto the trail system from the front door.  I invited a couple of my ride buddies to join me where we met up there on a Sunday recently and were welcomed by a light coating of fresh snow.

Check in was easy upon arrival to our cabin, I simply used the code from my trip confirmation email to gain access.  The cabin was clean and modern while maintaining a rustic feel.  Amenities included heater/air conditioner, a full and three twin beds, table and chairs, plug in with USB charging ports, picnic table and portable fire pit (firewood is available for purchase in Crosby).  Located just a short walk behind the cabin was the shower house that had heated floors, showers, bathroom and changing area. 

After unpacking and changing into our cycling clothes we were ready to hit the trails.  Trail access was at the end of the row of cabins and down the hill where there was a creek crossing that led uphill to the frozen singletrack. It was nice being so close to the trails so we could hit them as desired and return to the Basecamp for rest and refreshments.

The Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails and Cuyuna Lakes State Trail weren't the only riding opportunities available.  With the mine pit lakes frozen over we were able to explore out on the ice.  The snow wasn't too deep yet for riding so we got in some extra exploratory miles on Portsmouth Mine Pit Lake and the Armour Number Two Mine which is the lake that the cabins overlook.

Riding the mountain bike trails, State Trail and the lakes was a blast.  The Crosby area had received a light dusting of fresh powder the day we arrived letting us get first tracks in a lot of areas.  The convenience of being so close to the trails allowed us to ride as we pleased.

While the cabins do supply comfortable shelter for the trip, there are no kitchen facilities so I would recommend bringing drinking water, convenience foods and a tabletop grill, crockpot or campstove for easy meal prep during the stay.  Crosby is just a few blocks away if biking into town to grab a meal and drinks at one of the local establishments is preferred.  A cooler with ice will be needed to keep food and drinks cold.

A few other things that need to be brought are pillows, sleeping bags or bedding for the beds as none are provided.  Towels and toiletries are also a must.  We brought a piece of rope to tie between the top two bedposts at the end of the beds for use as a clothesline to dry our wet gear and by throwing a blanket over it we had a private changing area.  Don't forget to bring your camera or GoPro for the amazing scenery here and out on the trails.  With a cell tower close by the mobile phone/4G reception was very strong allowing us to keep in touch with loved ones or to post about the trip on social media.

In conclusion, my friends and I had a great time at True North Basecamp.  The cabin and shower house were perfect for our bike trip, they provided us a "basecamp" where would could eat, sleep, rest and shower as needed throughout our stay.  Because it was an overnight trip we didn't feel rushed to get in as much riding as possible.  We were right on the trail system allowing us to relax, enjoy the stay and ride at will.  We are definitely looking forward to returning to True North Basecamp to "shred the red" when the warmer seasons roll around.

Reservations for a stay at the True North Basecamp cabins or to check availability can be done online.  Winter '16 cabin rentals are $99/night Sunday through Thursday (weekday cabin rate) and $125/night for Friday and Saturday (weekend cabin rate).  For more information about True North Basecamp visit http://truenorthbasecamp.com/.

Disclosure:  True North Basecamp provided one night's stay for the experience to write this article, but offered no other form of compensation for this review.

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.

45NRTH Launces Groomed Singletrack Website

45NRTH has launched a project that will help us all find groomed winter trails to ride fatbikes in our area.  The website is called Groomed Singletrack.  While the site is new, there is already a good listing of groomed singletrack trail information and I expect this to grow to include even more listings.


The Ride page of the website is designed to help find groomed singletrack near you by browsing the map or entering a Zip Code.  Search results can be narrowed or expanded to include a radius of 25, 100, 250, 500 or 1000 miles.  

Map Results

Below the map results is a list of those groomed singletrack trails with Location, Difficulty, Overall Mileage, Usage and website link if available.  Some information is missing but I expect this to change as the site is updated.  If you know of a trail that is not on the map you can email 45NRTH with the details so they can add it.

List Results

The Experience page provides information on fatbike rides and races broken down be region (Central, East and West) with links to more information on these events.

Image Credit: 45NRTH

Image Credit: 45NRTH

45NRTH has also implemented the hashtag #ridegroomed for discussion and to view or upload your own groomed trail fatbike ride photos to social media.   They are also coming out with Ride Groomed hats and t-shirts that will be available at local dealers in February and "proceeds go towards helping build more winter trails across the country".

New Fatbike Events in Minnesota This Winter

 

New fatbike events continue to be announced around the state proving that "fatbikes are not a fad".  They are definitely here to stay and trail access is growing, including cross country ski trails that are starting to accommodate them for one-day events where they would normally not be allowed.  I have compiled a list of events that are brand new this year and hopefully they will continue in upcoming years.  With more cyclists getting into riding fat, the success of these events is sure to spur many more new races and rides for fatbikers in Minnesota in the future.

The Fat Wednesday Fat Bike and Snowshoe Race Series will be taking place Turtle Lake Regional Park in Shoreview over 4 dates, January 14th & 21st and February 4th & 18th.  On site registration starts at 6 pm, Novice/Recreation bike race starts at 7 pm with the Open bike race starting at 7:30 pm.  To download the registration form, click here.  Visit the Fat Wednesday Fat Bike and Snowshoe Race Series Facebook page for updates.

From Jeremy Sartain (race organizer):
Where: Turtle Lake Regional Park, 4979 Hodgson Road, Shoreview MN. Main park entrance by public boat launch.

Cost and Registration: $20 per event.  $70 for the series. Cash or check only please (checks made out to ‘SAS’). We will not race if conditions are deemed dangerous by Ramsey County Parks and Rec or by me. Extremely cold temps, white-out conditions, complete lack of snow can all contribute to a cancellation. Please follow us at http://www.facebook.com/fatwednesday for grooming details and more. I’ll post on this site too, but FB is a quick upload on the fly and will have information there first.  In the event of a cancellation, we will reschedule for the following Wednesday and any entries will be forwarded to the next race.

Racer Details: All event participants must have a rear flashing light. A headlamp or bike mounted light on the front is highly recommended. Helmets are mandatory for fat bikers. You can ride any bike you want (MTB, cross, unicycle – just no motors).  Categories for bike races (subject to increase depending on attendance): Open men and women ( 1 hour plus race), Recreation/Novice (approximately 30-40 minute race).  Snowshoe is a mass start and will be approximately 5km.  Swag prizes for top 3 female and male in each race division each night. Raffle prizes for all.

Course: Mainly on Turtle Lake with some fun technical sections. This track will be maintained over the winter so feel free to ride and/or snowshoe outside of race nights. I will add a new feature to each race.  Single loop for snowshoe, multiple loops for bike – number of loops will be determined each evening depending on conditions.

Freewheel Bike just announced Fat Thursdays Super Fat Crit Series at Lord Fletcher's Old Lake Lodge in Spring Park.  Racing starts January 22nd and will continue "every Thursday until the snow melts".  Like the flyer says, registration starts at 6:00 pm and racing starts at 6:30 pm.  Visit the Freewheel Bike Facebook page for updates on the series.

The  River Bend Nature Center in Faribault will be holding Get To Know Fat Bikes & Ride on February 14th to support and promote Winter riding.  They will be packing all of their cross-country ski trails (10 miles) for fatbikes to ride for one day only.  Demo bikes will be available for short rides and there will be tours every 90 minutes.  Ride your own fatbike on the trails by purchasing a $5 Day Pass ($3 for River Bend members).  For more information contact Kaytlan Moeller at the River Bend Nature Center by calling 507-332-7151.  For driving directions to the River Bend Nature Center, click here.

The Three Rivers Park District is having its Snowdown Fat Bike Fun Race on February 15th from 1 to 4 pm at Cleary Lake Regional Park in Prior Lake.  This will be a fat tire circuit-style race on a 12 foot wide packed trail. The 5k Beginner race starts at 1:15 pm and the 10k Action Race will begin at 2:15 pm.  Preregistration is only $12 or register in person the day of the race for $15.  Raffle prizes will be drawn after the races.  A limited number of fatbike rentals will be available for raceday, call 763-694-7777 for availability.

Brookview Golf Course in Golden Valley is hosting the Brookview Meltdown on February 21st.

Race Information
When: Saturday, February 21, 2015
First Race Starts at 10 am
Where: Brookview Golf Course, 200 Brookview Parkway, Golden Valley, MN 55426
Check In: Friday, February 20, 12:00-8:00 pm and Saturday, February 21, 7:30-10:00 am
Format: Categories will include Beginner (1 lap), Sport (2 laps), and Expert (3 laps). Each lap is approximately 3.5 miles. Races will be timed using computer chips with a mini-wave start format. Bike tires must be a minimum of 3.8” wide.
Fees: $20 per participant for pre-registration (limited to 160 participants)
$25 registration day of race (if space is available)
Registration and Payment to Brookview Golf Course
Questions? Call 763-512-2305

Visit the Brookview Golf Course Facebook page for updates.  Download the Registration Form for flyer and release form.

The Frostbiter: Fat Bike Race for Easter Seals will be held February 21st at Grand Portage Lodge & Casino in Grand Portage.  Online Registration is now live for this event.

From the Frostbiter Facebook page:
The Frostbiter: 20 and 40 mile fat bike races on beautifully groomed trails! 8am start for the 40, 9am for the 20. Lunch at noon. $50 entry goes to the Easter Seals Foundation (http://www.easterseals.org/), or FREE with $100+ in pledges. Do 1 or 2 x 20mile/32km loop on groomed snowmobile trails. Lunch at the lodge included! +Special rates Friday evening at the Lodge. +prize(s) for big pledge getters. More info to come, but SAVE THE DATE!

Nicollet Bike is presenting the first ever Nicollet Bike Fat Bike Gravity Fest on March 1st at Mount Kato in Mankato.  I spoke with MAMB Member Clay Haglund briefly about this event and he told me it would be a "Gravity Based Fat Bike event/ride/Super D race. Only $20 for lift ticket. We will have a dedicated lift to use with the bikes, we can only use this lift. Lift will be run on slow mode for safety reasons of loading and unloading with a bike. Only one person with a bike per chair will be allowed.  Waiver will need to be signed to participate."

From the Facebook Event page:
If you love Fat Biking and Love riding Downhill then this is THE EVENT for you!

What: Nicollet Bike Fat Bike Gravity Fest
When: Sunday March 1st 2015 12:00 - 4:00 PM
Where: Mount Kato Ski Area Mankato MN
Why: Cause it's going to be awesome!
Cost: Only $20 for lift ticket with Time Trial included

Come ride down Mt. Kato and have the lift take you and your fat bike back up. A specific course and trail will be set aside for us to use and a specific chair lift. Open practice time will be from 12:00 until 3:30 with a downhill time trial held at 3:30. Time trial is included with lift ticket purchase. This Time Trial will be run as a Super D, meaning that some pedaling and a very small amount of uphill will be included. However, overall this will be primarily a downhill event.

Please contact Nicollet Bike Shop with any questions. 507-388-9390

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Bemidji Area Mountain Bikers are hosting the 1st Annual Northland Fat Bike Rally on March 1st at Lake Bemidji State Park in Bemidji.

From the MN DNR:
The first annual Northland Fat Bike Rally is planned to begin late-morning and end mid-afternoon on Sunday, March 1st. The race is free, with 10K and 28K options. The race will begin with a mass start on Lake Bemidji and head up Rocky Point Trail and traverse out to Fish Hawk Trail and back. Northern Cycle will be on-site to answer any questions you have about Fat Biking or to help get your rig ready. Non-racers are welcome--please come out and learn all about this growing sport! More event details will come in January along with a map of the planned race route. This is the only time during the winter that park trails will be open for fat biking. For additional information call the park office at 218-308-2300. 

More information is available on the Northland Fat Bike Rally Facebook Event page.

Fatbike Group Rides in Minnesota

Fatbike group rides are happening all Winter long and to help you find out the what, when and where so you can join in, I have put together a list of bike shop rides, regular weekly rides and links where others are regularly posted.

Shop Rides

On Sundays from 12:30 to 2:30 pm the Hub Bicycle Co-Op has their Weekly Fat Bike Ride that meets at their store at 301 Cedar Ave. in Minneapolis.  Ride Description:

The ride will be a moderately paced 10-15 mile ride going to places such as the Minnesota River bottoms, Theodore Wirth Mountain Bike Trails, exploring the Mississippi River Bluffs and Minnehaha Creek.  Our definition of a fat tire bike is loose. You just need to be able to ride in snow on a variety of terrain. We will adjust distance due to weather conditions and will not ride if it's below 0 degrees F. Our goal is to create community, have fun, and stay riding during the long Minnesota Winter.

On Sundays at 9:00 am at Wirth Lake Beach in Minneapolis, Erik's Bike Shop hosts their weekly Sunday Morning Fatbikes at Theo ride.  The ride pace is set by the group each week and ride distance is usually 5-10 miles.  Ride description from the Erik's website:

*STARTS NOVEMBER 9th!!!!* This ride will start before the snow flies and carry through the thaw of Spring. You'll meet and ride at Theodore Wirth Park Mountain Bike Trail as long as conditions permit. Due to the initial wetness leading into Winter and the thaw in the Spring, expect to have various route changes and ride paces because they will be chosen by you, the riders! Fat bikes are strongly recommended, but 26+, 29+, and 2.4+ may get the job done. The goal is to have a blast and talk about all things bike related with a bias to all things Fat.

Freewheel Midtown Bike Center holds their Sunday Funday Ride at 2:00 pm on Sundays led by Jacob Haskins.  Ride description:

Departs Midtown at 2:00pm. Goes to the River Bottoms or other fun places. 20 - 30 Miles, speed is dependent on the group, always no drop. Check Facebook or call the store (612-238-4447) to get the most current information.

Milltown Cycles in Faribault holds its weekly Fat Tuesday shop ride every Tuesday this Winter from 6:30-8:30 pm.  Ride description:

We'll head out from Milltown Cycles by 6:30 - bring your lights!

Image Credit: Nicollet Bike Shop

Nicollet Bike Shop in Mankato has its weekly Fat Bike Mountain Bike Ride every Tuesday during the Winter at 5:30 pm.  For more details visit their Facebook page or call the shop at 507-388-9390.  Ride description:

Ride will leave the shop at 5:30. Lights required. Ride will be a mix of single track, ATV trail, and pavement. Once we have snow on the ground this ride will switch to Fat Bikes only.

Michael's Cycles hold a Wednesday night ride usually at the MN River Bottoms or Murphey-Hanrehan at 6:30 pm.  They also have a Saturday morning ride out of their Chaska store at 8:00 am.  See the Micheal's Cycles Facebook page or the Michael's Cycles-Chaska Facebook page for updates on weekly rides.

Group Rides

COGGS (Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores) holds its weekly Monday Night Fatbike Ride at various locations in and around Duluth.  Rides start at 6pm and take place at locations like Hartley Park, Brewer Park, Lester Park, Piedmont and Minnesota Point Beach.  Keep up-to-date on each week's ride details by visiting the COGGS Monday Group Ride Fourm  or the COGGS Facebook page.  Ride description:

The MNR is an easy-paced, no-drop mountain bike ride. The ride starts at a different trail each week. Please call the shop (218-724-8525) to get the starting location. From 9/15/14 until 4/6/15 – weather dependent – the MNR becomes a Fat Bike ride. COGGS will run the show during this period. Please check their Facebook or website for location.

The Carver Lake Slow & Fat Ride takes place on Mondays at 6:00 pm weather permitting.  This is an easy pace ride and lights are required.  See the MORC Group Rides Forum for weekly updates.

Faturday at the MN River Bottoms happens weekly on Saturdays at 10:00 am.  Riders usually meet up at the Lyndale Ave. parking lot or the Bloomington Ferry Unit parking lot.  Check the MORC Group Rides Forum or the MN Fatbike Group Rides group on Facebook for weekly updates.

Join the public group, MN Fatbike Group Rides on Facebook to view group rides throughout Minnesota or post up your own ride.  And finally, you can always check the MORC Group Rides Forum for new ride postings in the Twin Cities.

If you would like your fatbike group ride listed on this post, send me an email with the following details:

• Day and time of rides

• Ride schedule continues through (date, month, etc.)

• Ride start location

• Duration and distance of ride

• Type of ride (casual/fast - drop/no drop)

• Type of trails or terrain for ride route

• Helmets and lights required?

• Fatbike rentals available?

• More information on group rides can be found at...(Facebook page, website, calling the shop, etc.)

New Fatbike Trails Opening Up Around Minnesota

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.

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.

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.

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

Isanti County Parks has added over 15 miles of multi-use (hiking, snow shoeing, fat tire biking or cross country skiing) groomed trails this Winter.  These include 5 miles at Springvale County Park, 3 miles at Becklin Homestead County Park, 3 miles at Irvin and John Anderson County Park, 2 miles at Vegsund Family County Park and 2 miles at Wayside Prairie County Park.  For the latest trail conditions, visit the Isanti County Parks Facebook page or call 763-689-8220.

Image Credit: Stearns County Parks

Stearns County Parks has opened up fatbiking on its multi-use (Winter Walking/Dog Walking/Snowshoeing/Fat Tire Biking) trails in five parks. These parks include Kraemer Lake–Wildwood County Park, Lake Koronis Regional Park, Mississippi River County Park, Quarry Park & Nature Preserve and Warner Lake County Park.  For more information contact Stearns County Parks at 320-255-6172 or by email at parkinfo@co.stearns.mn.us.

Soo Line West

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.

Maplelag Resort in Callaway announced last week it will have their snowshoe trail and the three miles of Twin Lakes Singletrack packed and open for fatbiking.  Forest roads in the area will also be another option for fatbike riding.  For more information or questions contact Maplelag Resort by calling them at 218-375-4466 or sending an email to maplelag@tvutel.com.

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.