The Best Mountain Biking in Minnesota
Whether you’re looking for steep singletrack, a short kid-friendly route, or solitude in the forest, you’ll find it in Minnesota. This midwestern state is home to a growing community of mountain biking enthusiasts who know something others don’t: Minnesota boasts some of the best riding in the country. You’ll become a believer too after hearing from local expert Aaron Hautala. He knows Minnesota mountain biking—he’s the former volunteer president of the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Crew and the president of Strateligent and Cuyuna Adventure Town USA. Hautala is passionate about sharing the state’s outdoor recreation opportunities with visitors—especially the mountain biking trails.
Bison Run is a flowy trail traversing two hills within Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area. (Photo: Cuyuna.com)
Outside: What makes Minnesota a premier mountain biking destination?
Aaron Hautala: Minnesota is rich with new and well-designed trails surrounded by pristine lakes, beaches, the Mississippi River, and hardwood forests. Whether you’re an experienced rider or it’s your first time mountain biking, you’ll find the perfect trail here. You’ll also find that many of the popular trail destinations are complemented by a welcoming, small-town culture where outdoor adventure meets midwestern art, food, and hospitality. When I think about the best time to ride in Minnesota, autumn prime comes to mind. From around mid-September until mid-October, it’s fall colors galore.
Can you mountain bike if you aren’t traveling with your bike or gear?
Yes, there are lots of mountain biking gear rental options in Minnesota. In the Twin Cities, visit with our friends at Angry Catfish, Tonka Cycle and Ski, or Tangletown Bike Shop. Duluth also delivers when it comes to gear rental at Ski Hut, Continental Bike & Ski, and Traverse Duluth. If you’re interested in guided day trips, check out Day Tripper Duluth. Whenever I visit a new trail destination, I opt for a guided first day of riding to get the lowdown on the system and the talk of the town. In Cuyuna, check out Cykel for your gear rentals, and reserve your guided rides and bike-skill lessons with Mari and Derek at Sure Shift.
Fall is a great time of year to mountain bike in Minnesota. (Photo: Hansi Johnson)
Where are the best places to ride in Minnesota?
Target the state’s IMBA Ride Centers, which deliver the best experience, both on trail and in town. The organization is dedicated to increasing the quality and quantity of riding across the United States by providing the resources to create and maintain mountain biking trails. Minnesota is home to three of these renowned locations.
Duluth: Gold Ride Center
Cuyuna: Silver Ride Center
Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St.Paul): Bronze Ride Center
Be sure to check out some of the other activities in and around Duluth, Cuyuna, and Minneapolis-St. Paul, like hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, aquariums, museums, and more. But when it comes to riding, here’s a sampling of my favorite trails in each area.
Minneapolis-St. Paul
The twin cities boast more than 100 miles of bike-specific singletrack. I’ve always been amazed by how easy it is to get into nature in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Minnesotans love it, and you’re likely to, as well.
Theodore Wirth Park offers a great mix of trails for all levels. (Photo: Loppet Cycle Works)
Beginner
New riders will love Minneapolis-St. Paul. Salem Hills has three short loops for 4.6 miles of easy riding. And if you’re looking for the perfect family ride, Murphy Hanrehan Park Reserve has an adaptive/universal trail that everyone can enjoy.
Intermediate
There are plenty of trails to entertain experienced riders visiting the area. Theodore Wirth Regional Park encompasses 25 mountain biking trails with winding singletrack, while Elm Creek Park Reserve has 12.7 miles of singletrack and 4,900 acres of outdoor space to explore.
Advanced
Lebanon Hills Regional Park has a vast collection of singletrack trails, beautiful lakes, and interpretive programs. For big jumps that offer the opportunity for some aerial miles, check out Sunfish Lake Park.
Lebanon Hills Regional Park
Cuyuna
When you ride Cuyuna, you can experience trails across the towns of Cohasset, Chisholm, Biwabik, and Ely. But beginner, intermediate, and advanced riders can all find great trails within Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area.
Screamer is a black diamond singletrack trail in Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area. (Photo: Cuyuna.com)
Beginners
Head to the Sagamore Unit and enjoy more than seven miles of universal/adaptive trails, including Copper Nugget, Klondyke, Syracuse, and Blaster. Klondyke weaves and bobs throughout the Sagamore Forest—it’s the width of a paved trail, but the surface is red dirt. It’s amazing and produces a significant number of smiles per hour.
Intermediate
Bob Sled, Sand Hog, Screamer, Mucker Mountain, Backcountry, and Bison Run trails are all perfect for riders looking for a thrill.
Advanced
Choose from Sinter (big jumps), Sledgehammer (rocks, rocks, and more rocks), and Cruser’s Kettle (glacial moraine wonderland left behind by moving glaciers).
Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area
Duluth
The perk of Duluth is you have all the trail systems on the North Shore of Lake Superior at your fingertips. Duluth is also commonly regarded as one of the top mountain bike destinations in the world, offering trails for every style of riding.
Duluth is designated by IMBA as a Gold Level Ride Center. (Photo: Hansi Johnson)
Beginners
Mission Creek, Hartley, and Lester Park have many easy routes. For gravity riding, Spirit Mountain has several entry-level flow trails, including Happy Camper, All Weather, and Candy Land.
Intermediate
The Duluth Traverse ties all five Duluth trail systems together, offering about 41 miles of riding. On the North Shore of Lake Superior in Split Rock Wilds, you’ll find the smooth and flowy Mail Route Trail. Additionally, try the Britton Peak Trail System on Lake Superior’s North Shore, including Jackpot and High Climber. You can ride these as an out-and-back or start at Britton Peak and end at the Lutsen Mountains Resort. It’s one of the most iconic backcountry rides in Minnesota.
Advanced
Shred the Piedmont Trail System and the lift-served gravity riding at Spirit Mountain. Just north of Duluth, Split Rock Wilds delivers both uphill and downhill challenges, plus a lot of technical rock crawling.
Duluth
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The post The Best Mountain Biking in Minnesota appeared first on Outside Online.
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