Trail Brainstorming

[SickBoy]

OK, so let's think outside the lines.

Where can we build new trails in the Twin Cities?

Criteria:
1. NOT Three Rivers Parks District parks (Obviously work's already being done there, we know what we can/can't do)
2. NOT places we've been closed to (e.g. Lone Lake)

Suggestive Guidelines:
1. City Parks/wooded areas
2. Doesn't necessarily have to be somewhere where we can have 15 untouched acres - I'm envisioning little sections of singletrack, even stuff less than a mile long, that could string between trails. For example - the stuff that connects Cedar Lake/Brownie/Wirth.
3. Areas, maybe, where there isn't a high concentration of legal MTB trails (e.g. Burnsville/Eagan)

I've got some ideas but I need to sit and put them down on paper and get them in order before I post. The reason I am posting this is there seems to be a bit of groupthink going - e.g. trying to get in to areas where we have tons of untouched acres to build isolated trails on. NOT THE CASE. MTB trails can be anywhere and I think it'd be really cool to have a singletrack network all over the cities. How fun would commuting be then!!!

[homebrewbiker]

I not know if it is legal trail or not, but there is a lot of land by Anderson Lake in Eden Prairie. I have ridden there before but maybe it is supposed to be a hiking only trail. It is on the West side of 169 as you go South just beyond 494. The trail is just a circle, there is space to put a lot of single track but it is mainly flat, but there are a couple of small hills.

[nigel]

If we could only outlaw the Fort Snelling dog park we could get those trails back for hiking/biking!Ima have to take a looksy at a map and come up with some stuff, there are a few areas that come to mind, but i think it'll be hard to convince the city on a lot of the areas that would work. But hey, its worth a try right!

[Magic]

We could try to gain access to Sunfish Lake Park in Lake Elmo. I dealt with the city quite a few years ago with no luck. But if Morc aproached the city with examples of the fine work done in Dakota County and other areas we might have a chance. It's the horse people that are against us in this park. Also my private area to ride up next to the St. Croix river off of Arcola Road. Some trails exist, has great potential for some nice trails.:)

[SickBoy]

I not know if it is legal trail or not, but there is a lot of land by Anderson Lake in Eden Prairie. I have ridden there before but maybe it is supposed to be a hiking only trail. It is on the West side of 169 as you go South just beyond 494. The trail is just a circle, there is space to put a lot of single track but it is mainly flat, but there are a couple of small hills.
I have ridden back there, it's fun. From what I hear, the EPHS Nordic team has been trying to get permission to build Nordic trails back there - any idea who owns the land?

[Brick]

OK, so let's think outside the lines.

Where can we build new trails in the Twin Cities?

Criteria:
1. NOT Three Rivers Parks District parks (Obviously work's already being done there, we know what we can/can't do)
2. NOT places we've been closed to (e.g. Lone Lake)

Suggestive Guidelines:
1. City Parks/wooded areas
2. Doesn't necessarily have to be somewhere where we can have 15 untouched acres - I'm envisioning little sections of singletrack, even stuff less than a mile long, that could string between trails. For example - the stuff that connects Cedar Lake/Brownie/Wirth.
3. Areas, maybe, where there isn't a high concentration of legal MTB trails (e.g. Burnsville/Eagan)

Reservoir Woods park in Roseville.....

[Trevize1138]

Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis!

Like you said, some places we could just do short trails, right? Why not a few little MTB trails strung throughout Powderhorn with log rolls, narrow bridge rides, teeters and other technical obstacles to make the short trail more memorable? :)

Around Diamond Lake?

What about that park in Richfield right next to 35W?

Loring Park! MTB right next to downtown! Another short, obstacle-filled trail like Powderhorn.

Wouldn't it be a blast to mix up urban assault with some dirt?

Non-golf course park land next to Hiawatha Golf Course north of Nokomis? Or, how 'bout along Minnehaha Parkway? Hmm ... I know there are already some unofficial dirt trails all over the place there ...

[SickBoy]

Quick list of places I've been thinking of:

1. Staring Lake Park in Eden Prairie
2. Birch Island Woods in Eden Prairie
3. Land in between river and Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie
4. Along the Southwest LRT corridors - from the Greenway in Minneapolis to Hopkins, and along the Hopkins to Chaska segment
5. East/West river parkways...

[funky-funky-chicken]

Reservoir Woods park in Roseville.....
I agree with that one Eric. I assume you are talking about the trails up and around the reservoir by Roselawn Cemetary between Victoria and Dale? I have ridden around back there quite a bit. I always thought that it would be cool to organize and improve some of the existing trails. There seems to be a lot of land and I would think that Roseville would be open to the development.

[SickBoy]

I guess I wasn't thinking about anything with hard/technical stuff (read: stuff that would be insurance liability and deter from the ability to actually get dirt trails).

I was more just thinking places to interconnect so that we'd not have to ride so much pavement in between trails.

Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis!

Like you said, some places we could just do short trails, right? Why not a few little MTB trails strung throughout Powderhorn with log rolls, narrow bridge rides, teeters and other technical obstacles to make the short trail more memorable? :)

Around Diamond Lake?

What about that park in Richfield right next to 35W?

Loring Park! MTB right next to downtown! Another short, obstacle-filled trail like Powderhorn.

Wouldn't it be a blast to mix up urban assault with some dirt?

Non-golf course park land next to Hiawatha Golf Course north of Nokomis? Or, how 'bout along Minnehaha Parkway? Hmm ... I know there are already some unofficial dirt trails all over the place there ...

[TML]

Resevoir woods would be good.

Here's a couple of others that I've been thinking of.

Lilydale Regional Park/Brickyards in St. Paul and Mendota
Vadnais Lake/St. Paul Water Utility Forest in Vadnais Heights

[TML]

Also my private area to ride up next to the St. Croix river off of Arcola Road. Some trails exist, has great potential for some nice trails.:)
Hey- That's not just yours! ;) There is some fun stuff there. Definitely lots of potential. Don't know what the chances are with it being (I think) Nat Park Service managed land though.

[Brick]

Hey- That's not just yours! ;) There is some fun stuff there. Definitely lots of potential. Don't know what the chances are with it being (I think) Nat Park Service managed land though.
Prolly about the same chance as building trail at TCAAP.....

[berrywise]

We could try to gain access to Sunfish Lake Park in Lake Elmo. I dealt with the city quite a few years ago with no luck. But if Morc aproached the city with examples of the fine work done in Dakota County and other areas we might have a chance. It's the horse people that are against us in this park.
I think that park is a lost cause. Bikers have gone to bat for these trails on a handful of occasions with no success. I think it would be best to find new land in Washington County that could be converted into good mountain bike trails.

My favorite trail is right near the high bridge. Come railing down the trail and then launch off the cliff and land in the water......err.

[Summerinside]

Another good site would be along the mississippi between the river and west river road from the UMN all the way down to Ft.Snelling. There's alot of topo (you could just ride up and down the whole way and it's farirly private.)

[homebrewbiker]

Another good site would be along the mississippi between the river and west river road from the UMN all the way down to Ft.Snelling. There's alot of topo (you could just ride up and down the whole way and it's farirly private.)
If memory serves they used to allow mountain biking there but closed it down.

[transplant]

Somewhere in the NE part of the Metro, like White Bear Lake, Hugo, Vadnais Heights, would be good too. Also, the terrain around Taylor's Falls would serve up some tasty singletrack, too. What's the story up there?

[Rocky Mountain]

A good spot which could be very technical with many switchbacks using the hills is located on the South West corner of Hwy 62 and 212 intersection. This potential trail is located behind the Department 56 headquarters building. Next time you drive by there take a look at the large hill and to the west is a grassy area for more trail with parking capability on the frontage road. This could be as good as the Lone Oak trails which used to be just to the north of there. Mtka closed these down.:mad:

[pmschwei]

i dont really ride the mtb as much as most on here but of the trails im aware of in the metro area it seems like somewhere north of st paul or mpls would be nice for anyone living in these areas and not living in elk river

[Don Youngdahl]

OK, so let's think outside the lines.

Where can we build new trails in the Twin Cities?


I've been on my soapbox for several months about the need for neighborhood trails, and it's good to see others taking up the cry. MORC has established remarkable credibility with land managers in recent years, and now I think this credibility can be used in developing designated neighborhood trails.

Having just mentioned the important role MORC can play, now it's time to say that MORC needs to have more local riders step up to the plate to push for trails in their area It's not enough for Joe Rider to suggest that "Grandma's back 40" would be a good place for designated trails, and expect that "MORC" (whatever that means to you) will do the rest. MORC is a grass roots organization that depends on the collective personal initiative of all its members, not just the Board of Directors or other leaders. All trails are local trails to somebody. A trail doesn't have to be the pet project of a MORC Board member to get the involvements of MORC's trail design heavyweights.

Here is my suggestion of the most likely scenario for developing designated neighborhood trails.

1) When Joe Rider thinks a local area has possibilities, he should research the area to determine land ownership, current use, acreage, official status if public land, topography, etc. In short, do your homework on the place you're interested in. Make a preliminary contract with the land manger if you have an established relationship, or if you have good reason to believe he's friendly to mountain bikes. If not, wait for experienced people to help you give the pitch.

2) In addition to any verbal conversations with MORC leadership that you might have, communicate all this information to the MORC Board in writing (e-mail is best, and map info is helpful) along with your "pitch" for why designated trails would work there. Part of your pitch needs to be a commitment that there are local riders willing to work with local government and land managers, and help build and maintain these trails.

3) Expect a response of some sort from someone on the MORC Board within a month or so. MORC owes you response even if it is negative and your proposal has no prospects. MORC has a Board e-mail list and a Board place on the Forum, so we can discuss and decide issues without waiting for monthly meetings. MORC's trail development gurus have assured me that they will respond to serious proposals for local trails in suitable areas, and will come out to the local government jurisdictions with their power point "dog & pony show" presentation if asked. When it comes to selling land managers on designated trails, that's where MORC can help you the most

There's lots more that could be said about the process of getting trails approved and built, but his post is long enough already. To sum it up:
*** Riders, the ball is in your court to move us forward on local neighborhood trails.***

Don Youngdahl

MORC Board Member

[JayT]

Here's a question for the experienced designers/builders:

What would be the minimum space (acres) needed to do a "neighborhood" style trail? or what would be the minimum length you'd like to see for a "neighborhood" style trail?

[noise_is_life]

I still mourn the loss of Lone Lake...it was the second trail I mountain biked on (RB first of course).

Anyway, how about Big Willow Park in Minnetonka, north of Minnetonka Blvd in between Hopkins Crossroad and Plymouth Rd. Not sure of the legality of riding in there, it isn't posted, I ride it once in a blue moon.

[Summerinside]

Another neat area that could use some more techical singletrack is the no-mans-land south of 94 just east of the mississippi. Here's a map of the area.

http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/data/512/962bikearea.jpg

It's relatively unused and highly topographic... Also, there's plans for Mpls to build in a new bike path along the railroad tracks in the lower left of the map to connect all the way back to uptown.

Thoughts?

[goatgirl]

I commute to Chaska Via the Southern Corridor Rail Trail. There's a section located near Bluff Creek over looking the Shakopee valley that is very steep, wooded and not developed. I don't know who ownes the land but every time I ride past I want to head off the trail and explore.

[stoneage]

[QUOTE=SickBoy]OK, so let's think outside the lines.

Where can we build new trails in the Twin Cities?
2. NOT places we've been closed to (e.g. Lone Lake)

For example - the stuff that connects Cedar Lake/Brownie/Wirth.

Why not approach Minnetonka with our successes in hand and ask for a legal , sustainable trail in Lone Oak?

After the pilot project in Wirth, we are looking to expand down the Wirth Parkway corridor. Here is the statement in the MOA:

2. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT GOALS

MPRB Goals:
• To determine if sustainable, safe and low maintenance off-road trails can be established in the Minneapolis Park System in a manner that both challenges local off-road cyclists and protects natural resources.

MOCA Goal:
• To conduct a successful off-road cycling demonstration project in Theodore Wirth Park, in accordance with the requirements of the Memorandum of Agreement, and as a result achieve the creation of an off-road cycling network in portions of the Minneapolis Park System.

[EmL34]

I commute to Chaska Via the Southern Corridor Rail Trail. There's a section located near Bluff Creek over looking the Shakopee valley that is very steep, wooded and not developed. I don't know who ownes the land but every time I ride past I want to head off the trail and explore.
Can you shed some light on this commute? There is a 95% chance I will need to use it next year. Start a new commuter thread up in the general discussion section.

[Kosk]

Seems like there's a lack of legal trails north of Wirth and south of Elk River...mostly Anoka County. What's the deal with Anoka county? I grew up in Fridley just north of Rice Creek and spent countless summer days riding in the woods and paths in Locke Park along Rice Creek. There already is a paved path that runs from Long Lake west all the way to the Mississippi river and there is also single-track, although not legit, all the way too. I haven't ridden through there is years, but that is a place I would be interested in. Plenty of land to create miles upon miles of winding single track. Living in NE now, everything but Wirth is a good haul to get too, especially when trying to get a ride in after work before the sun goes down. (read: traffic) This area could potentially be a very long trail system that is currently in "no-bikers-land".

Has Anoka County had negative experiences with mtn bikers? Are they ani-mountain biking, or is it just that no one has stepped forward and showed an insterest in this area as being a mtn trail system?

[Wheels]

Another neat area that could use some more techical singletrack is the no-mans-land south of 94 just east of the mississippi. Here's a map of the area.



It's relatively unused and highly topographic... Also, there's plans for Mpls to build in a new bike path along the railroad tracks in the lower left of the map to connect all the way back to uptown.

Thoughts?

http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/data/512/962bikearea.jpg

We placed this area on our original proposal - but we'll have to break out a grant to pay for the Dingo to do it right. We asked to connect this with the rest of the proposed system via the Minnehaha Creek - but the city has very strict environmental rules that do not allow a trail within 50' of the creek (I know, there are already paths near the creek).

Still, this could be part of the larger system - maybe we'll need a MOCA East to make it happen, provided we pass the pilot program.

[nigel]

http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/data/512/962bikearea.jpg

We placed this area on our original proposal - but we'll have to break out a grant to pay for the Dingo to do it right. We asked to connect this with the rest of the proposed system via the Minnehaha Creek - but the city has very strict environmental rules that do not allow a trail within 50' of the creek (I know, there are already paths near the creek).

Still, this could be part of the larger system - maybe we'll need a MOCA East to make it happen, provided we pass the pilot program.
I grew up in that area, used to hike around there a lot as a lil' one. There are even city built steps ect... but i doubt they would ever allow off-road trails down there. The trails there now are more suited for running/walking. I can just see them saying yes to bike trails and all of a sudden the trees go away and paved trails appear instead! I say leave it!