Birch Lakes State Forest

[TrailPatrol]

You have got to ride this! You want singletrack, this place has it. You want challenging hills and rolling terrain. It's right here! Birch Lakes is one of the smallest state forests in MN. It doesn't allow horses or ATVs. There are even IMBA "10 Rules" signs posted on the singletrack! There is work to be done, too. More singletrack was approved but never constructed The snowmbile trails on the south side of the forest have really great terrain, but are often overgrown, and they were the access to the trails that were not built. I will get photos up on the Gallery tonight. Birch Lakes could be the Lebanon Hills of NW Minnesota! :crazy2:

Ride safe,
:banana:
Hans

[TML]

Hans,

I'll be up in this area next week for a couple of days. Is there a particular spot to enter the forest or trailhead. Suggestions on particular trails for riding? Or should I just explore once I get there?

--Troy

[TrailPatrol]

Troy,
The campground and access road will close for the season on Friday, so your choice is limited to picking up the trail right by the main gate (Marked "X" on the map you can download at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_forests/sft00007/index.html or you can pick up a better, more accurate on at the DNR office in Sauk Rapids.)

Send me a direct e-mail at erdman@trailpatrol.org and I will send you my GPS maps.

Ride safe,
Hans

[TML]

Had a chance to ride the trails at Birch lakes a couple of weeks ago. What a great time! The single track across the north part of the park is just a hoot! And the trails on the south side are an unrelenting rollercoaster of hills. They're fall line but with the little amount of traffic they see I imagine they'll hold up just fine.

If you find yourself in the Melrose area for whatever reason, check it out. It's some beautiful terrain that's entirely wooded. There's a campground with some really nice tent pads at each site. There's no motor vehicles allowed, the management is encouraging mountain biking and every person (3) I met on the trail was excited to see me on a bike. In my explorations I put on about 8 miles and was there for about 1h45m.