I'm new

[cat]

Hi I am new in this website and I need to know what is the best trail, can I have some ideas??:hit:

[ryno lite]

Hi, welcome to the site! It's a great place to go to get mtn bike info and ask questions! Looks like one of the best if not the best trail is right in your back yard! Lebanon Hills in Eagan is considered by many to be one of the best in the state. It's about 8 miles and has a little bit for every skill level. The River Bottoms, Salem Hills, and Theodore Wirth are a few of the others worth a try. Lebanon and a few others are closed till Spring, but Theodore Wirth, Salem Hills, and the River Bottoms are open during the winter if you're into that sort of thing. We have a trail review and description area on the site that can provide some good info!

[The Buckthorn Killer]

The Grand opening for Theordore wirth is in early june. That my favorite trail.

Tom Anderson
The Buckthorn Killer

[syntaxjunkie]

I'll throw in a vote for Theo, especially if you're just getting started. It's a fun trail, but doesn't have a ton of technical challenges or killer hills. The River Bottoms trail is longer and throws a little more in the way of terrain at you. Terrace Oaks is great because it's relatively short, but has a lot of great riding in that space. And of course, Leb Hills has a little bit of everything ('cept parking).

[dave t]

Actually Lebanon does have just a little bit of parking especially after work during soccer season. It is in the very southwest corner of Eagan so if you are close enough you can just ride to the trail.

If you are looking for winter riding, Salem Hills is right off 494 and 3/Robert. It is very rideable with plain summer knobbys with the pressure a bit lower than normal. There has been a group ride there Saturday for the last two weeks now that may become a regular thing???? It is posted here in the "group rides" section.

Winter is also fun at the MN river bottoms below the 35W bridge at the end of Lyndale Ave. Within a few days of any snowstorm I can remember, hikers have it packed enough for bikes and as long as there is not glare ice, knobbys work great on the hard snow.

[jitterjepp]

Hello Amanda! I'm going to have to throw in for Theo for a number of reasons.
First it's close to where I live. Second it's bound to be greater than Lebanon in the end. Third it's not as lumpy bumpy as Lebanon.

[waitabit]

Welcome Amanda, my favorite trail is Memorial in Red Wing.The best part is the jerk chicken at Harbor Bar across the river in Hager City.Just thought I'd share that with you.

[Thewavebb]

If you ever are in the mood for a road trip. about 2 or so hrs south it Holzinger lodge trail in Winona. It is an awsome trail and is located in the bluff country of the mississippi river so you get some awsome climbs and descents. If you deside to come down, come on here and let me know and I would love to show you the ropes. There are many different trails here that can be hard to find if you are not a local. It ranges from freeride downhill with drops and tight turns on the Sugarloaf trail, Rock Quary features Rocky technical singletrack that is on the edge of the bluff, bridges and some very fast downhill sections. Wildwood trail is a narrow climb to the upperloop that has some pretty narrow and on the side of the bluff. Be carefull otherwise you could fall off. Upperloop is really laid back and fast. It flows really well and you can fly through it. NSP is a doubletrack section that goes down the side and is great for hauling ass as fast as you can. Salad BAr is a skinny rocky traill that goes straight down the side. It's very steep and can get skechy in some sections because of rock and trees. Overall, Holzinger has very technical singletrack, but is by far my favorite trail in the midwest.

If you have more time, check out Cherry Hill which is only about 10 minutes away. It is easy double track and is great trail for a light day. There is a somewhat hidden single track that is awsome but hard to find. About 45 minutes down the road to La Crosse there is Human Powered Park. It is similar to Holzinger but has some really cool variety.

[DMonkey]

Amanda,
Welcome - you have come to a great source..

There are a lot of good trails with in the TC and some great trails with in 3 hrs of TC.

Most of the ones mentioned before a pretty good:
Theo - Getting there, used to be pretty interesting before it was a legal trail - could make a longer loop then, but it's just getting started - I also live near by and ride it often.

Leb - A lot of fun, great variety, good technical stuff - but if your like me, I can't always ride at the same place.

MN RiverB - Great beginner/spin trail, not a lot of obstacles, and is fairly flat, but you can fly on it.

Red Wing - Really fun trail - lots of hills.. Wish it was about 3 mi longer - but I still highly recommend it!

Milaca - This is my favorite trail < 2 hrs from TC, has everything.. Hell of a lot of fun & pretty long.. Only down side the best part (Bog Monster) - gets flooded out a lot.

Levis Trow - Great all day ride, trails all over the place.. Some real climbing there - make a lot of trips down there.

9 Mile in Wausau - Nice trail system, but you need a guide the first time to get a good loop of the single track together.

Holzinger (Winona) - One great climb, some good views, but I don't think it matches these other trails for overall fun.

Hope that helps!


P.S.
Lots of unofficial trail, but have to know what is ok/gray area.

[soupboy]

...male mountain biker seeks...


Actually, good to have more women on here as the only other regular poster I'm aware of is Liz. Might just keep more of us knuckleheads in check.

Sean

[Little D]

I still think Battle Creek is the best trail in town with it's combination of single track, climbing, downhills, solitude, parking, and deer.

[DMonkey]

Battle C - is a good ride, you can make a decent ride out of it if you include those trails on the other side of hwy 61 and N a bit.
Some of the loop/single-track isn't that obvious to find though.
Still once you know it, it's a fun ride.

Can you ride Battle C in the winter?


I still think Battle Creek is the best trail in town with it's combination of single track, climbing, downhills, solitude, parking, and deer.

[Kosk]

In the winter it is a major XC place, so I would avoid it now that we have some snow. BC is fun because it is steep, not really rolly, more sustained climbs and DHs. There's a good amount of vertical to be had in a couple laps.

I only wish it was more popular. The sight lines are way longer and the trail is much faster in the early spring and in the fall, it gets really over grown in the summer. I rode it a ton last spring when we had all that good riding weather early before a lot of growth and it was rippin' fast. Then, after the monsoon's of June subsided I went back and it was so grown in that it had a completely different feel, alot slower, and lots of PI.