Any trails near Lake Itasca?

[bigwheel]

I'll be spending several days at Lake Itasca next week. Are there any decent trails in that area?

I noticed a few in the northwest trail section, but don't see anything with a review, which leads me to believe they are not worth reviewing.

[bigwheel]

Has anyone ridden:

Lake Bemidji State Park?
Movil Maze?
Paul Bunyan State Forest?


I'm leaving tomorrow (Friday) eve.

[TML]

Bob,

It'd be a little drive, but you could go ride the Laddies Loppet MNSCS race course at Maplelag in Callaway. It'd probably be just under an hour drive west and slightly south of Itasca.

Info on the course: http://www.maplelag.com/events.html#september

Try pm'ing Travis Whittingham. He lives up that way. I think his username is whittravis or something like that.

Have a fun trip!

[JBergland]

Bob,
The North side of Lake Bemidji has some pretty good trails... enough to keep you busy for a day or so. It's been since college that I've ridden them, so things may have changed (http://physics.bemidjistate.edu/gallery/sattbemlakepics/aroundlakepics/northside.htm). Ask the local Ranger at the State Park about mountain biking trails. There is a section just to the north of the main park that's pretty good.

The Home Place ((218) 751-3456) is the local bike shop. They might have some good suggestions.

The Outdoor Programming Center (http://www.bemidjistate.edu/recreation/opc/) might also be another good resource... although I'm not sure of their summer hours/staffing.

Check with the Ranger at Itasca... they should have maps and everything for you.

I'd be sure to bring some bug spray!! It's been a wet year so far up-north, and with the warmer temps. and sunnier days, the mesquites might be bad.

Take Care!!

JB

[bigwheel]

Great! Thanks Jay. I'll give it a try.


Troy, thanks also for your Maple Lag suggestion. However, I think I'll hold off on Maple Lag for now, especially after checking their site and seeing that it will be Spanish camp next week.:crazy2: BTW, we need to find a place to ride near our cabins (Aitkin, Hill City, or somewhere). I'm pretty familiar with biking Savanna State Park, but they are not that good of trails. I generally have more fun poaching the 4-wheeler trails that are all over the place.

[tedsti]

Maple Lag has language camps all summer. They didn't seem to mind when I rode the trails. Never did find maps or a real trailhead though.

[whitt_travis]

Ohh, you're up in my area!

Best riding around this part of the country is Martineau IMO... It's an enduro dirtbike course but it's really the only singletrack around here. It's in the paul bunyan state forest. And there's a bike shop located in Park Rapids (Northern Cycle) that frequent this area quite a bit, they'd be the best ones to ask. It's been wet for most of the year, and the mosquito's were horrid last week. Make sure to bring extra parts, derailleur hangers and such, or a big heavy stick incase things get rough on the trail. Almost ended my evening short here last week due to a nice derailleur in the spokes.

Movil maze trails are 5 ft wide and has waist high grass usually this time of year. Ick, that's all I can say.

Bemidji State Park's trails to the north of the park are wide, wiiiiide, like 6-8 feet. Not bad for light endurance loops. Other then that, there's no technicality.

Itasca state park has some decent trails, just grab a map and go, it's easy to find almost anything in that area.



Other then that, good luck my friend, riding up here is pretty slim, much of it find your own path and go. Let me know when you're around maybe I can wheel with you sometime. My next location is over to the Chippewa National to hit Simpson, I've heard it's some good riding.

[bigwheel]

Hey Travis, Thanks for the advice. (although I didn't see it until now, when I'm back)

It ended up raining all every day but Sunday, so I rode mostly paved trails and roads, although I poached a couple 4-wheeler/snowmobile trails. Around the parks, every trail that looked interesting had a sign with the dreaded slashed bike, so I stayed off of them.

I did discover that knobby tires on wet pavement work surprisingly well.

[whitt_travis]

That sucks, weird it was raining, it was perfect in Bemidji all weekend.

[bigwheel]

That sucks, weird it was raining, it was perfect in Bemidji all weekend.

Really? That's strange. We ended up stopping for lunch in Walker because the weather sucked and we didn't want to get stuck inside making googoo eyes at eachother.

Sunday was nice, but Saturday rained (I was only there in afternoon) and Monday rained all day. I ended up with a nice long road ride in the rain. Tuesday morning it also rained.

Fortunatley, the rest of the week (at my cabin) was perfect.