do you have to ride the lifts?

[RRWilso]

im heading up the northshore for camping and am planning on riding the trails at lutsen. i train on my roadbike or mountain bike everyday am 19 years old in good shape and dont feel the need to ride a lift. is there a pass you can buy that doesnt include lift pass thats cheaper? im not going to ride a lift even if i have to pay for it, but just wanted to know if i could do something cheaper if its possible... OTHERWISE, does anyone know of other good free trails close to lutsen, im planning on hitting up spirit mtn, on the drive up. thank you for your help.

[Neckroll]

As far as I know having been up there a few times and looking on the website, no, there is not a "trail pass" that you can get and not ride the lifts. I will say though, that if you were thinking about going up there and paying for some sort of pass, you really should think about just getting the lift pass and using it, here's why.
I'm a little older than you, but am in pretty good shape myself, and can go hard at Lebanon for a good 3 hours or so and still maybe hit Wirth on the way home. But when I am at Lutsen and use the lift, I can go all day (lifts are open 10-5) and actually still have energy left to do some riding afterwards if I so desire, so in my mind it's worth it to get all the extra time having fun instead of working my a** off just to get up the hill.
If you still insist on not riding any lifts, Spirit would probably be your cup of tea, although I've never been there, so I can't say for sure, but from what I hear, there's some pretty gnarly downhill and stuff there. Another, probably shouldn't even be mentioned option is that there really aren't any "ski patrol" type people at lutsen in the summer as far as I can tell, and you'd probably be able to get away with just riding there as long as you don't try to get on a lift without a wristband, but don't say you heard that from me ; ) (You'd probably also have issues with oncoming traffic since there aren't any uphill runs to speak of)
since you mentioned that you road bike, I know there is a paved trail that runs for quite a way north and south from Split Rock State Park. I don't really know how extensive that trail is, though because I've never ridden it before, or checked into it at all.
hope Ive been some help

[soupboy]

Couple thoughts:


I don't think you have to ride the lifts. There are other trail systems that connect into the trails on the "mountain". If you don't want to pay to use the lifts you don't have to. Bring a granny gear. Within the ski resort it seems to be either up or down, not much in between except for boring access roads/cat tracks.
The lift service is highly inconsistent. They are known for not opening the 2nd chair (name?) that accesses the better terrain fairly frequently and unannounced to guests.

[Buck]

Couple thoughts:


The lift service is highly inconsistent. They are known for not opening the 2nd chair (name?) that accesses the better terrain fairly frequently and unannounced to guests.

That lift is NOT open to riders this summer only way to cross the valley is on the gondola, so to get more then one run in on the far hill ya have to ride all the way back out to the gondola!

Just an FYI...

Werd
Buck

[FarmerBEN]

fyi, the coggs xc race is at spirit this wkend.


that sounds like all the more reason to hit it up, race weekends are a pretty good time, plus we can always use more bikers on team red wing...

[RRWilso]

i love to go up this weekend, but unfortunately i have to work saturday:mad: ...sucky. but for all you red wing guys i'd like to meet up sometime up at the bluff and ride with you all. im going up there later tonight around 7 or so.
and thanks for all the info dudes. do you guys think lutsen is worth the money? im not going up til labor day weekend.

[soupboy]

Yeah, I've only seen that chair open on 1 out of maybe 8 trips even though mgmt said it would be open the day prior.

Anyone know what Lutsen has done with its terrain this season?

From what little I've seen it looks like Spirit is a better option.

That lift is NOT open to riders this summer only way to cross the valley is on the gondola, so to get more then one run in on the far hill ya have to ride all the way back out to the gondola!

[Buck]

From what little I've seen it looks like Spirit is a better option.

So true!! more riding options too, xc, dh, fr, trials, street, urban, park. it truly has it all! :cool:

L8Rz
Buck

[Alden]

Buck,
I think the lift you're talking about at Lutsen is called the Bull lift. It the southernmost lift on Moose Mountain right? In my 7 years of going up there that one has frequently been inop.
Alden

[mill0298]

I was just up at Lutsen this past weekend. I also hit up Spirit Mt on the way. Both spots were awesome in their own respect. Spirit has a really nice DH run that flows to the left side of the mountain from the top. There is also a nice mix of singletrack, DH climbs and other features.

Lutsen, while a bit further also has some really nice longer runs. Even though the tram is a pain in the A$$, it is worth it. You can pretty much ride whereever you want up there.

I actually had a chance to talk to one of the recreation coordinators up there about the use of the Bull Run lift, the lack of races up there, etc. I was told that one of the family members who had an ownership interest in Lutsen Mountain, was recently bought out (2001 or 2002). The existing owners have little interest in maintaining or improving the mountain bike park. That is so unfortunate. The races up at Lutsen used to be some of the best in the country IMHO. If you havn't been Lutsen is still a great time. I'll post some pics from last weekend this evening.

[RRWilso]

yeah good info tom. i'd love to see some pics that'd be tight. im going up in two weeks

[mill0298]

yeah good info tom. i'd love to see some pics that'd be tight. im going up in two weeks

Here you go:
Spirit Mt on 08/11

Me @ Spirit
file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Tom%20Miller/My%20Documents/My%20Pictures/New%20Folder/Lutsen%20011.jpg

James @ Spirit:
file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Tom%20Miller/My%20Documents/My%20Pictures/New%20Folder/Lutsen%20007.jpg

The hike sux, but you can shuttle bikes to the top via HWY 35
file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Tom%20Miller/My%20Documents/My%20Pictures/New%20Folder/Lutsen%20005.jpg

[mill0298]

Somehow I screwed up the picture posting. I have uploaded a few pics in my gallery, so take a look.

[babuhr]

Yeah, they used to offer a trail pass, but no more. If you haven't been there, its worth it for the views, riding, and just the experience. Get the combo alpine slide/gondola/mystery lift pass for $33. You'll definitely get plenty of climbing in on the ride back to the gondola from the bottom of Moose Mt since the Bull lift doesn't run anymore. Also, both Moose and Mystery have pretty fun outer XC loops. Grab a brew after and race your buddy down the alpine slide.

[RRWilso]

thanks for the pics tom looks like fun, makes me want to ride, im at work.