Any places to ride up in the North Branch area?

[ebrandel]

Trying to find a place nearer to where a friend lives so I can drag him out for a ride. Looking at the Trail Guide (http://www.morcmtb.org/trailreviews/metro/index.htm) doesn't reveal anything close at all. Is there anything within 20 miles or so?

There's a state park fairly close by (st croix wild river state park (http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/wild_river/index.html)) but it looks like mountain biking is a no-no there.

Oh, and if you're not sure where North Branch is, here's a map (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=north+branch,+mn&ie=UTF8&ll=45.489983,-92.959442&spn=0.707596,1.521606&om=1).

[flashmcduff]

My wife's from that area and I can tell you there's not much for a mt biker close by. The country roads can be nice and there is the paved railbed trail in NB to the north and south. Follow 95 east to Taylors Falls and St Croix Falls if you want the Gandy Dancer -- more converted railbed (and you have to pay). Plenty of coffee shops in those two towns and one heck of a taco cart in SCF in the park across from the movie theater. I mean it, seriously good eats, and cheap too. Hit him up before the weather closes him down.

Pretty dull for bikers, but whaddya do?

[TrailPatrol]

Gary Sjoquist, the godfather of Minnesota mountain biking, used to take groups of at risk teens on MTB tours in the northern (Sunrise River) unit of Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area. I don't know the route, but he said it was always a good ride, even if it was kinda flat. Chengwatana State Forest (http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_forests/sft00012/index.html), north of Wild River State Park on the St. Croix River, allows mountain biking, but is also open for ATVs, dirt bikes and horses. You may have to share the trail.

The Outpost, outside of Taylor Falls on Hwy. 8 used to allow mountain biking on their land, but I don't know if they still do.

Just some thoughts. We have held mountain bike search and rescue training in both locations.

Ride safe,
:banana:
Hans