View Full Version : Best trail around Winona?
Going_Loud
08-27-2006, 01:30 PM
New to the forum. I am a college student at Winona State and am looking for some good trails around winona. I am from Burnville and enjoy the Minnesota river bottoms in bloomington and terrace oaks in burnsville. I am more of a causal rider looking to do more trails.
Thewavebb
08-27-2006, 01:53 PM
You are near some of the best trails in the state. Holzinger Lodge is awsome. I went to WSU and rode those trails just about every day. For the best info on the trail go talk to the guys at the Adventure Cycle bike shop. Brad, the owner, is a great guy and runs a good shop. They should be able to give you a good run down of the trails. Its best to go with somebody who knows their way around since the trails can be confusing and somewhat dangerous if you do not know where your going. Also check and see if the Winona State Bike club is still going one. A few of us Morc'rs are ex-WSU bike club guys. Used to be a hell of a lot of fun...I think it sorta died the year after I left..but it could have had a jumpstart. Another club you could go on a group ride is Winona Area Mt. bikers (known as WAMB). Holzinger is a 5 minute bike ride from the WSU main campus and about 8 minutes for Lourdes Hall depending on where you are living.
~Ben
Going_Loud
08-27-2006, 02:59 PM
Have you ever rode up County road 43 toward I-90. I am going to do that climb before I graduate. Any other good ones besides Holzinger Lodge?
Thewavebb
08-27-2006, 04:00 PM
Cherry Hill is north of winona a bit...Its not my favorite, but its another option. If you head down to La Crosse there are some great trails too. Holzinger has a lot of trail so if you haven't ridden with a local your probably missing some of it.
berrywise
08-27-2006, 06:24 PM
Some old school videos from back when I was going to school down in Winona.
http://scottharaldson.com/video/video.htm
Going_Loud
08-29-2006, 04:31 PM
Holzinger Lodge is a blast. I went the whole way around and it is sure a climb, but the way down is awesome. Lots of rocks in some parts, but that adds to the experience.
berrywise
08-29-2006, 04:40 PM
Holzinger Lodge is a blast. I went the whole way around and it is sure a climb, but the way down is awesome. Lots of rocks in some parts, but that adds to the experience.
What route did ya take?
I think it would be fun to strap the bob trailer on with camping gear. Park the car somewhere in Winona, ride up the rollers, up wildwood, a few loops around top, then head out via the cult de sac and take the road over to Sugar Loaf and then ride the ridge, camp on top of the bluff and then head down in the morning via Sugar Loaf downhill. Only thing that would be tough would be hauling the case of beer that whole time.
Thewavebb
08-29-2006, 04:48 PM
I'm glad your having fun on the trails. My favorite route is probably....lower rollers to wildwood up to upper loop...do a couple full loops on top...then down Rock quarry to lower rollers. So much fun. I miss those trails soooo much.
Going_Loud
08-29-2006, 05:37 PM
Not sure what loop I did. I started from the start going left which is a about a 10 min climb and they it curves and it is mostly downhill by the cemetary to the start point. I did that a couple of times. It was a pretty rocky climb.
berrywise
08-29-2006, 06:15 PM
Not sure what loop I did. I started from the start going left which is a about a 10 min climb and they it curves and it is mostly downhill by the cemetary to the start point. I did that a couple of times. It was a pretty rocky climb.
Ahh you have so much more to discover grasshopper :D I think you did what I did my very first time out there as well.
Start out on that climb (known as the "rollers"). This time when you make the hard left curve at the top start looking right away for a trail that juts out to the right.
Follow this trail along the back part of the cemetary until you come to a large concrete cistern. Here follow the trail to the right going up the bluff. From there it get's a bit harder to describe but riding around on top you'll have it down.
Check in on a Wednesday night Winona Area Mountain Bike ride (from Adventure Cycle and Ski) and they'll show you the routes.
Damn I miss college and the ability to ride every day.
Thewavebb
08-29-2006, 07:35 PM
Damn I miss college and the ability to ride every day.
I second that...Anybody want to go down? I'm up for a Morc group ride in winona just about weekend....except September 16th and October 14th (photog @ weddings)
~Ben
qheuie
08-29-2006, 10:45 PM
I second that...Anybody want to go down? I'm up for a Morc group ride in winona just about weekend....except September 16th and October 14th (photog @ weddings)
~Ben
let's go. we were there a few weeks ago, the rock quarry looked like it hadn't been ridden in ages. we didn't see a single person on the trail.
if the weather is OK we are planning on going this weekend. if anyone else wants to tag along let me know. we usually try to get out of town around 9-10 am and get back around 5ish. we're flexible.
we should let mr zilka know when we are going, we can show him the way. :)
Thewavebb
08-29-2006, 11:06 PM
if I hadn't already made plans this weekend I would be all over that....I'm open for the following weekend.
I second that...Anybody want to go down? I'm up for a Morc group ride in winona just about weekend....except September 16th and October 14th (photog @ weddings)
~Ben
I've got my last race of the summer on 9/23 but the following weekend 9/30 - 10/1 would be good. Maybe we could all stay at the Alumni house (all being alumni crazy ain't it), its handy to downtown.
Mr. Zilka,
You should follow Scott's advice, he was our president you know, After finding the first right you'll stay right every chance you get then there will be this switchback, it is the beginning of Wildwood (http://www.morcmtb.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=973&d=1156912828). Its a long slow climb that will become your best friend and worst enemy. The rockhopper in the picture has since passed away..... Please a moment of silence everyone:cryin:
More footage of Alumni on Wildwood
Thewavebb
08-30-2006, 12:06 AM
for more photos of the trails...look around in my biking gallerys. That should give you an idea.
Here is the link.
http://www.brberndt.com/gallery/main...&g2_itemId=535 (http://www.brberndt.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=535)
And Matt....Don't forget that Preston and I ran bike club for nearly 3 years after you boys left us. (probably why it has gone belly up)
The good ol' Days...Trip to lutsen
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b41/uberben/P1010038.jpg
berrywise
08-30-2006, 08:32 AM
I could go for a day trip if it was on a Sunday. Pretty much al of my Saturdays are booked from here until November. If this would have surfaced just a day or two earlier I would have booked down there this weekend but I just made plans.
Joe Wilcox is still in the cities and I could bug on him to go. I'm actually photographing his older brother's wedding next year.
berrywise
08-30-2006, 08:40 AM
for more photos of the trails...look around in my biking gallerys. That should give you an idea.
Here is the link.
http://www.brberndt.com/gallery/main...&g2_itemId=535 (http://www.brberndt.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=535)
And Matt....Don't forget that Preston and I ran bike club for nearly 3 years after you boys left us. (probably why it has gone belly up)
The good ol' Days...Trip to lutsen
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b41/uberben/P1010038.jpg
It was all downhill after Dre graduated and we stopped doing the crit :D I suppose that was before you guys (minus Josh) started down there. I still remember the drunks at the VFW driving through haybales to get to the bar during the race. Idiots!
seejames
08-30-2006, 09:02 AM
They used to have an awesome bike race in LaCrosse every year that I used to do...whatever happened to that? Of course it could have died of old age since it was in 1990 the last time i did it...lol
seejames
08-30-2006, 09:03 AM
so count me in the fun!
berrywise
08-30-2006, 09:30 AM
They used to have an awesome bike race in LaCrosse every year that I used to do...whatever happened to that? Of course it could have died of old age since it was in 1990 the last time i did it...lol
The last race I did in La Crosse was the Crusty Bluff Hunker Down but that would have been late 90's. I think it was the muddiest race I've ever done.
qheuie
08-30-2006, 10:13 AM
It was all downhill after Dre graduated and we stopped doing the crit :D I suppose that was before you guys (minus Josh) started down there. I still remember the drunks at the VFW driving through haybales to get to the bar during the race. Idiots!
ah yes.. the crit. were you there for the arse ugly tye dye leftover shirt fiasco?
as for riding, i willl keep an eye on the weather and post here if we plan on going this weekend.
berrywise
08-30-2006, 10:37 AM
ah yes.. the crit. were you there for the arse ugly tye dye leftover shirt fiasco?
as for riding, i willl keep an eye on the weather and post here if we plan on going this weekend.
I just remember the uber uncool blue wind breaker jackets that they had going. I still have a couple of long sleeve t-shirts with the drawing of the rider on the back we did. Wish I still had my hooded sweatshirt (hint: MORC make a hooded sweatshirt) but have no idea where that went.
qheuie
08-30-2006, 10:39 AM
I just remember the uber uncool blue wind breaker jackets that they had going. I still have a couple of long sleeve t-shirts with the drawing of the rider on the back we did. Wish I still had my hooded sweatshirt (hint: MORC make a hooded sweatshirt) but have no idea where that went.
i still have one bright green shirt, michelle still has the hoody. i think she wore it at the 24 hour race last weekend.
i've still got my hoody, blue long sleeve T and a blaze orange T that is currently in my gym bag. The coolest were the fitted hats with the chainring on them Ben and Preston made after I left. Got one of those too:banana:
Thewavebb
08-30-2006, 04:26 PM
those hats were bad ass. I wore mine out just about. The shirts/hoodies were awsome too. I wish I had a Morc fitted hat:hit:
martini
08-30-2006, 10:48 PM
Holzinger IS great, but if you're a newer rider, Hold off on the HPT trails in La Crosse. They're pretty burly for a beginner/ish rider. There are some easier trails though. We have groups rides starting at Smiths Cycle and Fitness on Fridays at 5:45(the ride up TNT is not for the faint of heart) or at the weather ball @ 6:00.
the ride up TNT is not for the faint of heart
It sure is fun coming down it though.
Making a trip down this weekend to bring my little bro a new rear wheel (his got jacked:mad:). I'm hoping the weather will be good enough for a ride. I rode up TNT and did the weather ball trails once last fall on a group ride. I thnk I remember how most of it goes. Any official or unofficial maps?
qheuie
09-01-2006, 01:55 PM
as for riding, i willl keep an eye on the weather and post here if we plan on going this weekend.
looks like 79 and partly cloudy tomorrow. we plan on arriving at holzinger lodge sometime around 11:15 am tomorrow morning. post, pm, or email me if you want to meet us there or ride down with us ( leaving bloomington around 9 am )
josh
berrywise
09-01-2006, 02:10 PM
Hopefully will be putting in my picket fence tomorrow. Where ya gonna eat? I could go for an All American burger with the egg on it at Bub's washed down with a nice big tall Bass Ale. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Then again maybe something light like the Winona Sandwich company....or maybe a sandwich and an 7 dollar pitcher Leinies Honey Weiss for at the Accoustic Cafe or maybe pick something off the huge board at Betty Jo's....oh I got's to get down there!
Thewavebb
09-01-2006, 02:19 PM
I have been craving a Bub's burger for a long time now. ....
qheuie
09-01-2006, 03:32 PM
Hopefully will be putting in my picket fence tomorrow. Where ya gonna eat? I could go for an All American burger with the egg on it at Bub's washed down with a nice big tall Bass Ale. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Then again maybe something light like the Winona Sandwich company....or maybe a sandwich and an 7 dollar pitcher Leinies Honey Weiss for at the Accoustic Cafe or maybe pick something off the huge board at Betty Jo's....oh I got's to get down there!
Bub's doesn't do 2 for 1 burgers anymore! jerks. the all american is still bad ass. you can feel your arteries clogging as you eat.
qheuie
09-02-2006, 10:49 PM
had a good ride today. the trails were in great condition. we hooked up with a few people from lacrosse and had a good old time. afterwards we met Ryan at the winona sandwich company and talked his ear off :)
hopefully the map we drew works out and he can find the "fun" part of the trails next tim ehe heads out.
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