Elm Creek Master Plan on-line for public review [Archive] - Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists Discussion Forums

Jonathan Vlaming

10-17-2006, 09:40 AM

A few months ago, I used this forum to gather information on user preferences for different options for the development of a mountain bike trail network in Elm Creek Park Reserve. That information helped form the master plan recommendation for development of a single-track mountain bike trail network in the Lemans Lake area of the park reserve.

The draft Elm Creek Master Plan is now on-line on the Three Rivers Park District website. There is also a survey for the interested public to express their thoughts on the proposed future development within the park reserve, including the mountain bike trail network.

Please visit the website and participate in the survey - it is an important opportunity for you to provide feedback on the proposed master plan.

Here is the link:

http://www.threeriversparkdistrict.org/news/news_detail.cfm?&id=2295&action=View&startrow=1

If that doesn't work, go to www.threeriversparkdistrict.org (http://www.threeriversparkdistrict.org) and click on the "news & updates" link to the Elm Creek Master Plan.

Thank you for your support of Three Rivers Park District and Elm Creek Park Reserve.

Please pass the link to the master plan and survey on to other people you know who have an interest in Elm Creek Park Reserve, biking, trail hiking, nature centers, camping, XC skiing, etc. This "snowball" effect allows for more people to have input in the plan!

Sincerely,

Jonathan Vlaming
Planning Manager
Three Rivers Park District

Burke

10-17-2006, 10:58 AM

Jonathan,

Thanks for seeking MORC's feedback in the planning process. I appreciate the MORC forum reference in the master plan, as well. Feel free to contact me if there's anything I, or MORC, can do with the master plan process. president@morcmtb.org

My assessment from reading the master plan is that it is very favorable for mountain biking in Elm Creek.

---MORC Members, if you haven't, please complete the survey that is included in the draft master plan. Our positive feedback on the mountain biking aspect of it will help keep it in the final draft.

Scott

BKocka

10-17-2006, 11:06 AM

Scott, It may or may not be a good idea to post this up in the general discussion area on the forum- to insure it gets looked at by all forum users.

just a thought.

ebrandel

10-17-2006, 11:14 AM

Best part I've seen so far:
The Elm Creek Master Plan proposes the addition of 15
miles of single-track mountain bike trails. :)

http://www.threeriversparkdistrict.org/parks/ElmCreekMasterPlan/Section-III_Public_Process&Demand.pdf

and this:
Stacked-loop mountain bike trail network
A stacked single-track mountain biking trail network will be developed in the Lemans
Lake area, with a dedicated trailhead, parking facility and restrooms located off
Hayden Lake Road at the current paved-trail trailhead location. If feasible as determined
in the design-development planning prior to trail construction, the single-track
system should include a one-way single-track endurance loop and a skills-park subarea
located near the trailhead.
If the single-track system is found to be operating consistently at its carrying capacity
at a future date, it is recommended that additional trails be developed in the area of
the park reserve located north of Elm Creek Road and west of the existing paved north
loop, and that the two networks be connected by a non-paved double-track trail.
http://www.threeriversparkdistrict.org/parks/ElmCreekMasterPlan/Section-V_Development_Plan.pdf

The prospects are exciting.

ryno lite

10-18-2006, 05:31 PM

Thanks Elm Creek and Three Rivers for putting mtn biking in the master plan. I can't wait!

I can see why they like the idea. Building a mtn bike trail is only about 1.3% of the total cost of all the things they want to build or improve in the master plan. That sure is a small price to pay to accomodate a whole new user group and get more people into the park!

SprocketHead

10-28-2006, 11:46 PM

EscourtU

11-25-2006, 06:42 PM

I used to build townhomes and single family homes right down the road from there. I knew there was a park but didn't know it was Mtn bike acessible. Hope it all works out. It would make a good ride to be able to go from the Coon Rapids Dam to Elm Creek with a nice road ride between.

Stonehenge

05-14-2007, 08:39 PM

Hope it all works out. It would make a good ride to be able to go from the Coon Rapids Dam to Elm Creek with a nice road ride between.

Hmmmmm not all road ! There is plenty of off road between the Dam and Elm Creek, be it flat but it is there. Once the dam has trail and Elm Creek has trail then a long long ride could be done. Another thread addressed Epic ride - well here you go, with appx 8 miles between them one could do one trail then 8 miles to the other, do that trail a few laps then back and lap again. Epic as any around and then some.

Nicole

05-14-2007, 10:39 PM

I have recently gotten into mtb and on the MORC site. I was incredibly excited to run across this thread today because Elm Creek Park Reserve is my back yard!!!:jumpy: ...and I have wondered why there is no singletrack in the park yet!

I have not heard anything about this until now and have been thinking that as I got involved with MORC and riding and trail work and met more people in the mtb community and made connections I would start to figure out who I could approach with this idea/request. I should have known it was being taken care of! Thank you, Thank you! I will for sure be checking out this plan and taking the survey. :banana: ...and of course riding the trail all the time!!! Can I help build it?
Nicole

TML

05-15-2007, 07:50 AM

I have not heard anything about this until now and have been thinking that as I got involved with MORC and riding and trail work and met more people in the mtb community and made connections I would start to figure out who I could approach with this idea/request. I should have known it was being taken care of! Thank you, Thank you! I will for sure be checking out this plan and taking the survey. :banana: ...and of course riding the trail all the time!!! Can I help build it?
Nicole

Glad to see your excitement Nicole! Living so close will be great for you for riding the trail as well as helping bring it to fruition.

We're always looking for more people to be involved in the building and planning process. Once it gets rolling there will be plenty of ways for you to get involved and your help will be greatly appreciated!

Nicole

05-17-2007, 05:27 PM

Glad to see your excitement Nicole! Living so close will be great for you for riding the trail as well as helping bring it to fruition.

We're always looking for more people to be involved in the building and planning process. Once it gets rolling there will be plenty of ways for you to get involved and your help will be greatly appreciated!

Any idea how long before they start building-have the trail routes been decided yet even?

Shorty

05-17-2007, 07:54 PM

I believe there will be archaeological assessments done before the design process will start.
So... I'd guess it could start in 2008 or 2009.

I haven't heard any discussions of what role MORC will play in the project.
A project this big would be built by a contractor.

Maybe someone from Three Rivers will see this thread and have more solid info.

JayT

05-17-2007, 10:43 PM

Pete is on the mark with his info. There is not much else to report.

To answer Nicole's question; no routes have been laid out but a few potential locations have been identified. The most likely spot will be in the vicinity of Lemans Lake (west side).

Currently there are no legal trails in that area for off-road use. If you are exploring that area on foot or by bicycle be warned, you can be ticketed.

HardRocker

05-21-2007, 08:07 PM

OOPS... Did you say ticketed? Oh wait, I was not on the west side tho...:scream:

BAJ

10-30-2007, 11:13 PM

Just wondering if there was news with the Mtn Bike trail plans at Elm Creek.

This is a fantastic park, my favorite place to bike, rollerblade, and XC ski. In fact it's one of the big reasons I still live in Maple Grove. I only recently learned of the off road trails and rode them this past weekend - or think I did. The map managed to disappear from my pocket on the ride there. The sections of trail I did ride weren't terribly exciting, but I think there's a lot of potential. I'd be interested in helping with the project, time permitting.

FYI, I biked the paved trails tonight after work and the new ped bridge over Cty 81 is almost complete. It's still barricaded though as they haven't paved the section between the North end of the bridge and the old park entrance.

-Brad

Shorty

10-30-2007, 11:41 PM

Brad-
We are working with Three Rivers, and the project is still moving forward.

If trails are approved, I'd guess construction would start in 2009 at the earliest.

I Crash A Lot

11-07-2007, 05:36 PM

I would love to participate in the survey, but the links didn't bring me to it. I couldn't find it. Would someone help?

I have ridden the not so official trails in Elm Creek and they are great. There is a lot of potential there. It is the largest park in the Three Rivers Park district and even with their 80/20 philosophy there is room for a mountain bike trail system. Thank you for your work!

Shorty

11-07-2007, 08:05 PM

I would love to participate in the survey, but the links didn't bring me to it. I couldn't find it. Would someone help?

The original post requesting feedback is from almost a year ago... I'd guess the feedback period is over.

I Crash A Lot

11-08-2007, 02:44 PM

So I guess this is the 'Hurry up and wait" stage?

Lezgo Cycling

11-08-2007, 02:53 PM

I too like elm creek(its really close to home) and hoep to see morc get in there sometime soon

BAJ

11-09-2007, 08:00 AM

Is there an easy way to find these less official trails?

I Crash A Lot

11-09-2007, 10:35 AM

The easiest way is to have someone show you.

Seriously though, I have not been there in a while and I know there was a lot of construction in the area. The ones that I rode were west on Hayden Lake Road from 169. There is a parking lot on the north side at the end of the road (there is a gate blocking the road). The trail is hard to see, but it is directly across the road from the parking lot.

Like I said, The last time I was out there Hayden Lake Road was ripped out and there was a lot of construction going on.

Lezgo Cycling

11-09-2007, 11:06 AM

Is there an easy way to find these less official trails?
just email or pm me through the forums whenever you want to go. I can show you where I go

batjerk

11-09-2007, 11:27 AM

Well, I used to ride in there a lot when I was in Brooklyn Park...

If I commute on bicycle, I go through the park, but stick to the pavement. I noticed they were making snow the other morning. I haven't been off the pavement out there in years. It'd be nice to go out and see what's there again.

Too bad it's such a long ride: I pretty much gave up on the commuting thing. Four hours plus a full work day is just too long for it to be fun.

BAJ

11-11-2007, 07:44 PM

FYI,

I meant to post this the other day. They finished paving the trail from the ped bridge over Cnty 81 to the old S. park entrance. Consider it good-to-go for road bikes, rollerblading, kids, etc.

-Brad

cal bean

11-11-2007, 08:51 PM

I live in boundry creek & ride my road bike in elm creek quite a bit. but I can not seem to find the off road trails .I only live a 1/2 mile from the park. any time someone is going i would love to find the trails thanks cal.:D

Shorty

11-11-2007, 09:35 PM

Mountain biking is only permitted on designated mtb trails within Three Rivers Parklands.

I strongly recommend that you refrain from riding these 'unofficial' trails within Elm Creek.

By the sounds of it... if it happens... Elm Creek will be a great project. MORC is in the process of showing land managers that mountain bikers are a predominantly respectful and responsible user group. Please do what you can to help us in that respect.

MORC in no way condones riding trails that are illegal to ride, and we ask that mountain bikers only ride on designated trails. Doing otherwise often makes our job harder.

There are designated turf mtb trails in Elm Creek, but they closed on October 31st.

BAJ

11-14-2007, 06:23 PM

Calvin,

The Mtn Bike trails are shown on the PDF map (Summer map) of the park trails and is available at http://www.threeriversparkdistrict.org/parks/map.cfm. As for finding the trails on the map, it's not too difficult although there is certainly room for confusion where they interleave with the hiking trails. My personal opinion is that the trails on the map aren't much of a challenge, but I think there is potential. It's unfortunate that the trails are closed (didn't know that), but I suppose they do that because sections of these trails are also used for XC skiing, and Elm Creek has already started making snow!

I'd be happy to go next Spring some time if you want. Or if you are looking for someone to ride with on the paved trails, I'd be game for that as well. I went last night and got snowed on.

-Brad

cal bean

11-15-2007, 10:51 AM

ya let me know i go out there a lot in the summer. I am also going to hillside at 1:00 on sunday . also I have tryed to go on there mt bike trails & ill be going with the signs & out of the blue it will tell you no mt bikes but just 30 yrds ago it said mt bike trail .one way it says mt trail but & the other way it says not to mt bike. very confusing out there. & if you do get lost the rangers treat you like you just stole a car.:jumpy:

smklugherz

04-14-2008, 10:38 AM

Any news on this project?

Any feedback from TRPD on the trail at Murphy?

MORC and TRPD did such a great job at Murphy, I can't imagine, Elm Creek would be anything less than excelent.

ryno lite

04-14-2008, 11:08 AM

MORC and Three Rivers Parks are in the planning stages of putting a trail in Elm Creek. From what I hear, they have been very happy with the Murphy Hanerhan project so far. I think they really want to see a trail at Elm Creek some day. Due to some behind the scenes planning and work and due to grant application cycles, the earliest work would commence at Elm Creek would be 2010.

There are still a lot of things that must happen before this project becomes a reality, but it looks positive so far. However, I am not going to guarantee this will happen. It does looking promising though.

Shorty

04-14-2008, 11:09 AM

Any news on this project?

Thanks for the reminder to update everyone.

The assessment and planning phase will need to be extended for one more season. There are two major projects that need to be addressed before the project can move to the final funding/grant phase: archaeological assessment and parking.

The archaeological assessment (AE) will be complete this summer, at which point we'll be able to produce a final proposal for the trail alignment. It has also been decided that the current parking facilities will not be sufficient; the options for parking lot expansion are currently being explored.

Once the parking issue and any AE issues are addressed, we hope to move on to the next phase of the project.

The available area for trail is smaller than Murphy. At this point, Elm Creek is looking to be around 6 miles long. We'll be able to get a more definite number after the AE.

We expect to apply for the grant next spring, with construction beginning 2010 (instead of 2009 as previously expected). But as Ryan stated, nothing is set in stone.

Ryan Lieske has been voted in as the Elm Creek Trail Steward. Ryan and I will be working together on the Elm Creek project until the trail is built, then Ryan will take over as the main contact for the completed Elm Creek singletrack trail.

If you have any questions about the project, just let us know.