Holzinger lodge

[bikeoutback]

Gonna give it a try this weekend I believe, anyone have a map or know where to find one? I've read that it's confusing as the trail is unmarked and has differnt splits going different ways. Anyone with experience care to share which would be the best way to go on this trail?

[crux]

Been quite a while since I've ridden there, but here is what I recall.

Park at the lodge then ride up the trail and back around (you will pass the lodge on a slightly higher trail. Ride till you see a large concrete manhole cover sticking out of the ground and take that trail up top. It is fairly easy to navigate, just don't go blind into any corners up top. some take you over the edge and are for look outs. there are many off shoots just stick to the upper loop then head down after a few and back up. If you into downhill stuff there are some off shoots that will test your skills, and some dead end with a punishing push back up to the top.

[bikeoutback]

I read on some reviews that their are two climbs, one really hard straight up one and one that starts at this cement manhold cover, I'll watch for that then I guess.

[Going_Loud]

What time were you thinking of riding? I could show you the trail, so you don't get lost or take the wrong path. It is pretty easy to get lost on the flats.

[Thewavebb]

I have ridden there probably 100+ times while in college.

From my memory.....

when you park at the lodge at holzinger you will start biking up a tree covered open area. There will be a couple old table and fire rings. The first trail you will see is called Lower Loop, you want to be on the upper part of lower loop. This trails is a mix of short steep climbs with rocks and sand. watch out for people walking dogs and drunk college students. you will ride the upper part of lower loop for about 1 mile and the trail will take a complete U-Turn. If you look to your right on the U-turn you will see a small spur trail named "horse trail". DOn't take this unless you like pushing your bike. Instead stay on the main trail and follow the U-turn untill you see a more noticable trail on your right (about 100 feet after the U-turn). Take this. Don't take tooo much speed as about 200 feet down this trail the trail takes a sharp right and you have to cross a little stone covered creekbed. Follow the trail and as you go it will give you options to take an upper or lower trail, it doesn't matter which you take, i like the lower one myself. This will lead you to what is commonly known as "wildwood Trail" which has the well known Concrete Cistern athe entrance. The entrance to wildwood is on your right and cuts back up the side of the bluff. This is a amazing trail and my favorite part of the ride. It is more or less a mile long climb up the side, but it is rather gradual so you don't feel like your going to die. It is rather narrow and you are on the side of the bluff, so becarefull not to fall down the hill. around 3/8 up the wildwood trail you will come to a section call Horseshoe. its a pretty tricky creek bed crossing and if your not comfortable with it, you may want to walk it so you don't hurt your self. Eventually you will work your way to the top and you will come to a place that is a natural place to take a water break. Have some water and take a breather. Once you are ready keep going up the trial. You again have a could different options to get to the top. By default remember that left is easier, right is harder. I love the trails on the right and highly recommend them if you like technical stuff. once you get to top you will right up the trail a little bit and then on your right you will see an entrance to waht is known as Upper loop. There is a good chance you will go the wrong way as this is a wacky unmarked area. If you go the wrong way you may run into a bike going at you, but the trails are easy to ride both ways. you will be treated to a lot of fantasic views and natural terrain. There are a ton of ways to come down the bluff as well, but I like to bomb down the way I came up or take Rockquarry trail which is a trail that run parrelel to wildwood trail only about 100 feet up the side. It can only be accessed from the top and is meant to be ridden down. if you want to do this trail when your coming back, look for a trail entrance about 40 feet up the trail from the entrance to the wildwood trail on top. Follow and enjoy. it will connnect at the bottom near the Cistern.

One of these days we need to do a right up on this trail. Its simply fantastic.

[bikeoutback]

What time were you thinking of riding? I could show you the trail, so you don't get lost or take the wrong path. It is pretty easy to get lost on the flats.

Hard to tell, heading down there for a fraternity alumni event and to watch the NFL draft so depends on schedule and hang over as to when I sneak over there. Thanks for the offer thought but at least it's a nice spot to get lost in ;)

[bikeoutback]

Thanks Ben for the write up, I'll print that off and take it with me and have the general idea now, was debating taking the bike or not as I have other things going on in Winona, definatly taking the bike especially with the 77 degrees and sunny predicted for sunday, now to pace myself this weekend to minmize the hang over.

[Going_Loud]

I would suggest to take the Rockquarry trail down after you do wildwood up and they the flats a couple of times. Watch out for a log bridge after the rollers in the beginning of the trail. The bridge is not that strong.

[Thewavebb]

This summer I want to get a crew down there for some riding. For sure a night ride. Holzinger in the dark is sooooo much fun. Gotta watch out for drunks and deer though.

[qheuie]

drunk college students

haha.. i have never seen a drunk college student on the rollers.
Ben, were YOU the drunk college student that roamed the trails? :)

[Heuy]

haha.. i have never seen a drunk college student on the rollers.
Ben, were YOU the drunk college student that roamed the trails? :)


This reminds me of the unfortunate year when I was on the "Hippy Alcove" in Lourdes(dorm). I was running the upper loop once and came across my next door neighbor and his friends...

They were doing other things in the bluffs, I came around the corner, I think they were a little startled:shocked:

But, its pretty rare to meet wacked out people in the bluffs.

Whoever did the drinking in the bluffs I wish they were better about taking their trash out with them.:mad:

Make sure not to ride your bike really close to the fire pits at the camping sites, lots of broken bottles.

[Going_Loud]

That fire pit part in an awesome section. I was riding on april 20th and came up on a bunch of people taking part in the 420 celebrations. I haven't seen any drunks hiking around. I could not imagine hiking holzinger drunk. You are asking for a spained ankle.

[Thewavebb]

My friend Preston and I used to a fair amount of night riding and 1 in 3 night rides I would scare the crap out of drunks/potheads. It was always fun to see them scurry into the woods like roaches at the sight of light. One time I was blasting near the end on lower rollers and came across at least 3 drunks just laying in the trail. I rolled over one guy and the others rolled into the woods. Preston was about 50 feet behind me and just missed them as well. The guy was definantly on something and just acted like everything was cool. I'm sure he felt that for some time.

[Going_Loud]

My friend Preston and I used to a fair amount of night riding and 1 in 3 night rides I would scare the crap out of drunks/potheads. It was always fun to see them scurry into the woods like roaches at the sight of light. One time I was blasting near the end on lower rollers and came across at least 3 drunks just laying in the trail. I rolled over one guy and the others rolled into the woods. Preston was about 50 feet behind me and just missed them as well. The guy was definantly on something and just acted like everything was cool. I'm sure he felt that for some time.

That is some hard core stuff. Doing night rides on holzinger. Must be a great view from the flats.