Bronk's Unit near Winona

[Dhallaway]

Has anyone ridden the Bronk's Unit recently? We have a new bike and rider who likes hilly ski trail type riding. We tried Snake Creek Saturday, but it got a bit wet and muddy! The downhills at Snake Creek are a bit much (washed out ATV trails). She loves Red Wing's ski trails, but it would be fun to find a couple of areas to explore too.

[FarmerBEN]

from what I have heard she would probably like bronks trails, although check in advance last I heard they were closed due to a washed out access road after the flooding. the lower ski trail loop at holzinger might be something she would like too.

[shawn34]

You can access the Bronk unit from "the other side of the hill" the highway 61 side. The access is right next to Hidden valley trailer court. Take a right off of Highway 61 directly across from park with beach in Goodview ( I can't remember park's name). Drive up hill, as I mentioned access is right next to trailer court. It is an old township road that is mainly used by atv's and mountain bikers. On the top of the hill you will find a gently rollling ski trail that skirts the top of the hill and offers some nice views of the valley below. You can still ride down the cherry hill side, the speed bumps are fun to jump. As Ben mentioned the bridge across Garvin Brook is out so you won't be able to access the trail by car from this side.

Also, try the north trail at Snake Creek. This is non-motorized trail, it is a mainly grassy ski trail with some much more mellow hills than the ATV trails. I was just there this morning running. There are a couple of muddy spots, however, if we get a couple of dry days trail should be great.

A word of caution. Both trails are on state land and are open to hunting. I encountered 3 hunters with cross bows and .22s. Blaze orange might not be a bad idea this time of year.

[FarmerBEN]

not exactlyt ski trail, but I was looking at a map of the whitewater WMA and there might be some interesting forest roads to ride on there,

[berrywise]

A word of caution. Both trails are on state land and are open to hunting. I encountered 3 hunters with cross bows and .22s. Blaze orange might not be a bad idea this time of year.

Can't emphasize that enough. To be quite honest I don't even know if I would suggest to ride up there this time of season. From my past experience I have found that area to be chalk full of inexperienced hunters and hunters up there more to just shoot their guns that anything else. I had one close call in particular that scared me from riding there during the gun season. Just a heads up.

[Dhallaway]

Thanks guys,
The gun hunting may be a real problem, I forgot about it. On Saturday we ran across a few people with bows coming down the hills at Snake Creek, but if someone shoots off a gun, she'll be out of there so fast...

The roads around Whitewater sound like a good idea too, but maybe not during gun season either.

It may be best if we wait until next year to try Bronk's and Snake Creek again. We test rode her new bike at Red Wing a couple of Sundays ago after 3 pm and the signs regarding bow hunting had her worried enough to cut the ride pretty short.

She did ride Salem Hills and Lebonan Hills Friday and had fun, but she really likes Red Wing best so far. She loves hills... going up them, going down, not so much yet.

We may need to try Winona, it's too bad they don't allow mountain biking on the St Mary's ski trails, she'd love those!

[shawn34]

Years ago early in the 1980's when a small number of us in Winona discovered this cool new sport called mountain biking, Saint Mary's did allow mountain biking. As the numbers grew Father Jerome said no more.:nono:

There also used to be some great ski trails at Perrot sate Park near Trempeleau, WI to ride. However, I was there this past summer to ride and the trails are now permanently closed to mountain biking.

A really easy, short (3 MILES ROUND TRIP), pretty little ride is back to the Marnach House off of Highway 74 between Weaver and Elba. Again state land=hunters this time of year.