The trail’s proximity to the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area — home to 50 miles of single-track mountain bike trails managed by the DNR and closed to motorized use — adds a layer of potential controversy.
Iron mine pits reclaimed by nature to create pristine lakes for kayaking and canoeing, now stocked full of trout and brimming with possibilities. Bike rails worthy of global acclaim now wind through this beautiful land we are so proud to call our backyard.
A look through the Brainerd Dispatch archives with Terry McCollough combing the microfilm for tidbits of history through the decades going back to 1921.
The manager of emergency and ambulance services at CRMC doesn’t want to rely so heavily on luck and good Samaritans to provide medical care to cyclists using the trail system, should they need it. He said from the time his crew received the call for service until they loaded the injured cyclist to be airlifted, three hours passed.
On the northern edge of the recreation area, the North Mahnomen Unit expansion features four new trails ranging in skill level from more difficult to experts only. “This expansion officially doubles our total trail mileage from the existing 25 miles of 2011 to 50 plus miles now a perfect 10 years later, unlocking our master vision providing expert riders trails to challenge and reward their efforts,” said Aaron Hautala, president emeritus of the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Crew.
