How to Explore Minnesota Bike Trails

While Minnesota may be the Land of 10,000 Lakes it is also the land of hundreds of miles of mountain biking trails. This midwestern state is known for water and boreal forests; many of the trails go deep into the woods and around the famous lakes. There are mountain cycling clubs that offer group rides and social cycling events that are designed to explore the mountain cycling trails. Get to know the trails of the Gopher State by riding with locals who know the scene.

Things You'll Need

  • Helmet
  • Mountain bike
  • Spare inner tubes and pump or CO2 inflator
  • Hydration pack
  • Spare food
  • Bug spray
  • Sunglasses
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Instructions

    • 1

      Pack the hydration pack with a minimum of one spare inner tube, patch kit, space bag, pump or CO2 inflator, energy bars, rain-jacket, bicycle multi-tool, sunglasses and bug spray. Black flies and mosquitoes are common trail pests in Minnesota. Fill the hydration bladder.

    • 2

      Visit the website for the Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists (morcmtb). The club explores trails throughout the state and offers group rides for members and visitors. Sign up for a trail group ride. Click the "Calendar" link on the menu homepag

      e to find the group rides.

    • 3

      Purchase a copy of any number of the available mountain bike trail guides for the state. Use these guide books to find trails for your region of Minnesota. Guide books are available in bicycle shops in the state or large bookstores. Examples include the "Falcon Guides Mountain Biking Minnesota".

    • 4

      Become "bear and moose aware". Remote trails such as those in the northern portions of the state are home to black bears and moose. Understand how to respond to encounters with these animals should they occur on the trails.

      Get off your bicycle and slowly move backward if a black bear is in the trail. If the bear advances toward you, lift the bicycle over your head to appear bigger to frighten the bear away. For moose, get behind the nearest available tree or rock and let the moose pass. Moose are dangerous and unpredictable. Use caution.

    • 5

      Befriend the employees at the local bicycle shops in your area of Minnesota. Bicycle shops often offer group rides that get out onto the trails of the region. Check the schedules the bike shops, or use the bicycle shops social media pages for updates on group rides on Minnesota trails. Benefits include making new cycling friends.