QUALITY
OF RIDING | 8.9 | SCENERY | 8.8 | FOOD | 9.5 | LODGING | 8.8 | CULTURE | 8.2 | OVERALL RATING | 8.8 |
Trails vary from easy to quite technical; plenty of elevation change and narrow, snaking trails; good hillclimbs over mining tailing piles and small mud pit | Popular forest, red dirt, gorgeous in fall | Caribbean food at Whistling Bird is outstanding | Anything you want, from Super 8 to luxury condos at nearby Giants Ridge | Northern Minnesota…ya, sure, you betcha! | A nice park with well-marked trails and good scenery; a great place if you like to fish! |
Believe it or not, northern Minnesota offers more than walleye fishing, iron mines, flannel-wearing liberal politicians and the infamous mush-mouthed accent made famous by the Coen brothers' film, Fargo. The land of walleye fishing also has, at least since 2002, a riding area built on a 1200-acre plot that features 500-foot piles of mining tailings and 25 miles of purpose-built OHV trails.
The Gilbert, Minnesota, Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area (OHVRA) trail system is located in the middle of the Iron Range, in the heart of northern Minnesota and about three hours from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. The site is well suited for off-roading, with small bluffs, great hillclimbs, a couple of nice overlooks, mud bog areas and a variety of technical trails built specifically for trucks and ATVs. The more technical trails are one-way, and all of the trails are marked by difficulty with the standard green circle for easy, blue square for intermediate and black diamond for experts only. The markings are fairly accurate-the black diamond trails will challenge experienced riders.
The park does conduct sound tests, but they are easy enough to pass. Any quad with a stock exhaust in reasonable condition should have no problems. If you have an aftermarket pipe or silencer, you might want to bring the stock setup just in case.
One thing that isn't required in the park is wearing a helmet, and this is a huge oversight. Wear a brain bucket-this park offers some serious terrain, and tackling these challenges without proper protection is a good way to turn a harmless get-off into life in a wheelchair or a quick trip to a pine box. So enjoy this park. Minnesota off-roaders have fought hard for it, and the end result is a great place to pursue your favorite sport.
InformationPlace visited: Iron Range OHV Recreation Area, 218/748-2207
Riding season: May 1 to October 31
Maps recommended: Trail map, available at park
Area information: www.exploreminnesota.com, www.irrrb.org/tourism
Permits/licenses required: Minnesota OHV sticker (available at park); it's $38.50 and lasts three years.
Critters: Deer, squirrels, ducks, geese
While you are there: Bike the Iron Trail, Hockey Hall of Fame Museum in nearby Eveleth, fish Lake Vermillion (www.lakevermilion.com), golf at Giants Ridge (www.giantsridge.com)
Road-trip CD: Bob Dylan's "Highway 61" or "Blood on the Tracks"
Best local beer: James Page Iron Range Amber Ale
Digs: Lots of choices, see www.irontrail.org/lodging
Local ATV club: Arrowhead ATV Club, barbergc@peoplepc.com,www.angelfire.com/mn3/arrowheadatvclub/index.html
Good eats: The Whistling Bird Caf and Bar, 218/741-7544; www.whistlingbirdcafeandbar.com
Useful links: www.dnr.state.mn.us/ohv/iron_range/index.html