OutdoorMN News - Expansion projects on tap for Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area

[Rick]

Improvements coming soon to the popular 25-mile mountain bike trail system at Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area will add trail miles and skill-building features and improve traffic flow. 

mountain biking, Pennington Overlook

Three projects will take place within the trail system’s Mahnomen Unit, located along the shore of Huntington Mine Lake and adjacent to the Miner’s Mountain Rally Center.

Construction is anticipated to begin in August 2017.

Project One will:

• Add 3.4 miles of new trail.
• Eliminate two-way traffic on Easy Street Trail and allow for one-way travel all the way around Huntington Mine Lake.
• Add “jumpable” features every thousand feet.
• Create a new trail connection to the city of Crosby.

Project Two will:

• Eliminate 18 intersections to improve safety and traffic flow.
• Optimize climbing and ascending experiences.
• Increase carrying capacity and safety.

Project Three will:

• Add 1.4 miles of new trail.
• Create skill-building features for beginner, intermediate and advanced riders.

These projects are made possible by the Parks and Trails Fund and a $33,505 fundraising effort spearheaded by the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Crew. The Parks and Trails Fund, created after voters approved the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in November 2008, receives 14.25 percent of the three-eighths percent sales tax revenue that may only be spent to support parks and trails of regional or statewide significance.

“It’s been exciting to watch the growth in popularity of this great trail system over the past few years and see how the community and the volunteer Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Crew have supported continued development,” said Kacie Carlson, interim manager of the state recreation area. “This couldn’t happen without support from so many dedicated volunteers.”

Annual visits to Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area have increased from 118,484 in 2010, before the mountain bike trails opened, to 185,613 in 2016.

When the expansion project begins in August, visitors will be asked to avoid the sections of trail under construction and obey any closed or reroute signage. The project is expected to be completed prior to the winter riding season.

Construction updates will be posted in the trail notes section of the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area webpage. For more information, email the DNR Information Center at [email protected] or call 888-646-6367 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday.

Discuss below - to view set the hook here.