Explore Northern Minnesota

By Jesse White

WHILE MORE THAN 22,000 MILES OF GROOMED SNOWMOBILE TRAILS ARE LOCATED IN MINNESOTA, ANYONE WHO HAS SPENT ANY TIME ON A POLARIS, SKI DOO OR ARCTIC CAT IN THE BACKWOODS OF THE ARROWHEAD REGION KNOWS SOME OF THE ABSOLUTE BEST CAN BE FOUND IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

The area is so popular when the snow falls that major snowmobile publications on the Internet and in print oftentimes list it as one of the top 10 destinations in the entire United States alongside gems like the Upper Peninsula in Michigan and West Yellowstone in Montana.

Each year, thousands of visitors plan their weekend winter getaways around the two major state trails in the area - the Taconite and the Arrowhead - but once they get here, they quickly learn that that’s just the beginning of the endless adventures that can be found thanks to hundreds of miles of local trails groomed and maintained by some of the most dedicated volunteers around.

Together, the system makes up the Iron Trail, which runs through the central region of Mesabi Iron Range and north to International Falls.

Cities along the state trails and the spurs that connect it all include Aurora, Babbitt, Biwabik, Buhl, Buyck, Canyon, Chisholm, Cook, Crane Lake, Ely, Embarrass, Eveleth, Hibbing, Hoyt Lakes, Lake Vermilion, Mountain Iron, Nashwauk, Orr, Side Lake, Tower and Virginia.

The 165-mile Taconite Trail and the 135-mile Arrowhead Trail, both maintained by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, are the backbone of the system.

The Taconite Trail runs from Grand Rapids to Ely, and according to DNR literature it, “winds through forests of birch and aspen intertwined with pine, leading the visitor by many isolated lakes and streams.”

From Grand Rapids heading north, you see the impact of the taconite and iron mining industry. The northern portion of the trail terrain is rolling and tree covered as it winds through state and national forest land. At the trail intersection east of the David Dill/Arrowhead State Trail, this segment is called the David Dill/Taconite State Trail. Eight trail waysides and picnic facilities offer scenic vistas of the hills, lakes and rivers of this area. The trail links to state parks: Bear Head Lake, Soudan Underground Mine, and McCarthy Beach. The landscape in and around Bear Head Lake State Park is very rolling and rocky.”

There are various spots to pick up the trail with parking and access available in Ely, Tower, Highway 169 south of Tower five miles past Buyers Y Store, at Highway 1 about four miles north of Highway 169 and on Highway 53 just north of the trail crossing.

The Arrowhead State trail travels through remote areas and provides access to snowmobiling in Voyageurs National Park. According to the DNR, the David Dill/ Arrowhead Trail extends from the intersection with the Taconite State Trail near Tower to three miles south of International Falls.

The southern part of the trail features rolling hills with numerous lakes and streams. Many of the hills have large areas of exposed rock and enormous boulders. This part is heavily timbered with a mix of hardwoods and conifers. This mix of trees is spectacularly colorful in autumn. The northern part of the trail is relatively flat between International Falls and the Ash River. The higher ground is mainly forested with aspen; lower ground has a mix of spruce and ash.

If the state trails are the backbone of the Iron Trail system, then the local Grant-In-Aid trails are the heart and soul.

Groomed and maintained by local snowmobile enthusiasts, trails like the Laurentian, the Bearskin, the Iron Ore, The Moose, the Wolf Track, and more – and the spurs that connect them – are sometimes the favored routes for those who know where to go to find some of the best scenery, the widest sections of straightaways and the most remote experience.

Incredibly, of the 22,000 miles of groomed trails in the state, 21,000 of those are maintained by local clubs led by people extremely dedicated to the sport.

“Northern Minnesota is one of the premier destinations in Minnesota and the country to enjoy the great sport of snowmobiling. From the pristine forests and lakes to the iron ore mining areas, you will ride through and witness some of the most spectacular scenery on the finest trails anywhere,” said Dan Marich, President/ Trail Administrator of the PathBlazers Snowmobile Club. “You will find all the amenities that you will need along the vast trail network in Northern Minnesota - from gas, food and lodging to service for your machine if needed, all with a gracious dose of Minnesota Nice to welcome and help you.” Marich’s club maintains and grooms 67 miles of trails, from the Alborn Grade in the south to the Taconite Trail to the North, traveling through Hibbing, Chisholm and the Side Lake area with spur trails to Keewatin, connecting to the Lawron Trails and a spur trail to Buhl, connecting to the Kinney Trail. Some of the highlights along those trails are excellent examples of the type of experience one can have snowmobiling anywhere in northern Minnesota.

Hibbing, for example, is the childhood home of Bob Dylan, the hometown of NBA Hall of Fame and Boston Celtic Star, Kevin McHale, the birthplace of Greyhound Bus Lines with its museum, the “Castle in the North,” the historic Hibbing High School and many other points of interest.

In Chisholm, the snowmobile trail runs right by the statue of the “Ironman,” which is located next to the Minnesota Discovery Center, which honors the rich history of iron mining of the Range and its importance to our country and world, Marich said.

The Side Lake area, Marich added, features the Sturgeon chain of five lakes and McCarthy Beach State Park with unsurpassed beauty.

“The Side Lake area is also your point to connect to the mighty Taconite State Trail,” Marich said. “From the Side Lake area, you can travel west on the Tac to Grand Rapids or head eastward on the Tac all the way up to Ely, passing through other communities along the way via spur trails, that offer gas, food and lodging. (All) while enjoying the best trails anywhere with breathtaking beauty at every turn.”

The Minnesota DNR offers the following safety tips for those who are enjoying the many miles of trail available in the state each year:

• Don’t drink alcohol and ride. Alcohol is a factor in more than 60% of all fatal accidents in Minnesota, as well as many non-deadly snowmobile accidents. Alcohol and drugs have a negative effect on the driver’s vision, balance, coordination and reaction time.

Don’t ride with people who drink and ride! Minnesota is part of a larger coalition of snowmobiling states that support ’Zero

Alcohol’ consumption before or during your ride.

• Never ride alone. Always ride with a friend on another snowmobile. This way if one machine is disabled, you have another to get help.

• Dress for safety and survival. Always wear a quality

DOT helmet and facemask. Wear layers of clothing to keep warm and dry. Snowmobile suits, bibs, jackets, gloves and mittens should cut the wind, repel water and keep you ventilated.

• Slow down. Excessive speed is a major factor in many accidents, especially at night. To help avoid accidents, keep your night-time speed under 40 m.p.h. • Stay to the right. Almost every trail is a “two way” trail.

So stay to the far right of the trail, especially on hills and corners. Obey all trail signs and cross roadways with extreme caution.

• Stay on the trail or stay home. Trespassing is a major complaint about snowmobilers and can result in trail closure. Always stay on designated snowmobile trails.

Venturing off of trails can result in accidents. Only ride private property when you have landowner’s permission.

• It is safest to avoid riding on lakes and rivers. If you must ride on ice, wear a life jacket over your outer clothing. Stay on the marked trail and stay off of ice that has moving water (current) near or under it - ice in these areas may be thin and weak

• Minnesota requires that snowmobiles be registered to use the snowmobile trail system.Seehttp://www.dnr.state. mn.us/licenses/snowmobile/index.html. If the registration is from outside Minnesota, an out-of-state trail permit is also required. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/ snowmobile/trailpermit.html

• In addition to the snowmobile registration, if you are a

Minnesota resident and your birthday is after December 31, 1976, Minnesota law requires that you have a snowmobile safety certificate to operate a snowmobile in Minnesota. Minnesota offers two courses to promote snowmobile safety and to train snowmobile operators.

Both courses will lead to a Snowmobile Safety Certificate upon successful completion of the course.

Jesse White is a lifelong resident of Northern Minnesota and has covered the outdoors for the Mesabi Tribune (formerly the Mesabi Daily News) for more than two decades.

Photography by Mark Sauer Photography & Fine Art