St expands fat bike riding

[Lee Borgersen]

DNR NEWS - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                      State expands 'fat bike' riding opportunities

Minnesota state parks and trails has expanded the number of trails open for winter fat bike riding, including opportunities at five state parks and four state trails. These new riding opportunities are in addition to 20 miles of existing trails at Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area, a world-class mountain bike ride center, as rated by the International Mountain Bicycling Association. The winter fat bike riding opportunities in Minnesota state parks and trails now total 78 miles.

"Getting out on a fat bike is a fun and healthy way to enjoy the outdoors in winter," said Andrew Korsberg, trail program coordinator for Minnesota state parks and trails. "We're excited to offer some more places to ride for this new and expanding winter sport."

Fat bikes are bicycles with large, low-pressure tires designed for travel over snow or sandy soil. The bike tires are often larger than 3.5 inches with tire pressure less than 10 PSI.

Outdoors enthusiasts can now ride fat bikes at the following locations:

Northern Minnesota
•Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area (Ironton): 20 miles of groomed trails for fat biking.
•Jay Cooke State Park (Carlton): 5.4 miles of trails to be groomed for fat biking.
•Split Rock Lighthouse State Park (Two Harbors): 8.7 miles of trails to be groomed for fat biking and skate-skiing.


Metro Area
•Fort Snelling State Park (St. Paul): 6 miles of multi-use trails packed for nonmotorized recreation, including fat biking.
•Luce Line State Trail (Wayzata): 7 miles of multi-use trails groomed for nonmotorized recreation, including fat biking.
•Gateway State Trail ((St. Paul): The trail from Cayuga Street to Jamaca Avenue (11.9 miles) is plowed and open to all winter biking, but east from Jamaca Avenue is groomed for cross-country skiing only.

Southern Minnesota
•Douglas State Trail (Rochester-Pine Island): 13 miles of multi-use trails groomed for nonmotorized recreation, including fat biking.
•Blazing Star State Trail/Myre-Big Island State Park (Albert Lea): 6 miles of multi-use trails groomed for nonmotorized recreation, including fat biking.

The DNR advises anyone riding a fat bike to avoid snowmobile and cross-country ski trails, because almost all of these trails are not open to other uses during the winter. Skier and snowmobiler user fees pay for grooming and maintenance of these trails.

For more information on fat biking and where to ride in Minnesota, visit www.mndnr.gov/fatbike or contact the DNR Information Center at info.dnr@state.mn.us or 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.


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