Tag Archive for 'Gilbert'

A busy summer, but still plenty of time to ride the Range!

Between having a new little guy in our house and trying to get some maintenance completed on our home, I haven’t had much time to sit down and blog about my riding in the area - because, in all honesty, I haven’t had much time to get out on the trails!

Anyway, I managed to get out and ride on Monday. We didn’t go too far and we rode on some of the more popular trails in the area. I can tell you this….bring a lot of bug spray and a chain saw with if you go exploring! I swear we did more logging than riding. The wind storms we’ve had pushed over a lot of trees and even blocked off some of the more remote trails. Even the few heavy rains we’ve had have managed to wash away a few of the small bridges. I also planned to take some photos of our ride, but, as my luck would have it, the digital camera I use when I go riding won’t even turn on anymore!

I’ve been thinking a lot about blogging about some the advantages and disadvantages of ATVs (like my ride from Arctic Cat) versus side-by-sides (like these from Polaris), but I haven’t had the time to sit down and blog about it, yet! So, if any of you out there can think of any on your own, I’d love to hear from you!

If you’ve never been riding in the area before, the Iron Range Tourism Bureau is a great source for maps and all ATV/OHV info. Plus, they’ve got great information about lodging, dining and nightlife in the area, too. Check ‘em out here.

For those of you less familiar with the trails, I’d encourage you to check out Minnesota’s first designated Off-highway Vehicle recreation area in Gilbert. The park offers a HUGE variety of terrain for both beginner and more advanced riders. Best of all? It’s free (though your ride must be registered in your state of residence)! It’s open from 8 a.m. to one hour prior to sunset each night all summer long! Check it out!

Let me know where you’re riding on the Iron Range and what you’d rather ride - an ATV or a side-by-side UTV. I wanna hear about it!

ATV Park Expansion Planning Continues

From the Minnesota DNR:
Planning resumes for OHV recreation area expansion at Virginia

The public is invited to share their thoughts about the design plans for the addition to the Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area (OHVRA) with citizen advisory committee members and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resourcse (DNR) at a committee meeting on Tuesday, July 22.

The meeting will be at held at 6 p.m. at the Mountain Iron Community Center, 8586 Enterprise Drive South, just south of Highway 169 between Mineral Avenue and Mud Lake Road.

The 11 members of the advisory committee will discuss recommendations for developing and using this new 2,500-acre site near Virginia. Project planners and site designers will also share their recommended design plan for the site. They will also summarize issues and options that they considered in selecting a final design plan.

Public review of the proposal will continue until Sept. 15.

“The Iron Range OHVRA has been operating on former minelands near Gilbert since 2005,” said Les Ollila, DNR regional trails and waterways manager in Grand Rapids. “The Legislature authorized the addition of the 2,500-acre site east of Virginia in 1999, but planning was slowed by continuing negotiations with land and mineral owners.”

When completed, the Gilbert and Virginia sites will be linked via an OHV trail under Highway 135. Both sites will feature recreational trails and riding areas specially designed for OHV use. Construction on the Virginia addition to the OHVRA is expected to begin in 2009, following revisions to the facility’s master plan and completion of a project environmental assessment.

To review draft site designs or to submit written comments, contact DNR planner Brian McCann by calling (651) 259-5627 or toll free 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367), or at brian.mccann@dnr.state.mn.us. The DNR Web site, brian.mccann@dnr.state.mn.us. The DNR Web site, www.mndnr.gov or www.findthetrails.com and have more information about this proposal.