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Trail Weekends 2007
JUNE 1-3: IOWA’S CEDAR VALLEY NATURE TRAIL RIDE Enjoy the Iowa’s Cedar Valley Nature trail, a 51-mile paved/crushed limestone trail on a former railroad line between Evansdale and Hiawatha (basically, between Waterloo and Cedar Rapids), long known as one of Iowa’s prettiest and best-loved trails. The well-groomed trail offers a variety of scenery, from majestic overhanging trees, to limestone outcroppings to cornfields to the fast-flowing Cedar River alongside the trial. (The Web site at www.cedarvalleytrail.com can provide a wealth of information.)
The trail has connections to well-developed city trail systems in both Cedar Rapids and Waterloo/ Cedar Falls; both cities offer plenty of entertainment opportunities for après-biking activities, including touring the Amana Colonies near Cedar Rapids.
Waterloo/Cedar Falls is approximately 215 miles south of the Twin Cities. (Follow I35 south for about 135 miles to US18, and travel east on US18 for about 35 miles to US 218. Follow US 218 about 45 miles to Waterloo. Continue south on US218 and follow the signs to I380 south to Cedar Rapids.) Trailheads are a little tricky to find; we recommend downloading the trailhead maps at the URLs below from the Web site. Leaders: Don Picard,; Herb Schultz, Come for 1, 2 or all three days.
JUNE 8-10: CENTRAL LAKES TRAIL Weekend. C rides, 35-45 miles per day, extra miles options available. Come and join in on this fun planned trip for one, two, or all three days. The Central Lakes Trail offers over 55 miles of 14-foot-wide bituminous paved surface with a scenic blend of lakes, prairie potholes, open farmland, and wooded lotsm winding through small towns at 7-10 mile intervals. Our journey will take us through the communities of Osakis, Nelson, Alexandria, Brandon, Evansville, Melby, Ashby, Dalton, and beyond to Fergus Falls. We may also explore a new (optional) spur from Osakis to Sauk Centre. Most after-ride activities will be centered around Alexandria, and you will arrange your own lodging. Book early by contacting Alexandria Chamber at 1-800-235-9441 for area info. Ride leaders: Clareyse Nelson, 612-623-3009; Deb Matchinsky, 612- 374-2158; Herb Schultz, , or herbschl @juno.com
JULY 6-8: PAUL BUNYAN AND HEARTLAND TRAIL WEEKEND. C+ rides, 35-45 miles per day. Come for a 3-day trek on two great MN bike trails and enjoy after-ride activities. Trails are railroad grades with 10-foot-wide paved surface and generally level. Routes pass through woods and bump up against an occasional lake. Friday, 34 miles from Pine River to Hackensack and return. Saturday’s 43-mile trek is from Walker to Cass Lake and back. Sunday, we wind up with a 42-mile trip from Walker to Dorset and return. You will arrange your own lodging. Afterride activities include dining at Brauhaus German restaurant and the Woodtick Musical Comedy Review in Akeley. Early bookings are suggested. Contact leaders for info. Leaders: Don Picard; Paul Huntington, 651-486-2731; Herb Schultz
JULY 20-22: MESABI TRAIL WEEKEND. C+ rides.Experience a ride on “da Range” for one, two, or three days and enjoy optional after-ride activities. ($3 daily wheel pass required.) We will bike paved trails joining the towns of Hibbing, Bovey, and Virginia. Hibbing will be our hub for lodging. Daily mileage ranges from 17-40 miles with extra mileage options available. A listing of lodging/ camping/dining is available by contacting Ride Ambassadors, Duane and Diana Kasper. Yes, there are hills, this is “da Range.” Leaders: Clareyse Nelson; Herb Schultz. .
SEPT. 14-16: ROOT RIVER VALLEY TRAIL WEEKEND. C rides, 25-40 miles per day, with extra miles option. Join us on this beautiful weekend trip to SE Minn Bluff Country. Friday we trek from Preston to Harmony, getting in some hills early on. Saturday’s ride goes from Lanesboro to Rushford (option extra from Rushford to Houston). We’ll wind up with a Sunday ride from Lanesboro to Fountain (optional Isinours extension). We hope you can take in all 3 days but come whenever you can. After-ride activities are a special feature of this trip. We will have group dining venues and one night for the Commonweal Theater and one night for another group activity (suggestions welcome). Contact Clareyse at 612-623-3009 to reserve group theater tickets. This is a very popular biking area in the fall, so please book your own lodgings early. Call 1-800-428-2030 for free visitor guide, including lodging options. Leader s: Clareyse Nelson, 612-623- 3009; Paul Huntington, 651-486-2731; Herb Schultz, ,
SEPT 21-23: WOW – WEEKEND ON WOBEGON. C+ rides, 30-40 miles per day. The Wobegon Trail passes through towns that could have been the model for the famed Lake Wobegon. The 10-foot-wide paved trail is railroad grade, mostly flat, with both open and wooded stretches. Each day will feature activities en route and/or after ride. Options to explore the newly opened stretches from Sauk Centre to Osakis and Holdingford spur extension. Come for one, two, or all three days. You will arrange your own lodging in or around Albany. Book early – the Country Inn and Suites is an option, 320-845-2145. Leaders: Don Picard ; Paul Huntington; Herb Schultz, ,