This October, Katrina Hase and her husband Tony set out to explore the Split Rock Wilds trail system on Minnesota's beautiful North Shore. The ride offered a mix of flowing sections and technical terrain, making for an adventurous and scenic experience. Here Katrina shares a video of her adventure as well as a ride recap. Enjoy!
In mid-October of 2024, my husband Tony and I decided to embrace the beautiful fall weather and drive 3 hours up the North Shore from the Twin Cities to check out the Split Rock Wilds trail system.
We parked at a public trailhead in Beaver Bay, Minnesota and rode a few short miles south on the Gitchi-Gami state trail, before perilously crossing Highway 61* to the trailhead off a road designated as the Superior Hiking Trail Cove Point Spur. (Incidentally, this road and the property around it is privately owned and vehemently rejects the use of their lots for trailhead parking.)
Climbing Inland to Flowing Trails & Rock Gardens
Starting from the elevation of Lake Superior, we immediately started climbing as we headed inland on a trail called Neovision. Luckily, the well-designed trail included switchbacks to alleviate the steepness of the climb, and within 10 minutes we were on more rolling and flowing terrain.
The first trails heading southwest, parallel to Lake Superior, were flowy and non- technical. Optional rock features and drops added some spice to trail and encouraged sessioning. Eventually, this green trail, called Highway 61, merged into a blue trail—Mail Route—which began to introduce natural rocks and mostly level rock gardens that were intricately puzzle-pieced together.
Eventually we came to a man-made rock garden that was lengthy and more challenging than the previous ones, butted against a dramatic rock face. This was our first taste of the spicier features we’d encounter later, on the black trails.
Overall, this first half of the trail system had a good mix of climbing and descending, with neither standing out as particularly dominant.
Tackling Rugged Terrain on the Back Half
As we approached the southwest corner of the course, we again encountered green trails that flowed through a golden-hued autumn forest, showing off the area’s spectacular terrain. It’s here that we saw our first rider of the day. At his request, I pulled out my Trailforks app to help him navigate, as he said he’d been going in circles for a while. Without Trailforks, it could be confusing to use the maps that are typically provided at intersections. These maps are difficult to read: overly detailed and too generally marked for your current location with a rectangle.
Tony and I turned north, now on the back section of trails that would eventually return to the northeast trailhead where we started. The trails morphed from green (Rufus) to blue (Sellers) and finally to black (Fade to Blue). The black section is where the reputation of Split Rock Wilds as a technical rider’s playground reached fruition.
While I consider myself to be comfortable with riding rough, rocky terrain, I must admit that this was a section where it was common for me to ride several hundred feet then put a foot down as I faltered. Nothing stood out to me as impossible to ride; rather, the challenge was to consistently scout lines quickly and execute them smoothly. Plus, with the more rugged terrain came increasing power demands, increasing my heart rate and burning my legs. I’ll admit to taking many breaks to catch my breath in this section!
That said, Fade to Back was my favorite part of Split Rock Wilds to ride. I was fully engaged in the riding, frequently laughing and whooping, and often backing up to take another go over a feature. My favorite areas were any of the native boulders and rock slabs, which provided a uniquely North Shore experience.
The Trail Builders’ Vision
The Split Rock Wilds Trail system was built by several partners including OTM (One Track Mind Foundation), Zenith Trail Contracting, Conservation Corps of MN and Iowa, Rock Solid Trail Contracting, Lake County Mountain Bike Trails, and Dirt Candy Designs. The influence of many different designers provided a diversity of riding experiences throughout thesystem. One commonality, however, was their clearly demonstrated passion for creating exceptional trails. Tony and I both remarked that we could feel the love these trailbuilders put into their designs.
Funding for Split Rock Wilds includes Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB), Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails Legacy Fund, MN Lake Superior Coastal Program and the One Track Mind Foundation. The trails are maintained by Lake County, in partnership with the Minnesota DNR, which owns and maintains the trailhead in Split Rock Lighthouse State Park.
Split Rock Wilds were designated as part of the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails System in 2016. The trail system had a soft opening in 2021 and officially opened to the public in July 2022.
* A proposed Split Rock Wilds Beaver Bay expansion will allow riders access to the trails without having to cross Highway 61 and will bring beginner-level trails to the Beaver Bay side of the trail system.
Katrina Hase is a White Bear Lake, Minnesota resident with a passion for mountain biking, gravel riding, and bikepacking. Find her videos on YouTube and connect with her on Instagram: @birdsnbikesnballet
