Why Fat Biking is the Best During the Winter at Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area
Why Fat Biking is the Best During the Winter at Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area
By Brian Fanelli
Over the past decade, Cuyuna's long-dormant iron mines were reborn as some of the some of the country's best mountain bike trails. Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area is busiest during summer, but many fat bike enthusiasts think winter is the best time to ride. After all, that's when the skies are clear and crisp, and the temps often top out at a brisk yet beautiful 24 degrees.
Here is how to make the most of fat biking at Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area this winter.
Winter fat tire biking Cuyuna Yawkey Trail / Aaron W. Hautala
What are Cuyuna's trails like in the winter?
More than 50 miles of Cuyuna’s mixed-difficulty singletrack trails are “groomed” for winter fat biking. If it’s your first time riding a fat bike on groomed trails, check out the beginner-friendly Galloping Goose Trail before testing your skills elsewhere. Formerly known as “Easy Street,” this 6-mile loop around Huntington Mine Lake is the perfect introduction for riders still getting familiar with the sport.
More advanced riders often prefer the higher-difficulty trails found in the Yawkey Trail Unit, including the fan favorite, Bobsled. One of the most popular and talked-about trails at Cuyuna, Bobsled starts with a short but steep climb up the ridge overlooking Yawkey Mine Lake.
Cuyuna is one of Minnesota's top destination for fat biking / Aaron Hautala
Stop to take in the view from the top, then follow the trail into the woods for a breakneck-paced, berm-filled, adrenaline-fueled rocket ride back down to the bottom. Ride this trail with a fresh layer of snow on the ground, and you won’t have any doubts about how Bobsled earned its name.
According to Red Raven Bike Shop owner Patrick Stoffel, White-knuckled trails like Bobsled are outliers, though.
“I’d say about 80 percent of the trail system is pretty family friendly," he explains, "and there isn’t really any way to accidentally ride a skill level you’re not ready for. It’s pretty clearly marked.”
Red Raven Bike Shop & Cafe
What else can I do near Cuyuna?
Like many other businesses in Crosby, Stoffel and his wife opened Red Raven within the last 10 years. The shop joined more than a dozen other new businesses to open since the mountain bike trails came to town. Many of the formerly abandoned red brick storefronts downtown have been reborn, and there’s now a craft brewery, farm-to-table restaurant, wellness studio, tattoo parlor, bookstore and gift shop, among other things.
Crosby is also part of the Brainerd Lakes Area, a region known for charming downtowns, family-friendly resorts and lakes both large and small. Drive a few minutes in any direction and you'll find plenty of other highlights, including award winning 18-hole golf courses, art galleries, vintage and antique shops, boat rentals and charter launches.
Check out our complete guide to the Brainerd Lakes Area.
True North Basecamp
Where can I stay near Cuyuna?
One of the most eye-catching places to stay in Crosby is True North Basecamp, which has made a splash online with its endlessly Instagrammable “north woods industrial” rental cabins. Each of the six, 275-square-foot cabins at True North has one full- and three twin-sized beds, high-speed internet access, integrated USB charging ports, and temperature control for year-round comfort — the perfect blend of wilderness and Wi-Fi.
For a more rustic stay, book one of three Minnesota DNR yurts overlooking Yakwey Mine Lake. Built from a Spartan template of insulated canvas tents, wood floors and woodstoves, think of these yurts like winter camping lite: Similar to a true, backcountry experience, but with bunk beds, shelter and a wood stove to smooth out some of the more intimidating aspects of camping in the cold. Each yurt can house seven guests and, in true Minnesota Nice fashion, logs to feed the wood stove are complimentary all winter.
Brian Fanelli is a Minneapolis-based writer. You can reliably find him browsing the sci-fi shelves in a local bookstore or biking one of Minnesota's spectacular trails.