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Camp and Mountain Bike Cuyana State Recreation Area

Crosby, Minnesota

4.5/5
based on 4 reviews

Description

Added by Jess Curren

25 miles of single track trails spread over 800 acres in beautiful northern Minnesota. 

Cuyuna Lakes Recreation Area has put a lot of time, money and resources into building this amazing IMBA trail system. There are 5 different trail sections with varying degrees of difficulty and length. They boast "over 30 purpose-built routes to choose from" and "everyone from beginner to pro can enjoy the breath-taking rides and overlooks. The trails are enhanced by the deep-red soil, turquoise mine lakes, and white bark of the aspen and birch trees."

I have to agree.

To start we took the kids over to Huntington Mine Lake and the area called Boot Camp. It was a pretty easy, smooth, two way trail system which the kids enjoyed riding. At one point the singletrack meets up with the Cuyuna Lakes State paved trail and we were able to ride it back down the trailhead once the kids were done. 

I spent most of my time in "Inset B" where there are a lot of one way trails with some lung-busting climbs and some fast and flowy decents. At one point I texted my husband asking how the kids were and if I could go ride a loop one more time and he responded with, "Go get 'em". 

The trails are well marked and its easy to find your way around. The thing I love about trail systems is that you can't really get lost. Everything loops around and mostly comes back to the trailhead. 

There are far more trails here than we could ride in just a few days so we'll definitely have to come back and explore further. 

For the winter enthusiasts there are approximately 40 mils of packed mult-use trails and 20 miles groomed specifically for fat biking.

There is a campground with first come, first served sites and while its not amazing (definitely did not step foot in the bathrooms) riding straight from our campsite is always a plus!

View a Map of the Trail System

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Features

Camping
Mountain Biking
Bathrooms
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Forest
Lake
Scenic

Camp and Mountain Bike Cuyana State Recreation Area Reviews

The Cuyuna trail system is top notch in MN! A great destination trail. We like to camp at True North Basecamp, bike into town & grab beers at the local brewery, eat lunch at Red Raven, dinner at Iron Ranger or Louie’s Bucket of Bones (BBQ) - if we’re not cooking on the campfire. Trails are all accessible to any level & provide some great views while riding. More challenging sections/features are being added all the time. There’s some elevation to get the heart pumping but nothing too extreme. All in all, it’s a perfect spot for beginners and advanced riders alike. In a typical weekend I find time to put in 50 or so miles & get out & paddle in the kayak/hit the beach.

Wonderful place to hike and some of the best mountain biking you will find in the state! The trails are kept in excellent condition and there are trails for all levels and experiences. This is even a great place to break out the fat tire bike in the winter. And while in Crosby, MN be sure to check out the Red Raven for great sandwiches and bike supplies!

I could not agree more! The Cuyuna State Recreation Area is intelligently designed, well maintained, and easily accessible. Whether you want to fish or paddleboard the lakes, ride the wonderful single track, or camp and just enjoy the outdoors, this area has it all. If you are a racer, there are also several races held in the area throughout the year, many of which donate the proceeds to further developing the area. Overall, this is a great weekend trip.

The trails are well built and the trail side camping is unbeatable. There are better trails in northern Minnesota but the Cuyuna system is putting lots of awesome effort into this project. Maps are available, all the locals know the trails and the trails are marked to infinity. it's an awesome place for nice intermediate ride.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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