I have to go down and pick up my new bumper next week and I'm thinking I might bring the bike with me. Any suggestions in the Grand Marais area where I can ride?

 

Someone else can probably help more. The only one I know of in the area is the Red Dot trail system down by Silver Bay (about 30 miles or so south of Grand Marais). It's a nice system if you like fast trail riding, but not technically challenging in anyway. Should be a hoot on your V-Force, though.

 

How about the Iron Range Riding area near Gilbert, MN? 1200 acres of a reclaimed strip mine, supposed to have huge hills (great for climbing) and lots of different terrain. That should be near the area where you are going to be.

 

There's a group of guys here planning a trip to the Iron Range park, we're just waiting to hear back on all the requirements for sound, spark arrestors, etc so that we're all legal.

The red-dot trails sound all right, I was just going to head down for the day and pick up some ProArmor, if I install the bumper while I'm down there I won't have to pay taxes on it, plus I'll get some extra riding in.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Spark arrestors are mandatory, and I'm not sure on sound limits, I thought I heard 100 db, but it could be lower, maybe 95-98. They require helmets as well. I was planning a trip there, just waiting to see if my son can get certified for riding an adult ATV before driving all that way. I hear the mud has a lot of iron dust in it, so your quad can get all red, but they do have washing stations to clean quads before they leave.

 

We've been to Gilbert several times. I believe we were the first to ride two-up on our AC TRV as everyone piled out of the building to check it out.

99db is the limit as I recall - measured at mid rpm about 24 inches from exhaust. The trails are well marked for skill level. Don't assume your ready for the advanced before you ride the intermediate trails as most of the flatlander swamp riders from around this area are challenged by the novice trails.

There is a campground but you better call ahead for reservations as I heard they are booked every weekend until 2005. Its called Sherwood Forest.

Friends with white plastic complain the red mud is impossible to get cleaned off and makes the plastic turn pink. I use Zud cleanser and it works miracles. It is a little abrasive so dont grind it in... Its a chemical reaction which takes only minimal mechanical action.

Have a ball

 

Great, so much for the white fenders on my Wolverine !!! Whodat, I see you are an ATV safety instructor, do you have any info on a timeline for the youth certification that started July 1st? I know it will take a while to get it all set up, but I would really like to get my son certified, he rides a 300ex like a pro, but I want him to be legal when we ride in public areas. thanks for any information.

 

I've been to the Gilbert site only once, but I wasn't too impressed. The "easy" trails are too easy. The "intermediate" trails are quite a step up. My wife falls somewhere in between in skill level so she was bored on the "easy" and not up to the "intermediate" and had, basically, nowhere to ride. I also didn't like the fact that the main roads were for everyone. I can see a lot of trouble on a busy weekend with both ATV's and trucks on the same roads. I will add, however, that we were on sport machines and the area seems more set up for utility quads.

The machine wash area is a nice touch, though.

 

The safety training program is just getting started. It seems to be a little less organized then I thought it would be as the DNR is waiting for the volunteers to organize the classes.

I've started the process to get permission to use either the town hall here in Linwood or the Church to facilitate the classroom training and hope to use the property for the demonstrated ability test. As soon as I get a green light I will be contacting other instructors to assist.

Have your kids obtained the computer based training materials? If they have one of the old permits they only need to complete the demonstrated ability test.

Check out http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ve...atv/index.html for more information.

 

If you're driving DOWN to Grand Marais....you have more problems than where to ride...

sorry....feeling a touch fiesty right now..[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img]