Storm damage repairs ongoing at area trails

CHISHOLM—Heavy rains sustained in recent weeks require portions of the Redhead Mountain Bike Park to undergo repairs.

“The park is open, and some of the individual trails are closed,” Bridgit Maruska, Chisholm Parks, Trails and Recreation Director told the Mesabi Tribune Last week.

Crossfire Trail is temporarily a two-way trail, Fractured Falls is fully closed (portions are washed away), and portions of Northstar and Spellbound were closed as of Tuesday of this week.

Maruska said some of the storm damage is to the point where it needs to be repaired by a contractor, noting “it is more than individuals with hand tools can complete.”

Yellow caution tape is in place on sections and trails that are closed.

The Northern Traxx ATV Club trail is rideable, but there are a few challenging spots, according to Larry Folstad, Northern Traxx Club President.

“As you get north towards Side Lake there are still some DNR forest roads and county roads that need to be fixed so people are asked to obey signs and just ride where we’re able,” Folstad told the Mesabi Tribune via email earlier this week.

Folstad also told of the challenges of trail maintenance with the abundance of rain this summer.

“We own our own dozer for maintenance on the trail but the rain just won’t stop and every time we try and grade it the trail loosens up the soil and turns it to a soupy mess, grabbing the rain instead of shedding it. So, we just have to wait for dry weather and a bunch of it.”

The Minnesota DNR, on its website, cautions that weather conditions may cause partial and/or temporary closure of roads, trails and recreational facilities.

“Since conditions can change quickly, we advise you to check the individual state park, state trail, or state forest web pages,” it states on the website. “Or you can call the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 or toll-free 888-646-6367 for the latest information.”

Redhead trail closures are available online at https://www.redheadmtbpark.com/news, or on the trailforks app.

For Northern Traxx ATV trails you can go to https://northerntraxx.org/

For information on state ATV trails and forest roads, you can go to: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/trailconditions/index.html. Temporary road and trail closures are updated Thursdays after 2 p.m.

To report dangerous or unsafe trail conditions you can call 911.