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Trail Report March 06,
2009
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trail reports>Grand Portage Report
Grand Portage
Snowmobile Trails
[ Please send your report to us! ]
Great trail conditions and
awesome scenery
5 of us rode the
Grand Portage
Snowmobile Trails yesterday. It was about 35 degrees, mostly sunny the
first half of the day, then cloudy and cooler after lunch. I rode with
no gloves or face mask and never got cold. Instead of riding over from the Devil
Track Lake area as we usually do, we trailered our sleds to Mineral
Center. This saved quite a bit of time, so we could hit as many of the
loops as possible. From the trailhead we headed out on the Rengo Road,
to the Moose Ridge Trail, and onto the Mount Sophie Trail to the fire tower. We climbed to the top of the 100 Ft
plus tower. Rather hazy... but well worth the effort. From the top you
can see; out onto Lake Superior, Isle Royale, Grand Portage, into
Canada, and for quite a few miles in all directions.
[
see fall color images
from the fire tower here ]
After enjoying the view
we climbed down and back onto our sleds and headed over to Partridge
Falls on the Pigeon River.
Standing next to looking
up stream from Partridge Falls on the Pigeon River
Standing next to looking
down over the frozen falls of Partridge Falls on the Pigeon River
Standing next to looking
at the frozen falls of Partridge Falls on the Pigeon River. There is a
small very steep trail along the American side of the falls. Next
three pics are from below the falls.
Looking up to where I took
the first pic, Partridge Falls on the Pigeon River
Standing next to looking
over the frozen falls of Partridge Falls on the Pigeon River
Standing in front of the
falls looking down stream on the Pigeon River.
After visiting the Falls
we headed down the Partridge Falls Trail to the Skyline Trail and
downhill towards Lake Superior for lunch at Grand Portage Lodge. We
could see snowmobile tracks heading out onto Lake Superior from in
front of the Lodge. Ice anglers were heading out to catch lake trout
on Lake Superior.
After our lunch we
headed back up the Skyline Trail, this is the first trail in Grand
Portage to become laden with bare spots and snirt
[
Snirt
is
a mixture of snow and dirt ].
Especially the lower end near Lake Superior. If we don't get more snow
this trail will become unusable and launching from Mineral Center will
be a better option. We headed to the Reservation River Trail,
this trail is somewhat narrow, poorly marked and very winding, none of
us had ever rode it before. We made a few wrong turns, ending up at
the Grand Portage maintenance facility... turned around and were able
to complete it. There was quite a bit of snirt and bare spots on the
lower end of the trail nearest Lake Superior. We loaded up our sleds
about 3:30pm and my friends headed to the Cook County High School
basketball game against Marshall Hill toppers from Duluth. Cook County
won the game.
We did not
ride the Cowboy Loop; it is plowed from a logging operation... bummer,
it is my favorite trail in Grand Portage. We also did not ride the
Teal Lake Trail, another favorite. Teal Lake Trail runs from Chevan's
Road to Ryden's Border Store near HWY 61 and the border with Ontario.
The trails we did ride,
except the Reservation River Trail, Cowboy Loop, and the lower
third of the Skyline Trail, were excellent and well
marked. Parking at Mineral Center allows you to hit all the trail in
Grand Portage from a central location, whether you spend a half day or
a whole day riding, parking at Mineral Center is a good idea. There is
a wooden ramp for unloading and loading, trails take off in all
directions.
Climbing the fire tower
is at your option and your own risk. Your safety cannot be guaranteed.
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Resources for planning
this trip;
Do not travel the Old
Hwy 61 section of the County Road 17, it is very rough, full of frost
heaves and you'll go airborne if you drive too fast. Best way to get
to Mineral Center is the Mineral Center Road one mile west of the
Grand Portage Trading Post.
There is a few frost heaves on this section of Mineral Center Road
also, use caution.
Fuel at the Grand
Portage Trading Post is much cheaper.
On the Grand Portage Snowmobile
Trail map the trailhead at Mineral Center is marked as "Trail Center."
The Grand Portage
Snowmobile Trail System is groomed weekly.
See full groomer schedule.
See Option
D for planning this route. Report by
Chad Jones / Editor snowmobiletrails.com -
Grand Marais, Minnesota. Send your report
to us!
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trail reports>Grand Portage Report
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