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Trail Info

Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area


Open daily 8a–10p

Once the site of a bustling mining operation, the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area (CCSRA) is one of Minnesota’s best mountain bike trail systems. CCSRA’s 70 miles of singletrack, 16 pristine mine lakes, and 25 miles of natural shoreline make it a favorite destination for outdoor recreation enthusiasts, including cyclists, paddlers, and anglers.

While visiting, please adhere to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) Minnesota state park rules and regulations found here.


• Cuyuna trails—including those in the CCSRA and Cruser’s Kettle—are closed during the Minnesota Deer Hunting Rifle Season (11/04/23 – 11/19/23). See map for dates—CCSRA is in Deer Permit Area 604.

• Before rifle season, the MN DNR encourages all trail users to wear blaze orange starting on September 18 as different hunting seasons open (e.g., archery, small game, etc.). While it is not common to see hunters on the trails, they are allowed to be there.

• To see all the fall hunting seasons within the CCSRA, please click here.

Know before you go


• Review the Visitor Alert on the MN DNR website for the most updated trail openings and closings.

• Search your trip dates on the Events Calendar to ensure there isn’t a scheduled race that would occupy a large portion of the trails.


Rain Policies


Mountain Bicycle Trails within the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area (red dirt trails)

  • After the rain event concludes, wait (2) hours for the trails to dry before riding.
  • A good way to know if the trails are dry within the woods is to look at the pavement or asphalt on the roads in Crosby or Ironton.

  • If the road surface is dry, the trails should be dry.
  • If you go out to ride the mountain bicycle trails, and the trails are soft, and the bicycle tire is leaving a rut, please do not ride the trails.

To see current trail conditions as provided by the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Crew, please visit the bottom of any website page on Cuyuna.com. Posts about the condition of each trail will be updated here.


 

Parking


There is no cost to bicycle or hike the Cuyuna trails, but a Minnesota State Park permit is required to park within the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area.

  • $35 Year-round vehicle permit
  • $26 Additional year-round vehicle permit
  • $30 Year-round motorcycle permit
  • $7 One-day vehicle permit

Buy your vehicle permit online or at one of the following locations below.

Free parking is available in town, and you may ride into the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area. For your safety and out of respect for the residents of Ironton, we strongly advise against parking on HWY 30 outside of the CCSRA.

We suggest parking at one of the following locations in Ironton:

  • 3rd street between Irene Avenue and Winona Avenue (one block north of HWY 210)
  • Curtis Avenue between HWY 210 and 2nd street

Please do not park in front of our residents’ homes.


 
 
 
 

Advanced and Expert Difficulty Mountain Bicycle Trails – Cuyuna’s North Mahnomen Unit


Advanced and expert mountain bike riders have 10 miles of trails to ride at the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area (CCSRA) North Mahnomen Unit. Located on the northern edge of the CCSRA, the North Mahnomen Unit expansion features four new trails ranging in skill level from More Difficult to Experts Only.

This trail system expansion builds on the trail difficulty started with the Miner’s Mountain Bike Skills Area, Winze trail, Drawpoint, and Cruser’s Kettle trails to increase trail difficulty. The North Mahnomen Unit features three new gravity flow trails—connected by the new, More Difficult, Backcountry trail—and are intended to provide riders with a sense of remoteness and adventure. Scroll down for trail galleries. 

  • Backcountry trail: Intermediate, More Difficult cross-country trail featuring unavoidable obstacles, mandatory rock drops, mandatory jumps, and technical rock gardens 
  • Sinter trail: Very Difficult gravity flow trail with unavoidable obstacles, large rock drops, mandatory rock gardens, and big rolling jumps 
  • Sledgehammer trail: Extremely Difficult, Expert Only gravity flow trail featuring unavoidable rock obstacles, mandatory large rock drops, mandatory rock ledge drops, mandatory technical rock gardens, mandatory large rock jumps, mandatory steep rock staircase, and expert rock gap jumps 
  • Portal trail: More Difficult gravity flow trail featuring unavoidable obstacles, mandatory rock drops, mandatory jumps, and technical rock gardens

Access to the North Mahnomen Unit
The North Mahnomen Unit trails are accessible by the Backcountry Connector trail via the Galloping Goose trail starting in the Rally Center outside of Ironton. Just under four miles onto Galloping Goose trail at Emergency Access 110 is the entrance to the Backcountry Connector. This trail eventually becomes Backcountry trail at the North Mahnomen Unit trail hub after the boardwalk and provides access to Sinter, Sledgehammer, and Portal trails.

Important to note, if a cyclist is unable to ride the rock filter into Backcountry trail on their bicycle, it is highly suggested not to continue as the difficulty will exceed the rider’s ability. Start to finish, Backcountry trail is 12 miles from the Rally Center and back using Galloping Goose trail both on the way out and back in. Planning for hydration, energy/nutrition, and time of day is essential.



Events

The MN DNR requires a permit to host an event within the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area. Events may include a large group ride, a competitive race, a bike demo day, a customer appreciation event, or grand opening for a trail-related business. To request a permit, contact the MN DNR at 218-772-3690 or cuyuna.statepark@state.mn.us.

Birding

Cuyuna is for the birds! Nearly 170 species of birds have been recorded in the CCSRA. Use this free Minnesota State Parks and Trails Bird Checklist for the Cuyuna State Recreation Area to record the birds you spot.


Prohibited Uses

The MN DNR prohibits the following in the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area.

• Off-highway vehicles
• Camping in non-designated areas
• Riding on so, wet, or closed trails
• Consuming or displaying intoxicating liquors
• Building a fire (except in a fire ring at the campground or yurts)
• Target and trap shooting
• Horse riding on the mountain bike trails
• Pets off-leash—pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet in length and must be personally attended
• Any activity that damages the trails by foot or bike
• No rock collecting

For trail-specific questions, contact the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area.

307 3rd Street, Ironton, MN 56455
218-772-3690 | mndnr.gov/cuyuna

Drone Use

The MN DNR requires a permit to operate a drone within the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area. To request a permit, contact the MN DNR at 218-772-3690 or cuyuna.statepark@state.mn.us.

COVID-19

The MN DNR requests that you please be sure to follow the MN DNR and the Minnesota Department of Health’s Guidance for Outdoor Recreation and Facilities.

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