Minnesota, which is one of the most ATV-friendly states in the country, is about to get even friendlier.
State and local groups are looking for money to create a connecting trail linking the Mille Lacs Lake area, which is 100 miles north of Minneapolis, with the existing ATV Northwoods Trail.
Meanwhile, two ATV projects are planned in Aitkin County, about 120 miles north of Minneapolis.
The Mille Lacs Lake project would involve linking the southeast part of the Mille Lacs Lake area to the Northwoods system to help boost the local economy. The state Department of Natural Resources has been reviewing possible land for the trail, which would give ATV riders access to places to eat and spend the night.
Officials are hoping to get $1.5 million from the Legislature for the project.
Concerning Aitkin County, officials hope to create both a technical riding area and a trail. The technical riding area would be in Jevne Township in the McGregor area while the trail would be along County Road 3 in the Palisade area.
The technical area would include a log/boulder crawl, hillclimb, mud pit, sand pit/bowl, sand whoops, terrain/obstacle climb, narrow technical trail and more. Construction is expected to begin soon and be completed by September. Then it would be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 15 through Oct. 31.
For the County Road 3 trail, officials said plans for building the road allow for designating an ATV trail. The 6-mile first phase project – from County Road 5 near Palisade to a quarter mile from Rat Lake – will get under way this summer. The $160,000 project is partially funded with a grant from the state Department of Natural Resources.
The 9-mile second phase of the project that will continue to Highway 65 is expected to be completed in 2018 or 2019. The trail would be open May 15 through Oct. 31.
