For the 3rd annual Gray Duck Grit, race organizers added cyclocross racing to the Saturday schedule. Nicholas Peterson came over from South Dakota to check out the inaugural race. Here he shares about the great course as well as the cyclocross community. Words by Nicholas Peterson Photos by Dustin Bowman As one of a small handful of folks who drove several hours to exclusively race cyclocross, I guess that makes me qualified to report on the ‘cross happenings at Gray Duck Grit . There was once a long-running CX event that started hosting a gravel ride to supplement the cyclocross festivities of the weekend. Gray Duck Grit is a gravel event that decided to add a cyclocross competition to supplement its gravel rides. The former (Jingle Cross, RIP) was a classic race in the midwest CX scene, and it was evident immediately Gray Duck CX shared some of its DNA. Location alone does not manifest a great cyclocross course, but I can’t help but feel like organizing a CX race at a fair grounds is some sort of cheat code to a making a killer course. So what makes a great cyclocross event? Free beer helps. Fun…definitely. It isn’t the number people racing, it isn’t necessarily the location either, and certainly not the weather. Did the collective result of the people racing, the course, and general organization result in a memorable event? If yes, mission accomplished. In my opinion Gray Duck Grit CX accomplished this mission. From the moment I arrived, Gray Duck Grit CX passed the vibe check. Upon suiting up and getting on course, it was evident the vibe was justified. In all, about 57 racers took the line across 5 classifications and it seemed like a good number of us, when not racing, were tape-side cheering others on. For some reason (perhaps the Spirit of Gravel), I had taken a laissez-faire approach to getting to the start line. I wasn’t late by any means, but the lack of ranked call-ups (not a criticism) had me lining up toward the back of the Intermediate field that I had intended on starting at least mid-field. This realization immediately cured me of whatever casual attitude toward racing I had taken on that day. I had a battle ahead of me if I wanted to salvage any result I could be proud of. This was exactly the kick in the shorts I needed. A legit run-up, perfectly staked turns, livestock barns providing shade, surfaces of varying traction, big power sections, and an overall glorious flow made for one of the best courses I’ve had the pleasure of riding. The course, the venue, and the people behind it all made for a great day of cyclocross racing that I plan to return to for as long as it stays on the calendar. Cyclocross is in serious need of love and support at the moment and if you’re even casually interested in the sport, I’d strongly recommend adding this race to your schedule next season.

Chequamegon Mountain Bike Festival is taking place this weekend September 13 and 14. In its 41st year, the event is also the 4th stop on the Life Time Grand Prix. Here we share the local's guide to catching the Life Time Grand Prix athletes and enjoying the entire festival weekend. To learn more visit Chequamegon Mountain Bike Festival Words by Josh Rizzo 41 Years of Chequamegon: A Brief Background Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival Up until a few years ago, the event was called the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival. The name was changed to Chequamegon Mountain Bike Festival as fat bikes became more and more popular and there was some confusion about the event being for fat bikes. The event started in 1983 and for five years it took place at Lakewoods Resort and went through the Chequamegon National Forest. Since the course moved, it is no longer on national forest. The entire race takes place on county land but retains the Chequamegon name from when it first started. A Rich History The event has a lot of rich and storied history. Greg Lemond rode the race several times. At the 25th anniversary of the race, the event was won by Jesse LaLonde on a singlespeed. Steve Tilford came up to Cable all the time and rode the race many times and racers will eat at Rivers Eatery and Tillie's Pies which is named in memory of Tilford. 4th Stop on the Life Time Grand Prix Chequamegon 40 is the 4th stop in the Life Time Grand Prix. The LTGP started in 2022 and is comprised of 30 female and 30 male athletes who compete for points during the series in gravel and mountain bike events. Being a part of the Life Time Grand Prix series puts Chequamegon and a national map and spotlights the beautiful and rugged cycling scene alongside the area's rich history. What to Look For in the Life Time Grand Prix Elite Race on Saturday Chequamegon 40 is a very short and fast race. Men and women will finish in 2-2.5 hours so it'll be a drag race from Hayward to Cable with no forgiveness if mistakes are made. If an athlete gets around the corner and out of sight, they just might win the whole day. Pro Women Take Center Stage Unlike the mass start through Downtown Hayward, the Elite race starts east of town where Wheeler Rd meets the Birkie Trail. Elite Women have separate start times for the entire Life Time Grand Prix series and for the Chequamegon 40 they also start first at 12:30 and will finish first at the finish line in Cable. Keegan Swenson Has Never Won Chequamegon Keegan Swenson has dominated both of the first two seasons on the Life Time Grand Prix. He is also at the top of the leaderboard for the 2024 season with 3 events done and 3 to go (racers can drop 2 results). But he has never won at Chequamegon. In 2022, he crashed on the wet, muddy course and landed one spot off the podium. Then in 2023, Alexey Vermeulen beat him in a sprint finish and Keegan took second place. Surely Keegan would love to claim the spot at this year's Chequamegon 40 and add to his dominant season. Locals Jenna Rinehart & Chase Wark Two Northwoods locals will be racing at Chequamegon. Jenna Rinehart of Mankato, Minnesota took 6th place overall in the 2023 Life Time Grand Prix and is currently in 7th place on the leaderboard. Chase Wark of Winona, Minnesota is in his first year of the Life Time Grand Prix and is currently in 24th place overall. Meet the Life Time Grand Prix Athletes If you're racing, spectating, or just walking the dog around the ole block, you'll likely catch some favorite LTGP athletes milling around. They're really approachable, great with kids, and it's neat to see some of the biggest names in gravel/MTB racing hanging around Cable. Catch them at the awards ceremony at 4pm on Saturday or perhaps you'll see them at Rivers or Tillie's for post race shenanigans. There is also a LTGP at 4:15 on Friday to a Q&A from some of the athletes. Where are the Best Places to Watch? Wheeler Road Start Line Both men and women Elite races have a separate starting line. To catch the start of both races, head east Hayward to Wheeler Road where athletes will take off down the Birkie Trail and start with a big climb right away. OO x Birkie Trail Head north out of Hayward on 63 and turn east onto OO to the Samuel C Johnson Family Outdoor Center Ski Crossing. The Birkie trail crosses OO here and you can park on the north side of OO. This is the second aid station at mile 17.8 as well as the official spectator area. Elite athletes won't be stopping here but it's a nice open area near the mid point to catch racers flying by. Finish Line at Derksen Family Great Hall Being a short race, the finish line is going to be very fast paced when athletes come through. They'll come out of tight sleigh trail in the woods and then onto the Birkie trail for 400 yards up hill for a little and then downhill sprinting to the finish line. What Are Some Other Highlights of the Weekend? Chequamegon Mountain Bike Festival is an entire weekend of racing, food trucks, fires, music shakeout rides, kids events, and a lot more. Head to the event website for exact time and locations of events. Friday 10:00am | Kenda Shakeout Ride (FREE) 1:00pm | Life Time Grand Prix Shakeout Ride (FREE) 2:00pm | 7:00pm Bib Pickup and Race Festival with Live Music & Food Trucks 2:30pm – 3:30pm | Stein Holding Competition 4:15pm – 4:45pm | Life Time Grand Prix Panel 5:00pm | Little Loggers Kids Bike Event Saturday 10:00am | CHEQUAMEGON 40 START | Hayward Primary School 10:00am | SHORT & FAT START | Derksen Family Great Hall 10:00am – 6:00pm | Finish Festival, Sponsor & Vendor Expo | Derksen Family Great Hall 10:57am | Short & Fat First Finisher 12:30pm | Chequamegon 40 First Finisher 12:30pm | CHEQUAMEGON 40 PRO/ELITE WOMEN’S START at Wheeler Rd/Birkie Trail 1:00pm | CHEQUAMEGON 40 PRO/ELITE MEN’S START at Wheeler Rd/Birkie Trail 4:00pm | All Awards Can I Still Register? Race registration is open until Tuesday September 10th. The Short &Fat race is 16 miles and the the Chequamegon 40 is, wait for it, 40 miles.

The 3rd annual Gray Duck Grit just took place in Cannon Falls, MN with a whole bunch of improvements going into year 3. The race came to a new town and new venue with a new cyclocross race and a new 50 mile distance. Here Pat Moore shares his recap of the 50 mile day as well as an overall review of the new direction of Gray Duck Grit. Words by Pat Moore Photos by Greg Kaiser If you're a gravel rider, put this race on your list! In its third year, the change that jumps out upon reflection is the start and finish area. Starting and ending the Gray Duck Grit at the Cannon Valley Fairgrounds was a huge improvement. Last year my race recap was titled, “ Children of the Corn Minus the Scythes ”. With the date change from early October to early September however, the corn stalks just didn’t have that same creepy vibe, and I was totally okay with that. After a summer of long races (800 miles of the Tour Divide, the Wolf Bikepacking Race (225), and the DAMn (240)), I opted for the new 50-mile route. The course was beautiful. Rolling climbs and fast descents were once again the name of the game of Driftless Country. Mark and Kris Jessee and their “flock” of volunteers made the day. I got the opportunity to chat with Mark before and after the race. His genuine passion for putting this race on is obvious. I thanked him for all the hard work, and he quickly pointed out that work doesn’t feel like work when it is fun. A friend recently called for having a “Race Director’s Appreciation Day”, and I couldn’t agree more. I have yet to meet a race director who does not motivate me to rally people around building community and celebrating personal successes, whatever those might be. The start of the 50, 69, and 111-mile races took place on Sunday morning on a horse race track which admittedly was a first for me. We rolled out under blue skies, perfect temps in the 60’s, and a breeze that would evolve into a bit of a headwind. Leaving the outskirts of Cannon Falls, racers entered a healthy mix of forest and farmland, popping in and out of the woods and occasionally riding along the Cannon River. Things began to look and feel familiar to the 2023 course when I hit 380th Street which goes over Highway 52. The road had not changed much, and unfortunately, neither did the headwind. I could hardly complain after enjoying 240 miles of tailwind in this year’s DAMn, but in the moment, the legs were feeling it. Turning off of the pavement of 380th St. with just over 10 miles left which included a wonderfully fast descent, my spirits were good. Like most racers I assume, the voice of Christopher Walken screamed for more cowbell in my head as the finish line came into view. Crossing the finish line to the amazing sound of the cowbell was as satisfying as always. The finish area at the Cannon Valley Fairgrounds was perfect. A food truck, music, and sunshine always seem to make for a good time. A huge shout out to Mark and Kris Jesse and their amazing volunteers for all of their hard work. To next year!

As we approach the final month of 2024 gravel race season, we're reflecting on where the gravel racing scene is at in 2024. Some favorite races didn't take place and some new ones popped up and several other themes have been growing in the community. Check out reflections on the state of up-north gravel racing here. Words by Josh from The Nxrth My first gravel race ever was Heck of the North. I had just started The Nxrth and was a regular bikepacker and sought out gravel rides but never participated in an event. I remember the energy and ruggedness of my first Heck as I took at least 25 miles just to figure out what pace group to ride with. Gravel has been around forever but is now growing significantly with both the recent gravel boom and the post-pandemic acceleration of outdoor community events. The Nxrth has been reporting on the gravel scene for a little over 2.5 years now and we want to share a few reflections on the state of local gravel racing. 1. Your Favorite Races Don't Last Forever Coming back year after year to that one favorite race can have an anchoring effect on your entire year. Whether you always kick off the gravel season with Dairy Roubaix or close out your October with the Filthy 50 , these are places we ride familiar roads during familiar times of the year and see familiar faces. The Filthy 50, for example, ran for 10 years then left a giant black hole in the 2024 race calendar (and will hopefully come back) making many of us wonder what to look forward to in October. The Winston County Gravel Cup was another race that became a quick fall favorite. Driftless hills and small town grassroots gravel at Winston started to accelerate when the organizers went different ways and Winston is now in the history books of up north gravel. That's the beauty and curse of grassroots communities. The community rallies around new initiatives and supports a beautiful ride. But our favorite rides are fragile. They come and go. 2. Themed Races Are Widely Being Enjoyed by the Gravel Community Gravel is a serious sport. Gravel is meant to be challenging. Gravel shouldn't try to be cute or emphasize the after party too much. Or should it? Themed races are nothing new but several up-north gravel races have especially leaned in to themes that make it more than just gravel. A few of these themed races are growing quickly and they help gravel not take itself too seriously. Chase Wark is a local professional gravel cyclist who founded not one but two themed gravel races. Granny's Gravel Grinder is an early season not-too-strenuous ride with all of grandma's favorites like goulash, cookies, root beer floats, and a hug from grandma. Then the Hotdish is a full-Minnesota themed gravel ride celebrating hotdish (obvs), Ope hill, and Kwik Trip donuts. Then the summer closes out with a beach-to-beach themed gravel race, the Coon Fork 40 . This race starts at the beach, has a "halfway hang" at the beach", and then ends at the beach with a massive beach party. 3. The Popular Races Are Growing Fast, Really Fast Alongside the national and international growth of gravel, our region's gravel racing scene has seen a big growth curve across the board. But there are a few standout races that are growing even faster than the standard curve. The Heywood had 809 racers their first year in 2022 then grew 60% over two years to 1,300 racers in 2024. Hungry Bear grew 61% to 800 riders in just one year when New Moon Bike & Ski took over. The Coon Fork 40 grew 78% after its first year with just under 500 riders in year two. The factors that contribute to each of these is distinct but it's interesting to see some great events exploding in popularity. 4. Diversity & Inclusion Work is Growing But Has a Long Way to Go Several groups and races in the region have been actively promoting and lowering barriers for diverse and marginalized people to participate in the gravel racing community. Femme Forty Racing  had their inaugural year of Ridin Dirty Gravel  near Viroqua in 2024. Femme Forty's mission is to bring new participants into competitive cycling by promoting and empowering people of marginalized identities including women, femme, non-binary, and transgender cyclists. Online registration shows Ridin Dirty Gravel had 66% men, 30% women, and 3% non-binary/gender non-conforming. Another race that actively lowers gender and age barriers is Gray Duck Grit where women automatically get a 20% discount and full-time students get 25% off. Heck of the North also allows kids to ride for free with an adult. 5. Race Pricing Has a Broad Spectrum from Nearly-Free Grassroots Events to High Ticket Premium Races Much of the gravel ethos is built on grassroots communities and affordable (or free) gatherings of riders. Even as the gravel scene has grown, there remain many free or extremely affordable races on the calendar every year such as Ragnarok 105 , Heywood , Dairy Roubaix , Hollo Gravel Classic , GRVL DRMA , and others. On the other end of the spectrum are races that are eithere much more costly to put on or create a premium experience, or both. The 'ultra' gravel races in our region like Day Across Minnesota ($120) and The Crusher ($225) cost significantly more than the average race but are also a much bigger undertaking to produce. The next most expensive event is Epic Bike Fest at $95 (plus another $95 if you want to add Saturday mountain biking) which is put on by the Birkie and part of a full 'fest' weekend of events and a premium experience. 6. Brutally Long Distances Have a Strangely Popular Attraction Sure, gravel cyclists love a little pain and are in it for the physical challenge but the ultra distances are seeing sellout numbers and more offerings in more races. The Day Across Minnesota, 240 miles, sells out almost instantly and the Crusher MS 175 also sells out year after year. Heywood has 390 and 160 mile options in addition to their standard century distance. Gray Duck Grit has 333 and 222 mile distances in addition to their standard century distance. These distances take more resources to support and more time to run but their is just a deep love of ultra physical challenges that inspires so many people. What's Next for Gravel? The growth of gravel racing has meant more options in more places with better and better race infrastructure and support. Will gravel continue to grow in our region? And what kinds of races will pop up in coming years? We're excited to follow along with upcoming race seasons while sharing your stories and updates about great events.

The Nxrth now has Long Sleeve Jersey orders for 14 days until Sept 19. These jerseys are designed and stitched in Coon Valley, Wisconsin. Photos by Megan Zabel Holmes . Get Your Long Sleeve Jersey

Year 2 of the Coon Fork 40 produced by CORBA saw perfect beach weather, challenging routes, and a huge northwoods gravel party in the woods. Check out this recap video produced by Volume One for gravel fly-bys, beach bombs, and capture all the energy of the beach-to-beach gravel adventure. To learn more and put it on your radar for 2025, visit the Coon Fork 40 .

As the summer gravel season is winding down and fall gravel is picking up, we're taking a pause to check in on the our region's trend line of race registrations. Looking back from 2013, we've charted a sample of races along with their annual registrations to get a picture of the regional gravel scene. The Growth of the Gravel Biking Scene Gravel racing has been growing regionally, nationally, and internationally in the last several years. Gravel's growing popularity can probably be attributed to several factors both on and off the bike. One aspect is the versatility of gravel bikes, which tend to handle a variety of mixed and rugged terrains. That flexibility gives riders to explore more remote, scenic, and adventurous routes that aren't very easy (or comfortable) to reach on traditional road bikes. The gravel biking community itself has also played a role in the sport's growth. Known for being inclusive and welcoming, the gravel community tends to be more open to riders of different skill levels, backgrounds, genders, and ages. One other interesting factor is the post-pandemic bike boom. While the industry's spike in bike sales during the pandemic was short lived, and has since declined, there seems to be a strong after effect of the community's growth. Wisconsin, Minnesota, & the U.P. Gravel Scene Full disclosure, I am very much a newbie to our region's rich and diverse gravel scene. While I've been adventure cycling since the early days of the races below, I've only been more active in the gravel events, community, and culture for the last couple years. If you've been around a long time, you'll likely notice my lack of knowledge around the earlier events and communities that preceded my involvement. Observations on the Growth Trend Line From this (unscientific and incomplete) data set, we'd like to offer some observations about the gravel scene in general as well as localized to our region here in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Here's what we see: 1. Consistent Growth for Across the Board There is a rising tide in the gravel community and new and old races are generally seeing a consistent growth curve. Due to several factors like the international growth of gravel and the cycling media giving more production value visibility to gravel biking, there has been a very noticeable growth curve across the board for gravel races 2. New & Old Races That Are Rapidly Growing This chart only shows a small sample or races, but shows a wide range of new and old events that are experiencing strong growth in recent years. A few events to note are Heywood, Hungry Bear, and the Coon Fork 40 having significant year over year increase in event participation. The Heywood , while it's a pretty new race, was able to build off of some of the energy from the legacy Almanzo race which took place in Northfield when the race ceased to occur and likely contributes to its rapidly growing popularity. Hungry Bear is a longstanding grassroots event in the Cable area that has also been accelerating its growth. New Moon Ski & Bike recently took over the race and saw a ~60% increase in participation in one year from 2023 to 2024. The Coon Fork 40 just had its second year this August and welcomed 500 racers to a unique beach-to-beach gravel race in August, Wisconsin. 3. Seasoned Races That Hit Their Limit Year After Year At some point, the most popular races tend to hit a ceiling and set a registration limit that then gets reached every year. Seasoned races like The Filthy 50 and the Heck of the North events were popular even before the more recent wave of widespread gravel growth. With other races like Hungry Bear and Heywood now approaching (or exceeding) the size of those events, it'll be interesting to see their growth curve (or registration caps) in future years. Notes on Data These numbers are not exact. Trend lines may not account for people who register on the day of the event but didn't get entered into an online registration system. This also doesn't account for people who register but didn't show up on race day. This is a small sampling. This isn't meant to be a scientific study. We took a few larger well established races and a few races that are only a few years old in order to get a general look at the gravel race scene. Historical numbers are estimates. Some of these races like Heck of the North and Filthy 50 didn't have easily accessible numbers from events that are several years old. Those data points reflect estimates from the race directors. Chart does not include the year 2020. Most races were cancelled but some still took place. In order to have a meaningful comparison, the year 2020 was not included.

The second annual Coon Fork 40 took place last weekend and celebrated the end of summer gravel with full-northwoods and full-beach-party fun. We were there riding the short route and here's what we took away from the day, the parties, the people, and the ride. Photos by Megan Zabel Holmes Saturday at the Coon Fork 40 felt like peak Northwoods gravel summer. Hot sun, cool lake, and a jack ton of friends riding bikes and hanging out at the lake. With the event fresh in our minds and a tinge of sunburn still on our skin, here's what we took away from the 2nd installment of the Coon Fork 40, beach-to-beach gravel adventure put on by CORBA . Takeaways from Coon Fork 40, Year 2: 1. There's No Better Finish Line Than a Northwoods Beach in August This year brought a brand new finish line that shot everybody out of the woods straight into the middle of the huge party on the beach. Bikes were everywhere, we jumped right into the lake without changing out of our bike clothes, and it was just awesome scene to share stories from the day and enjoy the sunsetting of summer. 2. That Final Mile Either Made Your Day or Broke You Down  With the new finish line came a new final mile of the event. The end of the race approached from the south and winded through a doublewide grassy ski trail. It was one of the pretties sections of the route. If the hot sun and grueling sections of the route was already beating you down, the last 1.5 miles of bumps and roots really made you earn that burger, beverage, and beach. 3. The CORBA Volunteer Community Is Awesome & Came Together in an Amazing Way This event took so many people to put on beyond just the race itself. The Halfway Hang was even bigger than last year. The finish line party is a huge undertaking with with food and beverage. The routes themselves were perfectly signed and taped. Not to mention that the race takes place 40 minutes from Eau Claire where many of the volunteers live. I don't know the total number of volunteers the day of the event as well as the planning all year, but they put a lot of heart and sweat into putting together a truly unique event. 4. Everybody Wished There Was More Sand If you were on the Mid or Long routes, you probably weren't quite ready for the sand sections to be over. You may have even taken an extra lap on those 2 lobes before the Halfway Hang in Rock Dam. No? Well if that was you, then the cool water with even more sand at the beach back at the Coon Fork finish line was the cherry on top of the whole day. 5. Racing is Cool. Taking it Slow is Cool too. My wife and I did the Short route and made a point to take our time at the Halfway Hang. I actually can't think of a race that I actually 'raced' to finish as high as possible (spoiler: I'm not that fast). But even more so at the Coon Fork 40, I really enjoy soaking up the whole day, enjoying the double beach parties, and choosing the shortest option. And Now...Time for Fall Gravel to Begin! With August winding down and September around the corner, we're starting to look at fall adventures. If you're looking for fall gravel inspiration, take a look at these 7 fall ride ideas here or explore these great gravel destinations .

The Small River Town of Lanesboro, Minnesota The small river town of Lanesboro, Minnesota has been known for its bike culture for years as well as its placement in the middle of miles of paved rail trail that can take riders up and down the mighty Root River. In addition to the paved trails, the town is also known for its cute bed n’ breakfasts, historic hotels, an ice cream shop, the perfect bike themed cafe, pastry shop, a five star wine bar, and the best craft brewery around. One thing that it hasn’t been known for (until recently) are its ancient limestone gravel roads. Gravel Guide Created by Trenton Raygor @trigunw0lf Jump to Section Map Overview Gravel Routes Paved Trail System Where to Eat Where to Stay Where to Drink Bike Shops The Filthy 50 moved to Lanesboro in 2019 and has since introduced thousands of people to the area. The area features some of the best gravel roads in North America. Combine the thousands of miles of primo gravel roads with the accommodations, cuisine, and culture that Lanesboro provides makes this the ideal gravel adventure destination. We will give you a few routes to get you started, however, you’re going to want to explore. There are so many amazing gravel roads that the routes we share below don’t highlight. Where to Bike Gravel From Lanesboro, Minnesota The area of the Driftless Region that surrounds Lanesboro is colloquially referred to as “bluff country”. Yes, you guessed it, that means elevation! Bring your climbing legs. When you’re in Lanesboro, stop, stand in one place, and look around in all directions. The only way out (that doesn’t directly follow the river) involves going up. Note: there are purposefully very few miles of pavement included in our routes both for enjoyment and safety. Here are several of our favorites. Gravel Bike Routes The Pretty Filthy 25 [23.6 miles] This route takes you south out of downtown Lanesboro. You will follow the creek as you climb Grosbeak and Gentle eventually descending on Easy Street and then will turn south, following Gribben Creek out of the valley. It’s a bit of up and down before an epic return featuring Grit Road and hitting the finish line in the middle of downtown Lanesboro. This route features minimum maintenance roads, 1900+ feet of climbing, no towns to refuel, but some of the prettiest scenery you ever did see. LINK TO MAP . The Filthy 50 [50.9 miles] This takes you south out of downtown Lanesboro. You will follow the creek as you climb Grosbeak and Gentle eventually descending on Easy Street. You will then climb the infamous Dew Drop and turn south towards “The Big Woods” and Amish country. Riders will want to keep their wits about them when they hit the Amish maintained MMR just west of Henrytown. After making your way down Grit Road, crossing the finish line in downtown Lanesboro is gonna feel good. This route features several minimum maintenance roads (MMRs) and 3200+ feet of climbing. There are no towns for refueling. It ain’t easy, folks. LINK TO MAP . The North 50 [49.5 miles] The North 50 takes you east out of downtown Lanesboro. You immediately get into some heavy climbing, but then get to enjoy a swift descent into the small river town of Whalen. From there you grind scenic Deep River Road until you’re shot north up the 105 along Big Springs Creek. You’ll get far enough north to hear the sounds of Interstate 90, but then jog west and begin your trek south toward Pilot Mound. After that, soak in the vibes of Harrow Rd and get your last bit of climbing done before you bomb Gaelic and roll some smooth pavement back into Lanesboro. This route features some eagle nests along the Root River, a pie shop, and 3200+ feet of climbing. LINK TO MAP . The Extra Filthy 100 [100.6 miles] This takes you north out of downtown Lanesboro, then west and north toward Pilot Mound, then north and east toward The Village of Rushford. Riders will then adventure south through the small river town of Peterson (mile 50 and your only refueling stop) and will meet up with the 50 mile route further south in Amish country. This route features several MMRs and 7000+ feet of climbing. It’s packed with valleys and vistas, and is as tough as it is beautiful. This beast is bound to push your limits. Plan accordingly. LINK TO MAP . Lanesboro Paved Trail System The Root River State Trail provides a paved option that starts in Fountain and takes you 42.3 miles to Houston, with Lanesboro, Whalen, Peterson, and Rushford as towns along the way. A fun and short one to do with the kids is the 4.6 miles from Lanesboro to Whalen, eat a piece of pie, and ride the 4.6 miles back. The Harmony-Preston Valley State Trail provides a 17.8 mile paved option between Harmony and where it connects with The Root River State Trail just several miles west of Lanesboro. Preston is your only town along the way. You might want your climbing legs for this stretch, especially if you’re planning on venturing all the way to Harmony. Take a look at the Root River & Harmony-Preston Valley State Trails Map if you’re looking to take advantage of these scenic paved options. Video: A Love Letter to the Driftless Region by Filthy Founder, Trenton Raygor Where to Eat Another Time Ice Cream Parlor If a post ride ice cream treat is your thing (it’s definitely mine), here is your goto. These folks are super kind and located at the Filthy start and finish lines. Pst…they also serve up a mean espresso. Lanesboro Pastry Shoppe This is a favorite of ours for that pre-ride breakfast or mid-ride cinnamon roll. The chef will literally make you anything you ask for on or off the menu. Bring cash. Pedal Pushers Cafe This is probably our favorite restaurant anywhere. Hands down. Scott and Angie make the best post-ride meals and if you’re riding a Filthy route, they are conveniently located quite literally at the finish line. Where to Stay Camping City of Lanesboro Sylvan Park Campground: is an economical option and a convenient place for tent camping. Sites are limited to 35. A bathhouse is available with coin operated showers, which are handy after a long ride. Highway 250 Campground: is the closest option to downtown Lanesboro for parking your camper overnight. It’s also on our 100 mile route making your start and finish super convenient. Hotels We are big fans of Stone Mill Hotel and Suites, Cottage House Inn, Iron Horse, and Root River Inn and Suites due to their proximity to downtown. Check the Lanesboro website for more options and availability. There are some historic bed and breakfasts in town that we’ve been meaning to try out as well. Where to Drink Coffee Parkway Market & CoffeeHouse: the perfect quick stop to load up on provisions and get caffeinated before your ride. Beer Sylvan Brewing : Andy and Karen make the best beer around and even make a special Filthy beer each year for the finishers. Ask them about it. A great post-ride destination. Wine Root River 102: where you need to be for that post ride cocktail or glass of wine. They have an incredible bar and also serve really good food. Bike Shop Your Lanesboro option: Little River General Store

The Coon Fork Overnighter was designed to be a Northwoods treat for brand new bikepackers looking for their first adventure as well as seasoned adventure cyclists needing a snappy gravel S240. Created By: Josh Rizzo ROUTE OVERVIEW ​ Distance 65 Miles​ Days 2 Days % Unpaved 87% Elevation 2,576 Ft The Coon Fork Overnighter winds through tangled waterways and just rolls its way through lively forests. This route straddles the Eau Claire County and Clark County Forests which both allow dispersed camping with permits. With ample options for wild camping spots among the mixed vegetation, along waterways, or at one of several established campgrounds, you can stay somewhere new on every trip. The route is almost 90% unpaved and includes several different types of wooded gravel roads, snakey ATV routes, and short paved sections through Wisconsin farm country. Having numerous options for camping, parking, and stopping for food or drinks, it can easily be customized for longer or shorter route versions. After (or during) a day of great riding, sometimes the best parts are what happen off the bike. My recommendations? Grab a drink and sit on the deck at Boondock’s Bar & Grill, go swimming at Hamilton Falls or Rock Dam, or grab some bomb cheese curds with an ice cream cone chaser at Vojtik’s Stockyard. ​Route Difficulty: This route was intended to be accessible to riders new to bikepacking. The mileage is reasonable, there are no technical sections, and the total elevation isn’t too high. Most of the surrounding area is gravel roads which means it can be lengthened or shortened and still mostly avoid pavement. There are several sandy sections where you might have to walk, but they aren’t very long. Join The Nxrth+ For Unlimited Access to Full Route Details: Route map with full Points of Interest Route highlights Camping Details Must-know Info Food & Water Resupply If You Go, Here's What You Need to Know: Route Highlights 1. Hamilton Falls is right on the ATV route and is a great place to dip your feet. 2. Coon Fork has nice private campsites, hiking trails, and twin beaches. 3. Boondock’s Bar & Grill is the authentic Wisconsin country bar. Number of beers on tap? Zero. Number of locals who love Boondocks’ burgers and Busch Light? All of them. 4. Whitetail deer are everywhere and are especially active right before dark. 5. The dam at Rock Dam is beautiful for a swim or lunch stop. 6. Cheese curds and ice cream are a must have at Vojtik’s Stockyard 7. Wedges Creek for camping and pizza is a hidden gem. You'll have to build-your-own-detour to add this to your route and you'll be glad you did. Must Know 1. When to ride: May - early October. Go early or late if you want to avoid mosquitoes. Fall colors are in late Sept-Oct. Wisconsin’s 9-day deer gun hunting season begins the Saturday before Thanksgiving. You may want to avoid the area during that period or wear blaze orange. 2. Prepare for bugs. In the summer, you’ll definitely experience mosquitoes and ticks but in the cooler months, they’ll leave you alone. 3. There are several parking options around this route. We usually start and end at Coon Fork County Park Campground where there are full amenities and secure parking. Overnight parking is $5 there. 4. This route can realistically be ridden on any bike. No suspension is needed. There are some sandy sections where you may have to push your bike for a little bit but they aren’t very long. 5. Beware of hunting season. Most of this route is in and around County Forests that fill up with deer hunters during the fall. Be sure to take note of any active hunting seasons as it would be a good idea to avoid dispersed camping during gun hunting season. Camping There are several campgrounds right on the route. For dispersed camping in the Eau Claire County forest, get a permit HERE For Clark County Forest dispersed camping, get a permit HERE Several options to camp on or near the water if you choose dispersed camping. For something extra special and off the beaten path, I recommend checking out Wedges Creek . You'll have to crank a few extra miles, but the scenery (and wood fired pizza on Saturdays in the summer) is well worth it. Food & Water Plenty of river and creek crossings. There is water all over the place for filtering and there are also several campgrounds on the route. Several country bars. For food, beverages, or refilling water bottles you’ll find a handful of bars/restaurants on the route. Vojtik’s Stockyard Foods is a great food stop in the middle of nowhere. They have some light groceries, hot food, and an ice cream cone bar. Trail Notes 1. To shorten this route, the two best options are to either cut off the northwest loop or just stay on Camp Globe Road when heading west out of Rock Dam then take H and Goat Ranch Rd back to Coon Fork County Park. 2. Watch out for ATVs. This route includes several ATV routes in both Eau Claire and Clark County. Bicycles can legally be ridden on 100% of the route but you’ll want to look out for speeding ATVs around tight corners. Coon Fork Overnighter Bikepacking Route Map: Josh Rizzo is the founder of The Nxrth. He loves bike adventures with his family and friends and knows that it's not about the destination. Heck it's not even about the journey. It's about the snacks that get you from point A to point B. Disclaimer: If you choose to ride this route, you do so at your own risk. You are 100% responsible for being prepared for all conditions and making sure that biking these routes is legal. Before riding, check local weather, road conditions, closures, and property ownership. Obey all traffic laws and follow land use restrictions. Do not ride these routes without proper safety equipment and navigational tools. The accuracy of these routes cannot be guaranteed neither can we guarantee that these routes are on public property. TheNxrth.com and its contributors are in no way liable for the personal injury or damage to property that may result from cycling this route or any other routes on this website.

Chasing the train is a north to south route from Saint Paul to Winona, Minnesota. The route leads riders out of the metro area and its suburban sprawl and into the river towns of Cannon Falls and Redwing. It then climbs back out of the river valley and traverses the top of the bluffs before descending back down into Winona. Upon arriving in Winona you board the Amtrak and ride the rails back to Saint Paul. Route & Photos by Scott Haraldson Chasing the train is a route for those wishing to escape the city, to ever so slowly remove yourself from the noise & visual pollution that you encounter at every intersection. This is a chance to ride directly out of a metropolitan downtown, past the strip malls of suburbia and into the countryside, breathing fresh country air the further you go. Instead of looping back to the start the route travels 190 miles south where you’ll need to arrive in the river town of Winona in time to catch the Amtrak Empire Builder train for your trip back to the start. The route is roughly 60% unpaved and also includes a large section of the heavily wooded paved Cannon Valley River trail. For those with a sense of extra adventure there is a small section of singletrack as you pop out onto the bluffs overlooking Winona and Mississippi river. Designed as a three day route it could be adjusted to accommodate an extra night and shorter days in the saddle. Join The Nxrth+ For Unlimited Access to Full Route Details: Route map with full Points of Interest Route highlights Camping Details Must-know Info Food & Water Resupply Riding Back on Amtrak Route Map If You Go, Here's What You Need to Know Route Highlights The River Bottoms The Minnesota River Trail located within the floodplain of the Minnesota River is one of the more natural and picturesque trails in the Twin Cities. Commonly called the "River Bottoms” it takes but minutes for one to forget how close to the city they are as you immerse yourself in the natural surroundings. The trail meanders alongside the river, ever-changing depending on the flooding, before going under the 494 bridge, complete with its own ever changing graffiti. Watt Munisotaram 30 miles outside the cities you'll catch a glimpse of something that doesn't look like anything else for hundreds of miles around. The Watt Munisotaram is the largest Cambodian temple in North America. The temple was constructed in 2007, but their presence on the site dates to 1988 when the Minnesota Cambodian Buddhist Society bought the 40-acre plot of land and built a modest shrine and dormitory to house its handful of monks.⁣⁣ Monks and priests now live year-round at the temple. Cannon Falls The city of Cannon Falls was named for the falls located along the Cannon River. The city is the westernmost trailhead of the Cannon Valley Trail. Lake Byllesby, which sits on the west side of town, was created when the river was dammed in 1910 by the Henry Byllesby Company. Constructed using mostly hand labor, a crew of 500 individuals completed the work in nine months. Rails Turned Trails Leaving Cannon Falls you hop onto the Cannon Valley Trail. The trail occupies the route of a former Chicago Great Western railroad line that connected Red Wing and Mankato in 1882. Over 100 years later, in 1983, when the railroad announced its intention to abandon the railway, citizens realized the recreational potential of the line. The rail to trail was dedicated in 1986, and the asphalt pavement was completed in 1992. A $5 one day wheel pass can be purchased online, at self pay box or from an attendant if riding on the weekend. Winona Overlook The route places you directly on top of the bluffs overlooking the city. This section of the route has singletrack that can be accomplished on a gravel bike but some hike-a-bike may be necessary depending on your skill set. Be mindful of your abilities as you will be riding close to the edge of the bluff. Must Know When to Ride May - early October. Go early or late if you want to avoid mosquitoes. Fall colors are in late Sept-Oct. Zumbro Bottoms hosts a motorcycle club in September and will have a lot of traffic on the gravel roads. Cannon Valley Trail requires a $5 one day wheel pass which can be purchased online, at a self pay box or from an attendant on the trail if riding on the weekend. Beware of Hunting Season The Zumbro Bottoms Unit is used heavily for deer and grouse hunting in the fall and for turkey hunting in the spring. Wear bright colors and camp spots may be filled. Camping The route can be easily accomplished in three days if you are comfortable pushing 60-70 miles per day. If you are looking more for a party-pace look to add an additional camp spot. Just remember that you’ll need to chase the train and make it to Winona in time to depart on your reservation date. Lake Byllesby Campground Nestled along the shores of Lake Byllesby Reservoir, Lake Byllesby Campground offers many lakeside campsites but caters towards RV users. Zumbro Bottoms Zumbro Bottoms offers a handful of camping options, all considered primitive, with the basics, fire ring, table, vault toilet, and a hand-pumped well. All sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Food & Water Resupply Water & Convenience Stores Options dot the early portions of the route but be ready for a lengthy section between Red Wing and Zumbro Bottoms where there won’t be any food options and not many spots to fill water bottles. Mill Street Tavern Brick walls line this classic narrow, old-school restaurant. You’ll find burgers, steaks, seafood & beer. Pop over next door to Tillion Brewing for a post meal drink. Red Wing Red Wing has everything you’ll need including groceries, restaurants, full service bike shop and brewery. Elba Elba has a number of restaurants and a convenience store. The historic Elba House, now called the Whisky Hill Grill is great for a burger and a cold beer. Winona Grab yourself a sandwich at Erberts and Gerberts and a crowler of beer from Island City brewing to take with you on the train ride back. Riding Back on Amtrak AMTRAK’S EMPIRE BUILDER runs daily between St. Paul (Union Depot) and Winona. At the time of this writing a train runs North to South in the morning and South to North in the evening (Depart 7:30 arrival 10:30 PM). RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED at an additional cost of $20. Look for the option to add a bike when booking your one way ticket online. CARRY-ON BIKE SERVICE is just like carry-on luggage in that you carry your bike on and off the train yourself. No boxes are needed. Don’t expect to have anyone staffing the Winona station, it may very well be empty. Upon arriving at the station train staff knew to expect us and were quick to assist us getting our trains onboard. The Winona stop is a longer stop so you’ll have time to get situated. BIKE REQUIREMENTS Amtrak states their bike racks accept a maximum tire width of 2 inches and they don’t accept tandems or other non-standard bikes. It is also advised to remove any excessive bags from your bike and bring them to your seat. We wanted to be prepared for departure so we removed our fork, seat and handlebar bags but it was not necessary as we were instructed to lay our bikes down inside a baggage car and there was ample room. I rode with 29x2.2 inch tires and it was not an issue. If you are using a fat tire bike you may want to inquire ahead of time with Amtrak. TRAVELING AT NIGHT while not as scenic as a day trip along the Mississippi River riding the train at night can be its own fun. Grab a snack at the dining car, sit up in the upper level and watch the city lights of towns zip by as the train car jostles you off to a nap. PICKUP/DROPOFF we started our route at Saint Paul Brewing. We coordinated with a family member to both drop us off and then later pick us up at the station. There are numerous parking lots near Union Depot if you wish to leave a vehicle. Disclaimer: If you choose to ride this route, you do so at your own risk. You are 100% responsible for being prepared for all conditions and making sure that biking these routes is legal. Before riding, check local weather, road conditions, closures, and property ownership. Obey all traffic laws and follow land use restrictions. Do not ride these routes without proper safety equipment and navigational tools. The accuracy of these routes cannot be guaranteed neither can we guarantee that these routes are on public property. TheNxrth.com and its contributors are in no way liable for the personal injury or damage to property that may result from cycling this route or any other routes on this website.

Created by Chris Stindt Gravel is a La Crosse area specialty - the region is part of the driftless; we have some amazing views, bluffs to climb, a great river, oh, and quality crushed limestone roads, plus the benefit of a mid-sized town to offer breweries, distilleries, great food and places to stay. Jump to Section Map Overview Gravel Routes Rail-Trail Routes Bonus ATB Route Where to Eat Where to Stay Where to Drink Bike Shops This guide will help you figure out where you want to ride, where to stay, eat and drink, plus some great local bike shops. The area offers everything from pancake flat rails-to-trails to hilly rides with over 10,000 feet of climbing. You can stay on the cheap at a campsite, or at a 5-star hotel overlooking the Mississippi River. Taco trucks to steak houses, dine in your kit or throw on some fancy duds, the choice is yours. Oh, and we don’t recommend trying to drink out of the world’s largest 6-pack, we have multiple other better options. Where to Ride Gravel From La Crosse The little secret is that most of the gravel routes we have are actually over the Mississippi River, in Minnesota. Yes, you can get to gravel in Wisconsin, but it's consideralby farther away than the gravel in Minnesota. Gravel Biking Routes Each route can be modified; if you’re the hardy type to ride from your hotel, but want to be in the city, then you have 5-10 miles of road riding at the beginning and end of each route. Alternatively you can stay in La Crescent or simply drive to the start of the gravel. Based on experience, there is something magical about crossing one of the biggest rivers in the world to start an epic adventure. But generally, if you’ve done it right, the hardest climb of the day is coming back over the blue bridge at the end of the day. Some days I start in town, other days I drive over; choose your own adventure. The Appetizer [30 miles] This route starts in La Crescent and heads west. What little traffic you see on County Road 6 is quickly left behind, as you turn on to Pine Creek Road. Pavement gives way to gravel and almost immediate views. A climb takes you to Nodine, and then a gravel descent brings you to the prettiest swale in the country, between east and westbound traffic on I90. A challenging climb up an (in)famous MMR brings you back to the ridge top. Enjoy this great taste of driftless gravel! LINK TO MAP . Deceptive Distance [35 miles] Multiple times I’ve mapped this route and left my house, thinking I’d just be out for a couple of hours. Alas, as my wife will tell you, I’ve never done it in less than 3 hours. Partially because it’s closer to 50 miles if you leave from La Crosse, but also because it features 4 full bluff climbs. But damn, this is a great route close to the city. If you want to get the full experience of driftless gravel, but don’t have time to commit to a full day of riding, this is your best option. LINK TO MAP . The Skullsplitter [56 miles] This is a former race route I used to coordinate. If you want all gravel and still want over 50 miles, this is a bruiser of a route. No services, again, except Little Miami. LINK TO MAP . Metric Century [65 miles] Notes on this route…make sure you have plenty of fuel and liquids. More than you think you’ll need. I’ve been picked up at least twice trying to finish this one on two bottles and not enough snackies. There is a soda machine at Little Miami in Freeburg, and to be honest, you might want to just plan on stopping there so you can say you did. Otherwise start with a lot, or hit the KT in Hokah. Grab a snack at Free Range Exchange on the way back. Other fun bits: Country Road 5 is one of my favorite roads…period. Cut into rock, running downhill and along a little river valley, it’s really special. LINK TO MAP . Gravel Monster [105 miles] This route was created by a couple of local gravel aficionados, who had created a ‘monster’ road route with 10 climbs, and wanted to do the same for gravel. I was one of, if not the first, to test it out, and it was definitely a challenging ride. If you want to make sure you hit triple digits on the odo, start in La Crosse. Refuel in Houston. If you time it right, stop in Hokah for baked goods to fuel the last bit to home. What else…oh 7200 feet of climbing. Brace yourselves, gravel is coming. LINK TO MAP . Big Dumb Dirt [127 miles] This route combines some of the above south and west options into one dumb massive ride. You’ll need to be a) strong b) masochistic and c) have a LOT of time to complete this. LINK TO MAP . BONUS : ATB Route [55 miles] [ATB = All Terrain Bike]: Do you have a road bike and don’t mind underbiking? A gravel bike that is fine on the road? Enjoy a bit of hike-a-bike on singletrack with amazing views? Do you crave only the best coffee, food and baked goods on offer (see Wonderstate)? Try this bonus route out. LINK TO MAP . Rail Trail Routes We are fortunate to be at the intersection of a couple of great rails to trails conversion options. Westward goes to Trempealeau and Eastward goes…to Milwaukee, if you’re adventurous enough. You can really choose your own adventure, do an out and back to Tremp and then head east to Sparta or try the tunnels of Elroy Sparta. Go as far or as short as you want, these are your best chances to ‘recover’ on gravel, while enjoying sites and sounds (Mississippi River and more). *You need a state trail pass. All local shops sell them, but Coulee Bike Co. is located right near the trailhead at Great River Landing on Onalaska. Westward Route [41 miles] This route goes through town, if you’re staying downtown, on mostly bike paths. Or start in Onalaska at Great River Landing and you’ll be all on trail. It’s an out and back to Trempealeau, which has a nice little cafe for a coffee and snack. LINK TO MAP . Eastward Route [69 miles] This route goes all the way to Norwak. Black Squirrel Capital of the World? Sure why not. If you haven’t seen it before, this goes through 3 tunnels, carved through the bluffs, to keep things flat. Bring a light and a sense of adventure. LINK TO MAP . Where to Eat Freighthouse Supperclub, La Crosse Freighthouse is a really nice place, down near the river. Dress up and dine inside or chill on the back patio. Great food and nice ambiance. Pearl Ice Cream, La Crosse (the President came, ok, it’s not political, it’s just that good) Homemade ice cream! Candy! I’ve definitely eaten ice cream on the sidewalk in a kit at mile 85 of a century. Free Range Exchange, Hokah MN & La Crosse WI Hokah is a nice little town that is a jumping off point for a lot of the gravel. Stop mid ride or after for a baked good and hot coffee. You won’t regret it! La Crosse also has a downtown Free Range Exchange location with a patio. Barista’s Coffee, Houston Toward the western end of our usual gravel routes, Houston has a couple of gas stations, but if you have time, stop at Barista’s for a coffee, snack or quick lunch. Meringue Bakery, La Crosse [ yeah, you’re gonna wanna stop here ] A bakery from 3-time Food Network Champion, Jen Barney. I’ll leave it at that. Where to Stay Camping Perot State Park : A bit out of the area, but great for bikepackers or those who prefer to be off the beaten path. Pettibone Resort : Camping right on the Mississippi between Wisconsin and Minnesota. Great for starting rides but still being close to town. Goose Island : South of the city, this county owned campground is gorgeous and also right on the river. If you are ok riding a bit longer to gravel, or driving, this option is very nice. 5 Star 5-Star Luxury Charmant : This converted candy factory is a block from the Mississippi River. Gorgeous views and very nice rooms, they also have a restaurant and cafe. If you want the best, this is it. Hotels Downtown: Most chain hotels have options in downtown. If you want nightlife or city access, you have options here. Onalaska: Picture any busy interstate stop you’ve ever been to, and this is it. Hotels, restaurants, a mall, etc. Lots of options to stay here. La Crescent The new Best Western is a great option if you want to stay in a smaller town, closer to the gravel. Airbnbs: Lots of options. If you want close access to gravel, find something in Minnesota. If you prefer city amenities, try downtown La Crosse. Where to Drink Coffee Wonderstate Coffee, Viroqua : Great roasted coffee, incredible food, ambiance. Grounded Coffee Patio, La Crosse : A really nice downtown cafe with outdoor seating, if you want to sit by your bike. Breweries & Distilleries Turtle Stack Brewery or 608 Brewing : We like beer in La Crosse, and have two small microbreweries in/near downtown. Can’t go wrong. La Crosse Distillery :This newer option is a great place to grab dinner or a drink, and to take some local distilled spirits home with you. [food and drinks] Bike Shop Picks Downtown La Crosse: Smith’s Bike Shop Onalaska: Coulee Bike Co [near the Great River Landing] Onalaska: River Trail Cycles