Great Sand Dunes National Park

The park is a day trip that will take you south of the Springs and through the Spanish Peaks. It's about 3 hours each way but well worth the drive, especially if you are easily entertained by the sight of mountains and arid landscapes.

Just before the park entrance there is a private campground that rents sand boards and sleds. It's not a mot-do but it's not not fun. The sand sled is the way to go, the boards require perfectly dry conditions and don't really  carve. It is a little annoying to lug then through the dunes if you'd rather be hiking out past the first volley. 

Between the parking area and the dunes is a little dry creek bead. It would be amazing to be here while it's flowing through this landscape.

- Ride North

April 5th | cool & sunny

Garden of the Gods

 It's been a busy second quarter for the Riden North crew. We've been everywhere from Colorado to North Carolina, and all over the great State of Minnesota. April 2nd was a particularly beautiful day that started early at MSP International Airport and ended with a sunset at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.

Colorado Springs is a solid medium to large city whos residents can, at anytime, take a 10 minute drive up to this beautiful park and stroll casually down the paved walkways winding their way amoung the red rock monoliths. After a short drive south from Denver, we settled into our Air BnB and did just that.

Sunset is prime time.

Adjecnet to the Garden of the Gods is the Red Rocks Open Space. It's high on my list for hiking next time we're in the area. 

Pike's Peak as seen from the park.

Smooching dromedaries. (Kissing Camels)

Watch for deer.

It was a relaxing end to a day's travils. Our week started with a spring snow storm in St Paul but quickly turned to semi-arid mountains and red rock. There was just enough of the white stuff around to pretty up the peaks but it was "warm" and sunny in the valley.

- Ride North

April 2nd and 6th

St. Paul April 1st. 

It was nice to leave this behind for a week.

The Barr trail and the Incline

 Spring break 2023, we tossed on some hiking boots and boarded a plane to Denver. Ms. North wanted to hike The Incline, a hiking hot spot that raises 2000 feet above Manitou Springs in under a mile. At its steepest, it's a 67% grade; 2800 steps take you to the top.  She gave Jr. and I an out, several times but it just seemed like so  much fun that we couldn't pass it up. 

About a 3rd of the way up.

The steps have markers every 100 steps, adding to the experience.

1500 steps. Jr. making the climb look easy.

Lots of this on the way to the top.

We made it to the top!

2800 steps.

Home is at 600ish feet, making the air at 8000 feet the biggest limiting factor in our climb. Our legs felt okay but the lungs were struggling to keep up; the second half was conquered 20 steps at a time. Thankfully, we had plenty of company at our rest stops. Most tackle The Incline in small bites but every once in a while you'll get passed by someone trail running. And then there's the super humans who run up and the down, we were passed by the same person more than twice!

From the top, the Barr trail either brings you back to Manitou Springs or continues on to Pike's Peak.

The Barr Trail is stunning and can be hiked as an out and back,

 separately from The Incline

- Ride North

April 3rd | 2000 feet

Descending the Trimbelle River valley

This one made "The Gram" but deserves a home here too. It was a "good vibes" ride, slow with a chance of deer. 

I left St Paul a little after dinner to take advantage of the late summer sun and hunt down some Guzzi roads in Peirce County. Uninterested in fast moving, I snuck out Bailey Road to Afton and onward to the headwaters of the Trimbelle River. 

County roads N, J, and W in St Croix county are beautiful motorcycle roads. Perched high above the sunken river valleys, they are open and unpopulated. You can almost peer into the dark, sinuous, deer-filled coulees below. I could ride all day on roads like this surrounded by distance. 

County Road J/W

County Road W descends an opening in the limestone bedrock where underground streams feed a river with ice cold water. To the West, Crystal Cave has been carved out under the Eau Galle River. Here the unnamed cave systems are hidden below farmland.

I feel the pull of County Road O and a leisurely trek back up Highway 35 towards home. It's getting late and the sun sets earlier behind the steep valley walls. The deer will be moving, nearsighted and hurried. I slow down and enjoy my time along the Trimbelle before we both reach the Mississippi river. 

There are deer moving, I can see them in the fields and along the road side. From the brambles to my right an eager doe leaps across my path and into the floodplain. My slow pace paid off and kept us both from harm. 

All but a short burst on I-94 were prime Guzzi roads traversed on a beautiful summer evening. From Highway 61, the sight of St Paul at dusk is welcoming.

- Ride North

July 27th | warm summer evening | 7ish  - 9:00 PM

Scott County

 Went for a Sunday morning ride in the country. Not a lot of "twisties" on this one, just corn and soybeans, small lakes, wetlands, and oaks. The area south of Prior Lake has slightly more topography than the surrounding area and hosts some small lakes and oak groves. Once the corn gives way to pasture and oaks you'll have found it.

Low water.

No water.

Highway 3 south out of Inver Grove is an immediate escape from traffic and strip malls; the pavement is nice. I turned west on 80, a gravel road south of Farmington, and continued on 2 to the Cedar lake area. Just north of Cedar Lake I passed a sign for Fish Lake Campground and did a 180 to investigate. It's a private campground with some long-term trailers but has plenty of "primitive" tent spots too. I don't think it fills up often, if you're looking for a quick getaway.  (try sites 8 or 9)

After my short but enjoyable time in Scott County, I ran up to Fairview to visit my father-in-law for lunch. I prefer highway 13 on the south side of the Minnesota River to 35W but it wasn't too bad on a Sunday.

- Ride North

80 miles | 60s | sunny

Biking in the land of OZ, NW Arkansas

Spring Break 2022!

I haven't gone anywhere for spring break since maybe 2005, when I last participated in one of the Upper Midwest's most prodigious institutions for learning. A gap in Jr. North's school schedule presented us with an oppertunity to pack up the Vista Cruiser and head south in search of spring. The snow would follow us to about mid Iowa but, we did find it eventually, in Bentonville Arkansas.

An on-trail, open air cafe.

The 10 - 12 hour drive to Bentonville, Arkansas was broken up with hotel stops in KC on the way down and Des Moines on the way back up. Thankfully, a hotel with a pool is all we need for a successful and entertaining layover. 

Stop #1, skateboarding in Des Moines.

That night we stayed in Independence, Missouri near the Bass Pro Shop. It's a destination shopping area but we were there for its proximity to the freeway and the indoor/ outdoor pool. Jr and I swam outside in the cold sunshine and we took an after dinner walk around the "lake," watching the waterfowl do their thing. It was very spring like.

Heading back North on Thursday, we stayed in downtown Des Moines, hoping to take advantage of the giant skateboard park and botanical gardens. It was cold and rainy in the morning, so we didn't get many outdoor activities in. Dinner at the Royal Mile, meat pie and English bitter, was a trip highlight.

And now for the main attraction, Bentonville Arkansas. Bentonville is a booming little town in northwest Arkansas and the home of Walmart. It's also home to some of the best mountain biking trails in the country. The locals sport an interesting mix of business casual and athleisure wear; the trails reflect that mix too. In town you'll find highly manicured bike trails and jump lines while just north of town there are at least 100 miles of back-country Ozark bike trails to explore.

Mrs. North in excellent form

My rig suffered a mechanical failure on the first day.

I was able to rent a "full squish" Orbea Occom!

Thank you Mojo Cycling!

We got a little riding in on the first afternoon but it rained the first full day, closing the trails. We spent day one exploring Eureka Springs, about a 45 minute drive to the east. It's a very fun town built into the hills, hosting many historic buildings, shops, and even a ghost tour. The rain and earlienes of the season kept many visitors away and we had it mostly to ourselves. 

Eureka Springs

Bedrock is a common motif.

Green, just like spring!

One of many in town.

On the return journey, we caught the last tour at War Eagle Cavern. It didn't blow me away with formations but it was a fun side trip. On a hot summer day, it's probably heaven.

This is what the underside of a sinkhole looks like,

 a very common topographic feature in south east Minnesota.

 A river flows through this cave system, 

making short work of any stalactites or stalagmites.

The following day we wandered the hills behind Crystal Bridges Museum of Modern Art while we waited for the bike trails to dry up.

We started out on some of the in-town "trails." The trails don't really close and they do dry up quickly. As complete newbs to the area, it was hard to know where to ride and we did get into some wet trails. Minnesota bike trails are often gated off until they dry out. These were built out of crushed gravel or built into the rocky hillside. The other odd-to-us thing is that most of the trails are two-way and are designed with that in mind. All the uphills felt like we were going the wrong way, but you get used to it.

Mrs. North

Mrs. North dropping in!

And Jr. too.

A water crossing on Black Apple Creek trail.

Good times!

Some of the more challenging trails.

There's no shame in walking the tricky bits.

More water!

Choo choo, the most fun I've had on a bike!

Community bouldering is available at the brewery/ café/ bike shop plaza.

That's Jr. North flying through the air.

Yet more signs of spring.

This was worth the drive.

We rounded out our visit with a hike at Tanyard Creek before making our way North to Des Monies.

Our outdoor activities, social distancing, and AirBNBs have kept us all (mostly) happy and  healthy in these turbulent times. The family bike rides, both near and far, have been a much needed diversion, a consistent reward, and a relief valve for us all. I very much hope that you and yours are finding balance, happiness, and satisfaction in your day-to-day or weekly routines.

- Ride North

cool | rainy, then sunny | April 3rd - 8th

Trail maps

Little Sugar - back country trails 25 mile loop