By Lynn Keillor (article courtesy of Minnesota Snowmobiling magazine - Sept 2010 issue)
Eveleth Trailhawks President Carl Burt may not be the first snowmobiler to ride the final link of the Hawk’s Trail when it opens this winter – but he’s darn well going to try.
“I think it’s very possible,” he says of his chances to make first tracks on the project he’s helped spearhead for many years.
“We’re the gateway to the North,” Burt says of riding in the Iron Range town of Eveleth. This new stretch of trail will expand the community’s reach to the south: it already goes north and east.
The Hawk’s Trail, which links Duluth to Eveleth, has been in the works for 20 years. The club is on the final 4-mile stretch this summer, and Burt has been a part of the process starting with the planning, all the way down to ridding the section of about 1,000 stumps. It hasn’t been a cheap 4 miles, either. The railroad underpass alone was to the tune of about $60,000 — that’s in addition to a $250,000 bridge over the St. Louis River.
When completed, this section will loosely follow the east side Highway 53 into town, starting at the Highway 37 junction. Just south of this section, the trail goes through virgin woods.
Eveleth sits along the eastern edge of the Mesabi iron ore range, along with the towns of Virginia, Gilbert, Biwabik, Aurora and Hoyt Lakes. Snowmobile trails follow this narrow line of geology, and the mining history is clearly evident.
“We’re mines and pines,” Burt says. “We’ve got a lot of trail that go through old logging roads, which go by small lakes and Norway pine plantations. It’s beautiful area all around here and you don’t have to go far to enjoy it all.” Wildlife spottings could include moose, deer, rabbits and the occasional wolf.
From the 22-foot-high, 240-ton “King of the Lode” mining truck overlooking Virginia to the deep pit mines, it’s hard to avoid the story of iron ore. Thanks to the pit mining techniques, and the resulting piles of mined-out rock, this landscape can appear almost mountainous.
There’s a real vista view where riders can see the sites of several mining facilities, says Duane Rudolph, trail director for the Hoyt Lakes-based Ranger’s Snowmobile & ATV Club. Between Biwabik and Aurora, the trail goes behind an old mine pit and around mine dumps. Also along the trail near Biwabik: a 1940s-era Embarrass River diversion channel.
In more recent history, the Ranger’s club is one of the few in the state that embraces both snowmobiles and ATVs, including a network of all-season motorized trails in Gilbert.
Riding north from either Virginia or Aurora, snowmobilers will connect to the Taconite State Trail, a premier state trail. “If you use us for a home base, one day you can go to the North Shore Trail, and another day up to the Taconite,” Rudolph says. His personal preference is to load up the saddlebags and head out a day’s worth of distance, such as Crane Lake or Silver Bay, and overnight.
Services — food, fuel and lodging — in this area are easy to find, and often have trails groomed to the businesses.
Then there’s the friendly side of this area. TeamFAST owner and snowmobile blogger David Karpik gives personal answers to those who ask for his advice. Rudolph and his club welcome all trail users: snowmobiles, ATV, horseback riders and any other recreationist. Burt is happy to show off his trails to anyone who calls.
“If someone wants to get a hold of us, we’ll gladly take them around,” he says. “We like to host anyone.”
Just don’t beat Burt to the newest section of trail.
Sidebar 1:
Show Your Card
These companies are MnUSA supporters. The * indicates it offers a discount to MnUSA members.
See the MnUSA Business Supporters pages in this issue for a complete list of association supporters and member discounts. For current offers, go to
Eat
Eveleth:
K&B Drive-Inn
Margies Roosevelt Bar
Sleeves Sportsman’s Bar
Timber’s Edge
Virginia:
Popper’s Bar.
Sleep
Biwabik:
The Lodge and Villas at Giant’s Ridge
Eveleth:
Super 8 Motel
Virginia:
AmericInn
Lakeshor Motor Inn*
Fun
Virginia:
Iron Range Tourism Bureau*
Rapids Rental
Virginia*
Sidebar 2:
Eastern Iron Range At A Glance
Location: Virginia, Eveleth, Gilbert, Biwabik, Aurora and Hoyt Lakes
Miles of Snowmobile Trail: About 80 miles connecting the communities but with access to larger networks in all directions.
Don’t Miss: The new log trail shelter on Hawk’s Trail; David Karpik’s snowmobile blog at dave.ironrange.org; scenic crossings over the St. Louis River south of Eveleth and Hoyt Lakes
Rentals: Fun Time Rental, Biwabik; Rapids Rental, Virginia
Snowmobile dealerships: Five Seasons Sports Center, Eveleth (Polaris, Yamaha)
Area Clubs: Eveleth Trailhawks Snowmobile Club, Ranger Snowmobile & ATV Club (Hoyt Lakes); Mesabi Sno Voyageurs (Virginia)
Events: Hawk’s Trail grand opening celebration, Fall 2010, Eveleth; Puck Days, March 2011, Eveleth; Hillcross races, April, Biwabik
For information and trail conditions: www.ironrange.org/; www.dnr.state.mn.us/current_conditions/, http://sites.google.com/site/trailhawksnow/
