Aitkin County’s interconnected ATV trail system (Story by Kat Robb, Aitkin Independent Age)
Aitkin County boasts the most Mississippi River frontage in the state, 300 miles of public forest roads, prime hunting areas, Lake Mille Lacs and a dark sky facility at Long Lake Conservation Center, an area protected from light pollution.
Did you know that the county also has the state’s largest interconnected ATV and snowmobiling system?
The ATV trail clusters are interconnected by the Soo Line Trail and include:
• Blind Lake
• Emily Blind Lake
• Hill City + Rabey
• Lawler
• McGregor (Axtell)
• Mille Lacs (Redtop)
• Moose River Connector
• Soo Line North + South
• Solana
And, if you want to brush up on your skills, check out the Axtell Technical Riding Area (23996 430th Ln., McGregor) that includes a technical skills area and free ride zone.
FIRST ANNUAL NWATVTA RIDE-IN
The Up North Riders will host the first annual Northwoods ATV Trail Alliance “Ride-In” on Saturday, Sept. 16. The destination will be the Axtell Technical Ride Park. Riders should meet at 10:30 a.m. at Fisherman’s Bay Bar with an 11 a.m. departure.
The eight clubs of the Northwoods ATV Trail Alliance (Blind Lake, Evergreen PAC, Mille Lacs Driftskippers, Mille Lacs Trails Inc., Northwood Quads, Over the Hills Gang, Up North Riders and White Pine Riders) plan to ride from home locations to the Axtell Technical Riding Area.
The ride is in celebration of the progress of the alliance and to showcase the 340-mile Northwoods ATV Trail System.
Fisherman’s Bay is located at 50933 Hwy. 65, McGregor.
For more information, see the Up North Riders ATV Club Facebook page.
JOIN AN ATV CLUB
Connect with like-minded ATV enthusiasts and join a local club:
• Blind Lake, www.blindlakeatvclub.com
• Blind Lake, Emily and Outing, www.overthehillsgang.org
• Carlton County, https://carltoncountyriders.com
• Evergreen PAC, www.evergreen-pac-atvclub.org
• Hill City and Rabey, www.facebook.com/NorthWoodsQuads/
• Lawler, www.facebook.com/UpNorthRidersATVClub
• Mille Lacs, www.facebook.com/MilleLacsDriftSkippers, www.MilleLacsTrails.org
• Solana, https://whitepineriders.org
The All-Terrain Vehicle Association of Minnesota, www.atvam.org, is the state association representing ATV recreation working on behalf of clubs in Minnesota.