Ideal bike trail for mountain bikers looking for quiet roads through the woods. This loop has the bulk of the 278′ elevation gain in the first half of the ride with a final climb on the south side of Pike Lake. Ride features boreal forests, rough road at the west end of Mark Lake, a beaver dam right next to the Mark lake Road and a nice break spot at the Pike Lake Public Access on the south side of the road.
Note: pay attention to the junctions; for the suggested clockwise route you head north on the Caribou Trail, east on 161/Mark Lake Rd, south on 157/Cascade River Road which become the PIke Lake Rd, a small jog north then west on the Summer Home Lane then north and west on the Murmur Creek Road, returning south on the Caribou Trail to the parking area.
Length: 20 mile loop
Difficulty: intermediate to advanced
Trailhead: CJ Ramstad parking are on Caribou Trail in Lutsen [if you are coming from Grand Marais, consider parking at boat access area as a secondary trailhead]
Surface: gravel [with mud after rains] to low maintenance road
