Starting out at Lutsen Mountain, riders will be escorted down to Highway 61, where we’ll open the flood gates. Riding through the town of Lutsen, racers will then start the Caribou Trail Climb, heading up 1,000 feet in about 5 miles. From there you will jump onto a series of forest roads and snowmobile trails, including a really fun ride down the Muelberg Trail, where you really start to get an appreciation of the landscape and vastness of the area. Another few miles of Forest Service Roads will bring you to the first aid station at mile 24.
For the next 10 miles, riders will be traveling west along Mark Lake Road making a left turn onto the Caribou Trail. After one mile the riders will take a hard right onto Clara Lake Road where the mile 35 aid station will be located. Follow Clara Lake for three miles then take a left on Rice Lake Road and soon thereafter right to stay on Rice Lake Road. Follow Rice Lake Road winding through the forest until you come to The Grade. You will take left on the Grade then another left on Sawbill where you will ride 6 miles of gravel before taking a left onto Honeymoon Trail to your next Aid Station at approximately mile 51. Trail Aid Station at approximately mile 51. This is the last good place for spectators/crew until riders get back to the ski hill.
Honeymoon trail a fun, fast rolling road that will bring riders to a right on to Barker Lake Road. Follow Barker Lake Road to an aid station at mile 62, riders will then travel south into the North end of Lutsen Mountain. You are not done when you get to Lutsen Mountain. Riders will jump onto the old Lutsen Mountains bike trail system, where the last 4 miles will take you on Lutsen Moutains. The last mile climb to the finish is 250ft alone, which will create an exciting, dramatic finish!
