All posts by Jay Richards

Mountain Bike Trail Report

Trails are open. Great weekend of riding on tap. Saturday about as good as it gets for April. Nice temps, good surface and no bugs! Good seeing all the riders out to enjoy!

After a taste of winter this week, the snow has evaporated/melted off and the trails are drying up nicely. The early season clearing helped with the drying process and the snow actually compacted the deck. A few soft spots here and there but should be a nice weekend of riding. With possible freezing nights, best riding will be in the afternoons.

We continue to work on the trails, clearing and placing out signs and course marking. Trail head is at flagpole near main lodge. North trail can be accessed of county road 110 just to the east of Maplelag driveway. Bootleg loop accessed from county road 26 via the gravel road 110. Any questions on riding, contact Jay at 218-849-7669.

We have set a new course for the LagChilada mountain bike challenge, riding all the trails in one ride! Click here for more details.

New season passes will be available in a few weeks. Trail fees are appreciated to help offset trail work, signage and hopefully a new map. These are major expenses and we receive no grants outside funding for the privately maintained trails at Maplelag. Click here for most recent map. (Note: There are a few reroutes on the map but everything will be tapped off. No riding allowed on AMA land and please stay on designated trails at all time. Assume all risk and take responsibility for your actions) We are working on a new trail map that will feature many new trails built last summer and fall.

Wooden feature on Bjorp’s singletrack, April 17th, 2021 (Dylan Welsh photo)
Beautiful conditions for April 17th, 2021.
Bootleg singletrack, April 17th, 2021.
Bridge crossing on Bootleg singletrack, April 17th, 2021.
Twin Lakes singletrack clear of snow, April 15th, 2021. Trail work earlier this spring help facilitating the melting process, evident by snow in the woods but trail free of snow. Frost is out, deck is firming up. Good early season conditions.
Start of Twin Lakes singletrack, April 15th, 2021.
Snowy singletrack, April 13th, 2021. Cold temps and dry snow making riding possible.
Beautiful April afternoon scene on the “Bootleg” mountain bike singletrack, April 11th, 2021.
Berm on “Hudson’s Hula” segment, Twin Lakes singletrack, April 11th, 2021.
Bootleg creek flowing nicely after rain earlier in the week, April 11th, 2021.
Twin Lakes singletrack, April 10th, 2021.
Twin Lakes singletrack, April 10th, 2021.
Moss lined singletrack, April 9th, 2021.
Rock garden on “Moorhead” singletrack, April 9th, 2021.
Recent rainfall bringing the “Maplelag Moss” alive on the trails, April 7th, 2021.

Bike Trail Report

Riding looks to be on hold a few days with snow moving in today. Colder temps today keeping the snow dry. No rain before so there is no slush or mud and not having these conditions will allow trails to dry out quicker when it warms up again.

We were able to get on the trail yesterday for more clearing before precipitation moved in. With forecasted freezing nights, timing the best riding will be a bit tricky until it warms up again but generally late afternoons best or very early morning if it freezes down.

A great weekend of riding. Good seeing a few folks out. The had deck dried out nicely and starting to firm up more and more after the frost exited early last week.

We are working on signage and course marking. Trail head is at flagpole near main lodge. North trail can be accessed of county road 110 just to the east of Maplelag driveway. Bootleg loop accessed from county road 26 via the gravel road 110. Any questions on riding, contact Jay at 218-849-7669.

New season passes will be available in a few weeks. Trail fees are appreciated to help offset trail work, signage and hopefully a new map. These are major expenses and we receive no grants outside funding for the privately maintained trails at Maplelag. Click here for most recent map. (Note: There are a few reroutes on the map but everything will be tapped off. No riding allowed on AMA land and please stay on designated trails at all time. Assume all risk and take responsibility for your actions) We are working on a new trail map that will feature many new trails built last summer and fall.

Snowy singletrack, April 13th, 2021. Cold temps and dry snow making riding possible.
Beautiful April afternoon scene on the “Bootleg” mountain bike singletrack, April 11th, 2021.
Berm on “Hudson’s Hula” segment, Twin Lakes singletrack, April 11th, 2021.
Bootleg creek flowing nicely after rain earlier in the week, April 11th, 2021.
Twin Lakes singletrack, April 10th, 2021.
Twin Lakes singletrack, April 10th, 2021.
Moss lined singletrack, April 9th, 2021.
Rock garden on “Moorhead” singletrack, April 9th, 2021.
Recent rainfall bringing the “Maplelag Moss” alive on the trails, April 7th, 2021.
Early spring vibrance along the singletrack, April 7th, 2021.
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Checking out Twin Lakes singletrack, April 5th, 2021. Trail is rideable but will improve after a few more days of drying and leaf clearing which is on tap this week.
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Bridge on Bootleg singletrack loop, April 5th, 2021. Bootleg now open for riding.
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Bootleg singletrack, April 5th, 2021.
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Rock garden! April 5th, 2021.
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Bente’s Bump singletrack, April 4th, 2021.

Trail Report

After a beautiful start to April with warm and dry weather, rain moving in on Wednesday with almost 1.5″ of much welcomed precipitation the rest of the week. Dry and seasonal on the weekend. Rain bringing the moss to life on the ski trails. Not much sign of other greening, still early April!

Ice off the area lakes April 3rd. True to form, the loons returned. The lake is busy with waterfowl enjoying the solitude before summer lake activity.

We are starting to work on the trails, clearing deadfall and opening up the mountain bike trails. We have select mountain bike trails now open and will open additional trail, weather permitting. This spring we will be planting trees and clearing on the trails along with regular forest management. The Maplelag trails are closed to horse traffic and motorized vehicles.

Moss covered Skaters Waltz ski trail, April 10th, 2021.
Moss on the ski trails coming to life thanks to the recent rain, April 9th, 2021.
Maplelag Moss! April 9th, 2021.
Bike trail segment on the ski trail, April 7th, 2021.
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Golden hour over calm water, April 4th, 2021. Ice off the lakes this past weekend.
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Lakeside singletrack on the mountain bike course, Most trails now open! April 5th, 2021.
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Loons on Little Sugarbush, April 4th, 2021. Loons returned like always once the ice was off!
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Enjoying the calm waters, April 4th, 2021.

Bike Trail Report


The trails are open for the weekend.
Expect a few damp/greasy spots earlier in the day otherwise deck is mostly firm. Best riding will be in the afternoons. Good seeing a handful of folks out enjoying the early season conditions.

We are working on signage and course marking. Trail head is at flagpole near main lodge. North trail can be accessed of county road 110 just to the east of Maplelag driveway. Bootleg loop accessed from county road 26 via the gravel road 110. Any questions on riding, contact Jay at 218-849-7669.

New season passes will be available in a few weeks. Trail fees are appreciated to help offset trail work, signage and hopefully a new map. These are major expenses and we receive no grants outside funding for the privately maintained trails at Maplelag. Click here for most recent map. (Note: There are a few reroutes on the map but everything will be tapped off. No riding allowed on AMA land and please stay on designated trails at all time. Assume all risk and take responsibility for your actions) We are working on a new trail map that will feature many new trails built last summer and fall.

Twin Lakes singletrack, April 10th, 2021.
Twin Lakes singletrack, April 10th, 2021.
Moss lined singletrack, April 9th, 2021.
Rock garden on “Moorhead” singletrack, April 9th, 2021.
Recent rainfall bringing the “Maplelag Moss” alive on the trails, April 7th, 2021.
Early spring vibrance along the singletrack, April 7th, 2021.
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Checking out Twin Lakes singletrack, April 5th, 2021. Trail is rideable but will improve after a few more days of drying and leaf clearing which is on tap this week.
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Bridge on Bootleg singletrack loop, April 5th, 2021. Bootleg now open for riding.
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Bootleg singletrack, April 5th, 2021.
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Rock garden! April 5th, 2021.
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Bente’s Bump singletrack, April 4th, 2021.