| Getting
There
From Minneapolis/St. Paul, take US Hwy. 169 north to Grand Rapids.
Turn left (west) on US Hwy. 2 to MN Hwy. 46, just past Deer River. Turn
Right on 46, go North 12 miles to Cutfoot Sioux Visitor Center. Park in
lot at VC. Trails can be accessed off either end of parking lot.
Additional parking at Mosomo Point boat launch, the Eagle Nest Rd.
trailhead (Approximately 1 mile west of Hwy. 46), East Seelye Bay USFS
Campground/Picnic Area, 2 miles west of Hwy. 46 on Eagle’s Nest Rd.,
and the west Eagle’s Nest Rd. trailhead, just beyond the campground.
The Details
This trail system, along with the adjacent Cutfoot-Sioux Trail, is my
favorite trail in Minnesota. The Simpson Creek system is a nice series
of x-c ski trails which are open to mountain bikes in the summer.
Rolling terrain, with a few hills. Almost all wide x-c ski trails, with
some nice slightly technical singletrack on the western side of the
trail bridge over Simpson Creek. The trails wind along remote
lakes, through beautiful stands of pine, spruce, birch and maple, and
make a series of loops totaling 13 miles. Trails are lettered A-V. with
"A" being at the eastern Eagle’s Nest Rd. trailhead. There
are "You Are Here" maps at every major trail intersection. The
"I-J" trail tends to grow in from the sides late in the
summer, but the trails are pretty easy going otherwise. Ice fishing in
area lakes. New for 2003 is a designated bike/hike/ski-in campsite on
the trails between point "F" and "V" which was
selected and built based on the recommendations of the Backcountry Trail
Patrol. When completed early next summer, the site will have a picnic
table, a level tent pad, fire ring/grate and a wilderness-type latrine.
A second site is being considered for camping, in a grove of tall pines
at the south end of the trail loops. If built, will have two or three
tent pads, in addition to the fire ring, table and latrine. However,
camping is allowed anywhere in the National Forest not posted with
"no camping" signs. Winter campers will need to remember to
carry enough water for their stay. Running water and restrooms can be
found at the Visitor Center. Maps of the area are also available from
the Visitor Center. Simpson Creek is a designated non-motorized
primitive area, so you should only find hikers, snowshoers and other
skiers using these trails, and not a lot of them. Note: Due to budget
constraints, the Simpson Creek Trails are no longer groomed, except for
a 2 Km. trail behind the Visitor's Center which is groomed for the
annual Candlelight Ski Night. (January 22nd in 2005) |
Overall Impression:
I love skiing here. It is scenic, quiet, and not so difficult as to
exhaust you, but still challenging, particularly with a pulk sled or
backpack. The addition of the backcountry campsite will make it even
more enjoyable. This is also a good trail to take youngsters on to teach
them the basics of backcountry skiing.
|
|
Backcountry
Winter Trails
