Memorial Trail is
definitely worth the drive south from the cities.
This trail has some great technical sections if you know
where to find them. There are lung busting climbs
around almost every corner, but they are all well worth
the effort.As with many trails
in the area, signage is an issue. They do have
numbers along the trail (if you can find them) as well
as slightly outdated trail maps along the way. The
entrance to the trail itself is poorly marked - you can
see two trails leading away from the parking lot.
Don't take the trail that leads between the poles.
You want to take the one that looks more like regular
gravel doubletrack. Just a short distance down
this trail you will reach a fence blocking the road.
Ride around the fence to the left and you are on the
trail. It is
suggested that you ride the trail clockwise, and is
numbered as such. This
is a trail that will present a number of choices which
let you build a different ride with each lap.
Be sure to pick up a map at
one of their local bike shops, or print out the map
shown below. Unlike most trails which are severely
lacking in this area, Memorial has numbers and names on
it to help keep you on track. The names and
numbers are also used in our review, so it is a good
idea to also reference this map from this point on.
Much
of the first section of trail called "Highway 61
Revisited" is just overgrown doubletrack ski trail that
winds around the bluffs. You can get some good
speed on these sections, but the views are mostly
obscured by trees. At trail number 1 you will
reach your first trail choice with the option of taking
the easy "All Along The Watchtower" or the more advanced
(and much more interesting) "Crazy On You".
You will then wind your way down
"Radar Love" to trail number 2, where you are again
presented with a decision: take the easy way to the
right to trail number 5, or take the more difficult and
challenging route down towards the golf course.
The pictures above and to the left
show the "expert only" decent down to the golf course,
but is well worth having to climb all the way back up.
There is no alternate trail, but intermediate riders can
easily walk their bike down this section of trail.
Once
you reach the golf course, you will find yourself taking
a paved golf cart trail back up the hill until you see
singletrack to your right. Don't miss this
turn-off or you will end up at the driving range!
(see photo to the right) This is a long and
sustained climb back up to trail number 2, with a "pay
me now or pay me later" decision (immediate climb to
your right, or another drop down and climb up to your
left) at trail number 4.
Back at trail number 2 you will start
working your way up another climb. If you opt not to take
those two trails, you will find yourself with a slow
climb up "Crosstown Traffic" up into an open field and
back towards the road that leads to the parking lot. The trail "Southern Cross"
and a super lung busting rocky climb called "Stairway to
Heaven" (see photo below) will be on your left at
trail number 5. (Stay sharp
to avoid missing this must-ride trail, as the trail number 5 sign is hard to spot.)
If you opt not to
take those two trails, you
will
find yourself with a slow climb up "Crosstown Traffic"
up into an open field and back towards the road that
leads to the parking lot.
As you climb back out of "Stairway to
Heaven" will find yourself in the open field area.
The trail at number 6 appears to be closed off, so stay
on the existing trail and veer off to the left on "Crosstown
Traffic". Just around the corner there is a trail
not on our map that will take you back down to another
must-ride trail "Lay Down Sally". On your way
there you will hit 3 very cool jumps and then one large
wooden table top that could be cleared if you have the
guts. (see video below) Beware that there are
trees near the landing, and a very twisty trail
connecting with "Lay Down Sally". Note that there
was another trail that appeared to lead down to the road
in this area that is not on the map - perhaps if someone
takes this trail you can clue us in and we can add it to
the review.
The trail "Lay Down Sally" takes you
along some winding hillside singletrack with some
really great views along the way. (see photo to
right) This section of trail will
make you think you are out in Colorado vs. Minnesota.
You
will exit this trail at number 7, at which point you can
go left to the road that leads to
the parking lot or take yet another "don't-miss" section
of trail called "Henke's Hollow" and "Margueritaville"
that contains some great twisting and turning trail with
a few log piles and jumps thrown in for good measure.
This fun section of trail will exit at trail number 0,
where you can climb back in and do the loop all over
again, or you can take a sharp left turn and head back
to the parking lot to cool down before you ride it all
over again.
Many thanks go out to the local trail
crew for their continued efforts on this trail.
They are taking what could be a fairly dull doubletrack
ride and built what some may see as one of the premiere
trails in the entire area. We hope to provide
contact information for the trail crew in Redwing once
we get more information.
