Paul Bunyan Single Track West Loop
Total Miles
8.4
Elevation
508.40 ft
Duration
1.5 Hours
Technical Rating
Best Time
Fall, Summer, Spring
Trail Overview
This trail is one of the most diverse at Paul Bunyan State Forest. There are so many different types of woods and trail styles you typically see in Minnesota. There are sections that are quite flowy, then it will transition to super rocky, then tons of tree roots. There are some steep inclines and declines, deep ruts, water puddles/holes, and thick pine tree clearings. Really pretty trail with a lot of variety. Not overall challenging but it has some spots. General Note on Trail Riding in MN: Many trails heavily change in difficulty depending on the time of the year, weather conditions, and proximity to the trailhead. These areas have lots of birch trees which will routinely drop over trails. Many local clubs tend to the trails but there may be obstacles that come up if there was a thunderstorm the week prior. Rain and snow can also heavily change the trails as often rutted trails get more washed out, puddles become deeper, mud is stickier, and rocks/roots become slippery. The time of year can also dramatically change the landscape. Some trails that seem wide open after fall can be very dense and narrow before leaves begin to fall. Once birch leaves have fallen, trails become unpredictable as everything is covered by the leaves except larger obstacles. I have also seen a black bear once so it may be advantageous to carry some bear spray as a precaution but for many years it only happened once and just by dumpsters.
Photos of Paul Bunyan Single Track West Loop
Difficulty
On this trail watch out for roots, rocks, water, ruts, and sand.