Jerard Fagerberg 2021-12-16 06:12:49
“Rising 1,612 feet over the northeastern lip of Detroit Lake, Detroit Mountain isn’t Minnesota’s most majestic peak, but it may be its most recreational. Most people seek out the mountain’s slopes for snow sports, but during the summer, when the terrain turns to dirt, the network of trails begs to be explored at full tilt on two wheels. I grew up with thrillseekers, and when my childhood friends wanted to plan a mountain biking trip, I knew Detroit Mountain would be a real crowd pleaser. In our 30s now, and not having been down any single tracks in quite a while, we were hoping our weekend getaway would reignite our adrenal glands. After a quick three-hour drive from the Twin Cities, we arrived at the mountain, our sedans dusty from the road. Not having brought any bikes with us, our first stop was the rental shop at Detroit Mountain Recreation Area. The rentals were brand new–a pristine fleet of suspension Trek bikes that ran $45 for three hours. Since it was Day One, and we still remembered ourselves as mountaineering riders, we booked a full day at $90, declining the lift service. Goosebumps rose as we signed the liability waivers. BEFORE LONG, WE WERE HITTING THE GRAVITY TRAILS, SAILING PASTONE ANOTHER FOR LEAD POSITION. That first day was a rejuvenation. We warmed up on some short rides, but before long, we were hitting the gravity trails, sailing past one another for lead position. We could feel the terrain through our arms and legs, our bodies absorbing every root and rock. We even shot up the Sasquatch Trail, pumping breathlessly up its steep 140-foot incline. At night, having worked up a hearty appetite, we were eager to grab a bite and wash the dirt out of our teeth with a cold one. Detroit Lakes offered plenty of options, including the Lakeside Tavern & Brewery, which serves pub grub and its own brews (Harry Man Porter, coffee-infused Burly Bean and Lake Water Lager, billed as “just plain ol’ beer,” to name a few). The next morning, we felt like we’d been thrown down the mountain. Our muscles felt like snapped rubber bands. A brave few sprung for a half-day rental to work out the aches and pains in the skills park. The rest of us slept in. Speaking of which, the lodging page on the Visit Detroit Lakes website promises “you’ll get your #bestlife’s sleep in Detroit Lakes,” and there are plenty of places to snooze when the day is done, including Lakecrest Resort (which has cabins with up to eight bedrooms) and a variety of mid-size hotels throughout the area. Thankfully, our last night coincided with the annual Music on the Mountain concert in July. The headliner was Georgia-born country singer Billy Currington. By the time he took the stage, my body was finally uncinching. I watched him strum, his baroque voice bouncing off the face of the mountain. It wasn’t adrenaline that came rushing in. It was something easier, and we let it take us home. PIT STOPS AND PHOTO OPS Don’t go all the way to Detroit Mountain without stopping. Keep a cooler in the trunk and make a brewery tour out of the trip. Some of the best outstate breweries are along the route, including Lupulin Brewing in Big Lake, Drastic Measures Brewing in Wadena and Disgruntled Brewing in Perham. Some great photo ops also await. If you take I-94, you’ll find yourself on a trail of roadside oddities, including Big Ole, a 28-foot-tall Viking statue in Alexandria, and Otto, a hollow-eyed 40-foot otter sculpture in Fergus Falls. EXPLORE NORTHWEST MN Find more to do in Northwest Minnesota. ExploreMinnesota.com/Northwest
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