REGIONS: NORTHWEST IS CALLING, AND THE GUYS MUST GO By Jerard Fagerberg 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. 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. DETROIT MOUNTAIN 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. BEFORE LONG, In our 30s now, and not WE WERE having been down any single tracks in quite a HITTING THE while, we were hoping our weekend getaway GRAVITY would reignite our adrenal glands. TRAILS, SAILING After a quick three-hour PAST ONE Speaking of which, the drive from the Twin lodging page on the Visit Cities, we arrived at the ANOTHER FOR Detroit Lakes website mountain, our sedans “you’ll get your LEAD POSITION. promises dusty from the road. #bestlife’s sleep in Detroit Not having brought any Lakes,” and there are bikes with us, our first stop was the rental shop at plenty of places to snooze when the day is done, Detroit Mountain Recreation Area . The rentals including Lakecrest Resort (which has cabins with were brand new–a pristine fleet of suspension up to eight bedrooms) and a variety of mid-size Trek bikes that ran $45 for three hours. Since it hotels throughout the area. was Day One, and we still remembered ourselves Thankfully, our last night coincided with the as mountaineering riders, we booked a full day at annual Music on the Mountain concert in July. $90, declining the lift service. Goosebumps rose The headliner was Georgia-born country singer as we signed the liability waivers. Billy Currington. By the time he took the stage, That first day was a rejuvenation. We warmed up my body was finally uncinching. I watched him on some short rides, but before long, we were strum, his baroque voice bouncing off the face hitting the gravity trails, sailing past one another of the mountain. It wasn’t adrenaline that came for lead position. We could feel the terrain rushing in. It was something easier, and we let it through our arms and legs, our bodies absorbing take us home. Feeling the pull of gravity at Detroit Mountain Recreation Area 78 | EXPLORE MINNESOTA .COM
Explore Minnesota Travel Guide 2022 Explore Minnesota Travel Guide: Page 78
