Visitors along the North Shore now have a new place to relax, use a restroom, or shower after being out on the trail. The city of Silver Bay, along with state and federal partners, celebrated the opening of a multi-use trail center located downtown. The center is at the crossroads of numerous multi-use trail systems that attract bikers, hikers, and ATV riders, as well as those seeking winter activities like snowmobiling and snowshoeing.
The city of Silver Bay, located along Minnesota’s North Shore, recently opened a central trailhead hub for outdoor enthusiasts. The new, multi-use building is at the junction of numerous recreational trail systems that attract bicyclists, hikers, snowshoers, cross-country skiers, and ATV riders.
The north shore is a popular destination year-round, with peak season in the summer. The spectacular sea-like coastline and dramatic boreal landscape offer people numerous ways to enjoy the northwoods.
When people stop by the center, they can use the restrooms, coin-operated showers, and lockers. The parking lot also has charging stations for electric vehicles and access for motorized and non-motorized use. There is a kitchen and a meeting room on the second floor that can be rented. Eventually, landscaping and picnic areas will be completed.
The trailhead building, which is open year-round, is located right off Hwy 61. While there are no staff on site, the showers and bathrooms on the building’s lower level are open 24/7.
Access to trail systems
Within walking distance of the trailhead is the Gitchi Gami trail. The non-motorized trail system threads along Lake Superior, offering sweeping views of the rocky, rugged landscape. Currently, 36 miles of paved trail have been completed. Eventually, 86 miles are planned for completion. From the trailhead center, the Gitchi Gami heads south to Gooseberry Falls State Park.
Access to the Superior Hiking Trail lies about 1.3 miles west of the trailhead center. This rugged, 310-mile dirt pathway offers some of the state’s most scenic hiking. Section and thru-hikers can stop in Silver Bay to resupply, and the new center now gives them a place to relax and shower.
Throughout the area, numerous forest roads and trails attract all sorts of visitors, from ATV riders and gravel cyclists to photographers and fall-foliage seekers. Some of these are close to the new trailhead, providing a break for those who’ve been out exploring most of the day.
Finally, Silver Bay is one of the more popular destinations for winter sports. Cross-country ski and snowshoe trails, as well as snowmobile trails, dot the Superior National Forest. Some are not far from downtown.
All of these trails are close to the comforts of town. City administrator Lana Fralich told Northern News Now, “You’re by the restaurants, you’re by amenities that you can walk to, we have a great walking trail system here, you can get to the Superior Hiking Trail, you can get to the Gitchi-Gami Bike Trail, you can get to the ATV and snowmobile trails.”
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Funding from state and federal resources
Senator Grant Hauschild and State Representative Roger Skarba attended the trailhead center’s opening ceremony. Hauschild said the project’s success came from people across party lines choosing to work together. “We have both sides of the aisle representing this community and this region, and that means that we are both able to advocate for the different funding and opportunities,” Hauschild told the news.
The trailhead center project took seven and a half years to complete. It was originally expected to cost $8.5 million, and the city initially secured $5.37 million. As a result, project planners cut some ideas from the original design. The Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRR) provided another $400,000 to the center, funded by area mining taxes. Additional funding came from the Federal Transportation Alternative Program, the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, and the State of Minnesota Bonding.
Michelle Pierson, Executive Director of the Gitchi-Gami Trail Association, shared with us the impact on nearby communities. “We are so excited that Gitchi-Gami State Trail users will have this great new amenity at their disposal, and we love the energy around trails in Silver Bay and the Beaver Bay area…folks can even use the Gitchi-Gami Trail to connect to the Split Rock Wilds mountain bike trail system,” she said.
The City of Silver Bay plans to share further information and updates about the trail center on its updated website when it goes live on June 15. The new center is located at 109 Outer Drive, Silver Bay, MN 55614.
More info:
- Multi-Modal Trailhead Center Ribbon Cutting – The North Shore Journal
- New Silver Bay Trailhead Center connects hikers, bikers, ATVs, and snowmobilers – Northern News Now
- Project Summary – City of Silver Bay