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TO THE MUNGER-TRAIL |
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The Willard Munger State Trail
2008 deadliest year for bicyclists since 2000
Bicyclists, motorists urged to share the road safely this season
May
4, 2009 ST. PAUL, Minn. - Following the deadliest year for bicyclists
in eight years, state traffic safety and transportation officials are
urging motorists to drive alert as warm weather arrives and bicyclists
return to the road. Last year 13 bicyclists were killed, the most since
2000 (14) and a significant increase from the four bicyclist deaths in
2007.
More
bicycle commuters last year was a factor in the increase in deaths. A
similar number of bicyclists is expected this year and safety officials
urge caution for those who may be new to bicycle commuting.
“The
spring and summer months bring new challenges for motorists as
bicyclists join traffic, so it’s critical that everyone share the
road,” said Transportation Commissioner Tom Sorel. “During May,
National Bike Month, we want motorists to recognize bicyclists as
people, not obstructions, and bicyclists to recognize and obey stop
signs and traffic signals, not ignore them.”
Each
year, an average of eight bicyclists are killed and more than 950 are
injured in crashes with motor vehicles, according to the Minnesota
Department of Public Safety. More than 60 percent of bicycle crashes
occur from June through September. Most bicycle crashes occur during
afternoon rush hours.
The
major contributing factor in bicyclist-motorist crashes is failure to
yield the right of way. Both bicyclists and drivers are at fault for
this. For bicyclists, another crash factor is disregard for traffic
control devices. A crash factor for motorists is failing to see
bicyclists and driving inattentively. People under age 25 are at
greatest risk; they represent more than half of all bicyclists injured
annually.
Bird Watching Near The Munger Trail 
Pileated Woodpecker sighted near our studios in Denham Minnesota 4-10-2009  These Swans sighted 3-10-2009 fishing the Moose Horn River near Sturgeon Lake Minnesota.
click on desired image to see full size "painted" images.
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The
Willard Munger
State Trail is a collection of multiple use trails
between Hinckley and Duluth. It consists of interconnecting trails
offering hiking, bicycling, in-line skating and snowmobiling. It
highlights the picturesque scenery and rich history of East Central
Minnesota. The trail follows the route of the railroad that saved many
lives in the historic Hinckley and Cloquet fires in the nineteenth
century.
There are three
different trail segments in the
Willard Munger State Trail: Hinckley - Duluth segment, Alex Laveau
Memorial Trail and Boundary segment.
The 63 mile Hinckley
-
Duluth segment of the Willard Munger State Trail is now completely
paved, making this the longest paved trail in the world. The trail
extends between Hinckley, Willow River, Moose Lake, Barnum, Carlton,
and Duluth. The trail passes near Banning State Park, through
Finlayson, Willow River and General C.C. Andrews State Forest, and
through the spectacular scenery of Jay Cooke State Park. The northeast
portion of the trail provides scenic views of the St. Louis River and
the twin ports of Duluth and Superior.
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Willard Munger Trail Log South
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One
of the longest trail rides in the state awaits riders of the
Willard Munger Trail named after the state representative that served
West Duluth for 43 years supporting many environmental and recreational
projects throughout Minnesota.
The southern segment of
nearly 55 miles, from Hinckley north to
Carlton, and the northern segment of about 15 miles from Carlton north
to Duluth provides bikers a wide variety of experiences from gambling
to rock outcroppings, state parks and lakes.
The southern segment, known
as the Hinckley Fire Trail, goes though
Finlayson, Willow River, Sturgeon Lake and Moose Lake.
Side trips can be made to
Sandstone connected to the Munger with its
own part-trail, part-road route and three state parks: Banning, St.
Croix and Moose Lake.
Nearly all of the trail is
flat and
straight on the bed of abandoned railroad right-of-way, although there
is one spot (M15) the trail takes a dip and curves. The trail crosses
several bridges, skirts ponds, crosses rivers and goes through the
woods; there are also a couple stretches that parallel a busy highway.
The last 3.5 miles into
Carleton were recently paved and takes riders
through a mix of wetlands, woods and even rock before skirting logging
operations.
Highlights along the trail,
beginning at Hinckley
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Willard
Munger Trail Log North
The northern segment
of the Willard Munger Trail takes a 15-mile decent
from Carlton to West Duluth downhill through trees, rocks with a
powerful scenic views all the way.
Bikers can stop on a high railroad trestle to enjoy a breathtaking look
over the St. Louis River estuary, cut through a mountain of rock, relax
through fields of wildflowers and northern pines, view the wonders of a
hydroelectric power plant, peddle through the largest stand of hemlocks
and relax on a hillside rest stop overlooking western Duluth and acres
of water.
Highlights along the trail into Duluth: |
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Moose Horn River Trip 2007 
Lake Wobegon® Trail
The Lake Wobegon Trail is a 46 mile long, 10 foot wide, bituminous surfaced hike-and-bike pathway.
The trail, which opened on September 30, 1998, extends from the city of
St. Joseph to the city of Osakis. The trail also has an extension on the west side of Albany heading northeast to Holdingford and beyond.
The trail runs on the MN/DOT rail corridor formerly owned by Burlington
Northern Railroad Company. The trail is also available for snowmobiling. |
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