From the Cities: Take US Hwy 52 south from the Twin Cities to Minnesota State Hwy 60 East (just south of Zumbrota and near mile marker 76)  Note, you will pass MN 60 west in Zumbrota, do not confuse with hwy 60 east)  Take Minnesota Hwy 60 East to the village of Mazeppa.   Just as you enter Mazeppa and before the bridge, you will see Wabasha County 1 to the right.  Turn right on Cty 1 and go approx 3.5 miles to 585th St. (there is a small brown sign on the shoulder of Cty 1 with an arrow that will direct you onto 585th St)  Turn onto 585th and follow the arrows.   Total distance from the Hwy 52/55 split in SE Metro is 55 miles.   

From Rochester: Take US Hwy 52 North out of Rochester to mile marker 66 at Oronoco.  Turn right onto Olmsted County 12 near the BP convenience store at Oronoco.  Travel on County 12 a distance of 3/4 mile to Olmsted County 18.  Turn left onto 18 and watch your odometer.   Travel 4.5 miles to 585th St.  Note as you are traveling north on 18, you will cross the county line and it will turn into Wabasha Cty 1.   At 4.5 miles north of Oronoco, turn right onto 585th St. and follow the arrows.   Total distance from the Rochester 55th St. interchange is 12.9 miles.  

 

Schedule & Fees

Fall Mountain Biking Schedule through the end of October:

Mondays: Closed
Tuesdays through Saturday: 9am - Sundown
Sundays: 11am - Sundown

Trail Fee is $5 / Person.   Please complete and sign a waiver and pre-pay prior to riding.
 

Trail development at Steeplechase started in the spring of 2005 and the trail system is constantly under development.  Currently there are approximately 7 miles of trail built at steeplechase with more being added all of the time.  The trails range from the beginner singletrack  at the top of the hill and easy doubletrack at the bottom to the more advanced singletrack loop that features rocks, logs, short punchy climbs, technical descents, and a lung busting climb known as Matt’s Revenge.  There is even an expert only descent featuring steep pitches, rocks, jumps, and berms.  Added late in the fall of 2006 was a skills course at the start of the trails featuring log piles, a box drop off, skinny bridge, and a teeter totter.

The ride starts on the right hand side of the chalet.  You take off and ride around the front of the chalet in the counter clockwise direction and you’ll pick up the start of the singletrack as you come around the chalet.  You’ll take a sharp right on the beginning of the singletrack and you’ll find yourself on the upper beginners loop.  Continue following the upper beginners loop and you’ll be moving clockwise from the chalet through the trees along the tops of some of the ski runs.  You’ll ride for about ¾ of a mile and then you’ll come to a steep little bump where the trail splits.  Going straight will lead you wither back to the chalet or towards the lower beginners loops.  Taking the left will lead you to the first section of intermediate singletrack.  You’ll follow this and shortly cross the service road that leads down the side of the ski hill.  You’ll continue following the singletrack across the road and off of the ski hill.  The majority of the singletrack is located in the forested hillsides to the east of the ski hill.  This singletrack is categorized as intermediate, but the first out and back loop (see map) was used in the citizen class race course and could be suitable for a beginner with adequate off road skills.  You’ll follow the singletrack for one large out and back loop and then you’ll come to a spot where you can either continue straight or take a right.  Going right will just continue the intermediate singletrack.  Going straight  is the better and longer route to take.  You’ll follow singletrack for another 100 yards before being dumped out on the service road heading down the hill. You’ll go down the hill for about 100 yards and then take a left and drop onto the ski run below you where you’ll slalom back and forth to the bottom of the hill.  This is known as the zumbro slalom and was part of the 2006 citizen course but was so fun it became a permanent addition.  At the bottom of the hill less advanced riders can take any of the multiple easy trails while the more advanced riders will take the right at the bottom of the slalom run and immediately begin climbing back up the hill.  This climb is known as Matt’s Revenge and starts out as a climb up doubletrack consisting of loose rocks but near where you dropped onto the ski run above you will take a sharp nearly 180 degree left and climb a very difficult short patch of singletrack with several switch backs in it.  This will put you back onto the intermediate singletrack just about where you left it.  You’ll continue following the singletrack for quite a ways now.  Near the bottom you’ll cross a long wooden bridge then head across a dry stream bed.  You’ll take a right and cross the stream bed twice more before taking another right onto the singletrack that will eventually lead you along side the river.  This singletrack will turn into doubletrack that you’ll follow around through a marshy area and then take a right and cross and short bridge over a dry stream.  Then you’ll head up a gradual doubletrack climb and at the top you’ll be directly in front of the ski hill.  There are a number of different trail options at this point but all of them are marked and the most common way is to stay straight and continue to follow the trail to the right.  You’ll eventually loop around and ride underneath two chairlifts before taking another right and starting the climb back to the top of the ski hill and the start of the trails.  The climb becomes singletrack about 1/3 of the way up and has several switchbacks to keep the pitch manageable.  At the top you’ll intersect the beginning singletrack and you’ll have the option of either heading back out for another loop or heading back to the chalet.

Another option for the advanced rider at this point is to follow the beginner trail back to the chalet and then take the doubletrack heading east from the chalet (this is the prologue loop during the races) out to the farthest chair lift. To the left of the chairlift is the advanced downhill which will challenge even the best cross country riders.  At the bottom of the downhill you follow the doubletrack back to the singltrack climb and then head back up the hill.  This makes the whole loop and big figure 8 and is the longest loop possible to do and covers all of the trail. 

Remember that this trail is constantly under construction so this description may not keep pace with the development of new trail.  However all of the trails at steeplechase are signed and maps are available at http://www.rasc-mn.org or on the brochures located next to the pay box near the start of the trail.  Remember to pay the trail fee as well.

Overall Impression

The trail system at steeplechase was laid out by the IMBA trail care crew and built to IMBA standards by the local RASC mountain bike group.  The area offers the most realistic mountain biking experience in the area and the views of the river and river valley are spectacular.  The trail has a very natural feel to it and the abundance of rocks piles and trail obstacles were all put there by mother nature and not specifically placed in that location by man to be ridden over.  This trail definitely doesn’t have the sterile feel that some trails develop.   With the addition of the skills loop steeplechase can cater to any level of rider all day long.  Once out riding you realize the enormous amount of potential for the area and it’s hard to imagine but everything you can see can eventually have singletrack on it.  If the trail crew keeps up at the rate it’s going within two years steeplechase will have more singletrack than any ski area south of Duluth.  It’s an exciting place to ride.  Special thanks go out the Members of RASC who work so hard to maintain and build the trails at Steeplechase.

Review courtesy of Matthew Kurke

 

Steeplechase discussion forum here.

Steeplechase trail conditions here.

Steeplechase Ski & Snowboard info here.