The Redhead Mountain Bike Trails.

Our presenter this week is Bridgit Maruska, Director of Parks, Trails and Recreation for the City of Chisholm. Growing up in Duluth, Maruska’s work history includes Executive Director of Camping Services for the Duluth Area YMCA where she directed the 126 year old YMCA Camp Miller (the oldest Y Camp in the State), public relations work for the Duluth Public Libraries, freelance marketing management, and teaching in Duluth area schools. Her education includes a Master’s Degree from Concordia University in Communications and a Bachelor’s in English, History and Secondary Education. Maruska graduated from Duluth Denfeld High School in 1998.

 

The Redhead Mountain Bike Park has flourished in its first few years. The park has won 5 acclaimed awards for engineering excellence, environmental initiative, rural vitality, and innovation. A book titled “Mine Scapes: Reclaiming Minnesota’s Mined Lands“ was recently authored by the visionary behind Redhead, Pete Kero, and won the Minnesota Book Award: 2024 Hognander Minnesota History Award.

 

Redhead is featured in two films: “Biketown: A Story of Mountain Bikers, Unlikely Partnerships and Communities They’ve Created” and “Reclaimed: A Short Documentary”.

 

It is highly recommended that you view the film “Biketown” by clicking on the link below.

You will be amazed and have a far better understanding of how the reclaimed mines and bike trails in Chisholm have transformed this nearby community. There are two additional communities featured and the film is 39 minutes long. If you choose to, you could fast forward through the first 6 minutes and 40 seconds to see the first portion of the section on Chisholm. If you’re not familiar with these trails you will be surprised at how beautiful, exhilarating and technically difficult they are to ride! It is well worth your time to see this!

https://freehub.com/videos/biketown 

 

Redhead Mountain Bike Park hosts the Minnesota Cycling Association’s State Championship Race biannually, with riders and crowds exceeding 3,000 people, and the MN Mountain Bike Series Race annually. The Redhead parking lot is filled on the weekends and visitors from all over the state, country, and even world come to ride Redhead, or as some say, “Shred the Red“.