Rainy Lake Visitor Center bike trail construction resumes

The bike trail is located off Highway 11 East.

David Driapsa, project inspector, notes that rock blasting will occur soon after the spring startup of construction. Occasional traffic delays are expected on the park entrance road to the visitor center as a result of the blasting work.

The bike trail will offer visitors an opportunity to experience the park. The trail meanders along the park entrance road and into the woods around numerous scenic rock outcrops. Bicyclists, walkers, runners, and snowshoers will be able to view forest, lake, and marsh scenery.

The trail’s completion will mark the availability of a continuous bike trail linking the visitor center to the communities of Ranier and International Falls, and the new park headquarters complex near Second Creek.

The bike trail project is being conducted in partnership with Voyageurs National Park, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and Koochiching County Highway Department. The prime contractor for the project is Bowman Construction.

Bowman officials say they are pleased with the work accomplished last year before winter shutdown. Dry and mild weather provided very good construction conditions.

Local sub-contractors working on different phases of the trail project are Arro of the North Surveyors, Pelland-Swenson & Associates, and Sjoblom Landscape & Nursery. Koochiching County Highway Department helped the park with the trail design.