41 FALL 2019 ISSUE 01 / VOL . 01 SNOWGOER . COM
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The Two Inlets Country Store , located on County Highway 44 in Park Rapids , sits just outside the Two Inlets State Park limits and also not far from the Itasca State Park southern entrance , making it an ideal spot to refuel both tanks and stomachs before returning to the trails .
Again starting from Osage , we entered Two Inlets , but this time took Trail 11 until reaching a south entrance trail into Itasca State Park . From there , Trail 23 took us into the park itself , which would provide the majority of the ride .
As Minnesota ’ s oldest state park , Itasca was established in 1891 and is also the second oldest state park in the United States behind Niagara Falls . The park totals more than 32,000 acres with more than 100 lakes , one of which – Lake Itasca – serves as the headwaters of where the Mississippi River begins its 2,552-mile route to the Gulf of Mexico . By following markings , its headwaters can easily be reached .
Sled traffic through the park was visible , and its evidence of stutter bumps and a few dirt patches around corners were to no one ’ s fault really . The area is heavily traveled and well known , but still remains worth the trip while in the region looking for a scenic ride with history behind it .
During the summer months the park can be viewed from a car via a paved track that runs through the park and includes stops at the Jacob V . Brower Visitor Center , and the Mary Gibbs Visitor Center adjacent to the headwaters , which includes exhibits regarding the river ’ s history and cultural significance . From Gibbs ’ parking lot it ’ s only a short walk to the headwaters , where hundreds of tourists a day will walk along the rock trail “ across ” the beginning of what becomes the massive Mississippi .
During the winter gates prohibit automotive access , while permitting snowmobiles to pass through its designated paths . The headwaters can still be accessed by sled in the winter , but that specific path was not in our sights for this day .
We exited Itasca onto County Road 122 heading south , and then headed east in the ditch of Highway 200 toward our pit stop destination for the day .
Although enduring a devastating fire in fall of 2018 , after a complete rebuild Lobo ’ s Bar & Grill and Cabins once again offers an ideal stop due to its large lot and turnaround radius for riders who are trailering to and from any destination , including Itasca . Serving a hearty menu of burgers , sandwiches and fish specials , Lobo ’ s also has pool table and darts for leisurely activity before heading back out . Although it doesn ’ t offer gas , fuel can be found only a few miles east on Highway 200 at the Rock Creek General Store .
Snowmobiling in a group can sometimes be a game of Russian roulette as the average sled age begins to increase . As luck should have it , after a nice stop , the first pull on a 2003 Polaris 550 Indy broke its pull cord . Luckily , one member of the group , Joe Olson of Up North Power & Sports in Park Rapids , wasted no time fashioning a new starter rope by wrapping a towrope around the primary clutch . With one strong pull we were able to revive the sled under one condition – it wouldn ’ t be shut off again until we made it back . All sleds running now , we opted for a more straight-lined return back due to its familiarity , and the fact that we had already been dealt one stroke of bad luck that we had overcome ( and weren ’ t looking for another ). As sunlight faded it provided nice views over the still-frozen lakes of the park – it ’ s really a sight to see and one that I would recommend to anybody .
As we passed back through Two Inlets there was discussion of making one last stop , but it was determined that we should end the day on a high-note and call it a ride .
FINAL RIDE UNTIL NEXT TIME
We had previously thought that the third and final day would again be a ride involving Adam and other locals who would like to join – similar to the previous two .
After learning that plans would have to be either changed or delayed due to exhaust issues on an older sled , the group ride dwindled to only two of us – myself and Joe Olson , who played handyman on the ride before ( a role that no doubt suits him well ).
As had become the custom , departing from Osage we began our ride into Two Inlets on Trail 5 , but instead of heading east or north – which we had the first and second days – we set our sights westward toward the Smoky Hills State Forest and its largely untamed trail system . The Smoky Hills area allows for ample backcountry exploration , with numerous minimum maintenance trails , plus legal swamps , meadows and hills that all offer new areas of intrigue for any rider looking for an adventure . We predominately stayed on Trail 63 within Smoky Hills , and at one point we came across a group of all-terrain vehicle enthusiasts that had convened to drive through the trails themselves .