A Rocky Playground! | Mountain Biking Split Rock Wilds | Beaver Bay, MN

Today's video covers Split Rock Wilds in Beaver Bay, MN. I had a blast riding these trails. They offer a rugged, backcountry riding experience unique to the North Shore - this is what mountain biking is all about!
Opened in the autumn of 2021, Split Rock Wilds was designed to draw experienced mountain bikers to the North Shore of Lake Superior. Utilizing the abundance of rocky terrain that makes up this area, trails like Fade to Blue and Joe's Diner will test your grit! Relatively tamer trails such as Hwy 61 and Mail Route offer flowy goodness, with a multitude of side hits and B-lines that keep things spicy for intermediate and advanced riders alike.
This trip was a long time coming for me, as I haven't been up to the North Shore since I was a kid, long before I began mountain biking. I'm grateful for the places mountain biking has taken me, and the sites it's allowed me to see!

[@HillbillyD]

Great vid.... I'm a ranger at Split Rock and a rider. This trail is dope!! Couple things. Don't park at cove point. They don't allow it. Park at the Beaver Bay river lot on the other side of town. It's a bit farther but you won't make your local restaurants mad 😅 Or park at Split Rock lighthouse state park. We have a trailhead lot. Also what kind of helmet cam are you using? The sound on it is great Again, Awesome Video!

[@robonbikes]

Thank you! Great tip on parking - I did not know that! I did go this year and parked at the Split Rock state park trail head, will probably just do that from now on. I use a GoPro 9 as my main camera, on a chest mount. I do a little post editing on the audio, so appreciate you noticing! Gotta say I’m pretty jealous you have this trail system right in your backyard, the trails are fantastic!

[@egechicken]

Top tier production quality

[@robonbikes]

Thank you!

[@unclefuzzyss]

thank you for the best review/preview of Split Rock I've seen! I'm absolutely amped to check this out next season.

[@robonbikes]

I’m amped to get back! Thanks for watching!

[@wx2999]

Awesome video man. Looks sick, I'll head up there soon. Beautiful scenery too

[@robonbikes]

Thanks! Yeah this is a great place without a doubt.

[@jcrewguy123]

Being from the Twin Cities and now the past 20 years in Arizona, your video is calling me up to the north shore for what looks like some incredible trails. Those black diamonds are every bit as rocky as what is here in AZ. Props on the ride and the great video!

[@robonbikes]

Thank you, I really appreciate it! There are some great trails popping up on the north shore. Besides Split Rock, Jackpot trail near Lutsen is supposed to be great, and you could ride a week in Duluth and not get through everything. Thanks for watching!

[@tubyeej]

Wow! Beautiful intro Rob!

[@robonbikes]

Thank you sir! Beautiful area up there, makes it easy.

[@Dialed1]

Rob, excellent video! This was a huge one man production! Great drone, thirds, commentary on here. Splitrock is rad! Nice work on Joe’s! I think you meant to say Rock Solid at the end! ,lol. “Rock Bottom” 😂 Anyways, loved the vid!

[@robonbikes]

Ha! Rock Solid, of course! Didn’t even catch that. Oh well 😂. Thanks man, yeah this trail is awesome, best place I’ve been all year for sure, can’t wait to get back. Can’t wait to see your vid here coming up! Hit me up when you get out yet this fall! [e-mail]

[@TheDustyDutchman]

What an expertly produced video 👍 and great riding 🤙. That was fun to watch 👏

[@robonbikes]

Thanks man, I appreciate that! Means a lot coming from someone with tip top production skills 🤘

[@TheDustyDutchman]

@@robonbikes thanks man! I really appreciate how much time you spent just getting the audio to be seamless between cut aways and drone clips. A lot of the detail work really shows nicely

[@robonbikes]

@The Dusty Dutchman I really appreciate that, thanks!!!

[@nickpethan3083]

Beautiful scenery!! I’ll have to check that area out!

[@robonbikes]

Worth the trip for sure!

[@richdrewtherideseries]

Great stuff man! Looking forward to getting up there in September!

[@robonbikes]

Thanks man! If you get up there and have any extra time, Duluth is littered with great trails. September should be a great time of year!

[@ElTerrible2011]

Nice work on the vid and getting through SRW in general 😅. This trail has really grown on me. The first time I rode there we went in expecting something more akin to the Jackpot and damn we were wrong lol. The second ride going in knowing what was coming was a waaaay better experience and may have been my favorite ride of the year. Mail Route, Well Worth It and OTM were all new to me and 100% agree on the allure of all the b-lines. Can’t wait to see how this place evolves over time.

[@robonbikes]

Thank you Sire!! Funny as I benefited from watching some folks ride this on KZbin and so knew what I was getting into. I expected it to be so tough and was happy I rode it as well as I did. Need to hit up OTM next time. Can’t wait to get back! Thanks for watching!!

[@MTB_Rider_96]

We went up and did the Jackpot and some of the Duluth trails - now I need to add this to the list for next year. Thanks.

[@robonbikes]

Yeah it’s definitely worth the drive! How did you like Jackpot? I’ve heard that is a spectacular trail.

[@MTB_Rider_96]

@@robonbikes It is spectacular for sure., and a very long day on a bike, so ya need lots of water and some food. One of the best trails in the state IMO.

[@DJEpisteme]

As others have attested to your video style/quality/direct candor are really solid & spot on. 1st video I've seen and looking forward to binge watching your channel! Already shared this video several times. You should hit up memorial in Red Wing then hike /rock climb Barnes Bluff and hit the brewery!

[@robonbikes]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate your support and kind words! 🤘Memorial Park officially on next year’s ride list!

[@KrisYahner]

Great video! We’re getting spoiled with trails on the North Shore. This one is on my list but haven’t gotten a chance to ride it yet.

[@robonbikes]

Thanks Kris! Yeah I’m going to be getting up there more and more. Jackpot next year, haven’t been there yet, have heard great things. Thanks for watching!

[@janemohs1467]

Great video, Rob! Excellent footage with the drone. Colors are fantastic and the rocks are plentiful! Soooooo many rocks!

[@robonbikes]

A Rocky playground! 😁 Thanks!!

[@DailyNeighborhoodRide]

Great video, very well done. I’m looking forward to exploring the North Shore more myself. Ride on 🤘

[@robonbikes]

Thank you!

[@Be_Cubed]

Great vid! Be sure to hit up ACR OTM trail next time, if you didn’t already. It has the most flow/jumps, though I only did about half of what you did.

[@robonbikes]

Great to know, I will definitely check those out next year when I go back here! Thank you for tuning in!

[@vitaflo]

Haven't been north of Duluth since you were a kid? Man you're missing out! The entire north shore up to Canada is the best part of MN! Great video as always.

[@robonbikes]

Seriously…. Went in the boundary waters and north shore in general a decent amount when I was younger. Time to get back into that! Thanks for watching!

[@davestock259]

I rode it for my 2nd time last weekend when it was cold and wet and snowy It's an awesome trail

[@robonbikes]

There were a lot of muddy spots when I went too, so I’m sure it was sloppy for you. I can’t wait to get back there! Thanks for watching! 🤘

[@NathanEide]

Gorgeous video Rob. What day were you there? Planning my trip up next fall and want to try to get colors. Thinking second week of October would be prime.

[@robonbikes]

Thanks! I was there 10/4. Trees were pretty darn good so I think first or second week would be fantastic.

[@grinnsessions]

Man, This was really well done! The riding was great, the shots were amazing! I like your storytelling style of approach to these videos! 2q's. Would you do the same route again and what drone are you using!

[@robonbikes]

Thanks man I really appreciate that! It helps when the scenery and leaves are top notch! If I did this again I would do the route I did in reverse. This would offer slightly more downhill on Fade to Blue, which would be great. Plus, there were a lot of side hits on Mail Route and Hwy 61 that were built for the other direction. Drone is a DJI Mini 3. It’s awesome! Very happy with the picture quality, and it’s so small, which is obviously fantastic for mountain biking.

[@jefflinde6758]

It is nice to see that trail builders have finally built an actual technical black trail. way to much smooth, over manicured blue and black trail in this state.

[@robonbikes]

@Jeff Linde I agree, this is a treat, very fun and challenging to ride. I want more like this! One thing I did learn not too long ago is that trail ratings don’t follow state wide (or nation wide) parameters that define how to rate a trail. Instead, each trail SYSTEM rates its trails in relation to other trails within the same system. So at Elm Creek, for example, even though Grizzland is a very easy trail, it is rated black because it is more difficult compared to the other trails at Elm Creek. This leaves us with a very wide spectrum of black or blue trails in the state. I wish they could all align and get some sort of agreed-upon “norm”, but what do ya do…

[@GeoExplorerStudio]

Do you think it's better to ride in the opposite direction?

[@robonbikes]

I actually prefer it this way (clockwise). Have ridden here one other time and did it counter-clockwise. Not as fun on Hwy 61 and Mail Route in my opinion. Black trails are a grind no matter which way you ride them!!

[@GeoExplorerStudio]

Thanks! Will hit these trails next weekend.@@robonbikes

[@robonbikes]

@GeoExplorerStudio have fun!!