Best Flow Trail in Minnesota? | Mountain Biking Jackpot and Highclimber | Tofte, MN

I've long heard that the Jackpot trail between Tofte and Lutsen is....well, a jackpot! I finally scraped aside some time to ride Jackpot, and it did not disappoint.
Jackpot, and the equally flowy High Climber, run between Britton Peak Trailhead, near Tofte, MN, and Lutsen Mountain. Fifteen miles in either direction, the trails wind up and down over significant North Shore elevation changes, through pines and cedars, maples and some splendid rock formations. These trails were constructed by Rock Solid Trail Contracting, and they seem to have had a hyper-focus for maximum flow, with bike-park-sized berms, descents that seem to stretch on for ages, and enough speed-enhancing-rollers that at times you feel like you're on a lush, wild roller-coaster. Granite slabs and sporadic rock gardens bring the right amount of spice.
I started my ride at the Britton Peak Trailhead, working NE through Jackpot, and then High Climber, which drops elevation before finally ending on a bridge over the Poplar River. Here the river tumbles and foams over granite boulders on its way to emptying into Lake Superior. This is a great place for a snack break, before turning around and making the climb up High Climber for the return.
As the video shows, the return loop was full of trials and tribulations that are, sometimes, just a part of mountain biking. All in all, this ride left me very excited to get back up here and ride these trails again!

[@conniegerster1708]

Excellent job with the drone, Rob. Loved seeing the scenery around the area. Laugh out loud funny, too.

[@robonbikes]

Haha thanks Connie! At least I didn’t break the drone!

[@grinnsessions]

Great vid! Absolutely amazing place. I agree with your assessment of the last 5 miles into Tofte is the sweetest part. Long grind, broken wheel, broken soul.... You handled the whole situation like a champ!

[@robonbikes]

Hey thanks man! It definitely took some work to remain positive, but the alternative ain’t fun either 😂. Yeah I can’t wait to get back and actually ride those last miles into Tofte. Amazing how much work was put into this trail, huge berms!

[@Dialed1]

Bummer on the flat! Probably the most smiles per mile on the final descents back to the lot. The drone shots were awesome! Hope you can get back out and get this whole trail without all the troubles.

[@robonbikes]

Smiles per mile, great gauge of a trail! 😁. Yeah man I’m hoping to get out and ride this thing in the fall hopefully, def some redemption to be had!

[@jasonchapais3670]

Sick vid dude, heard about this trail system last year by some dudes who told me about it while riding in Thunder Bay. I'm looking forward to riding Jackpot this year. Can't wait to head that way

[@robonbikes]

You won’t be disappointed, it’s a great trail system!! How was Thunder Bay? I’ve heard some good things about the riding there.

[@jasonchapais3670]

Trails in Tbay are wicked awesome, some new trails built. Lookout is beautiful, also mesaround and Magma Day, its a pretty decent jump trail with good flow, I usually spend about 2 to 3 hours biking the trail system @@robonbikes

[@robonbikes]

@jasonchapais3670 awesome, thanks for the info!

[@obbcmtb9977]

Wow, flying shot under the bridge was sweet! Bummer it didn’t go as planned but you dropped the best catch phrase ever “HOLY BALLSACKS” 😅. Hope you don’t mind if I pick your pocket on that one.

[@robonbikes]

🤣 All yours man, use at will!

[@AndrewGehn]

Best flow trail experience in Minnesota in my opinion! Huge bummer that your tire snake-bited on the best descending section and you had to walk past all the best portions of Jackpot for the final few miles back to the trailhead. It’s an incredible trail, fun for all riders and plenty of side hits that would take a few rides to find all of them. Hopefully you’re able to make it back up there soon, I’ve heard from many that this is one of if not the best fall rides in Minnesota!

[@robonbikes]

Yeah man I’m hopeful I can get up there this fall for a ride, I’m sure it’d be quite spectacular with all the maples! I agree with your opinion that this is the best flow trail in the state. There are so many little pumps in the trail and the berms are obviously sculpted perfectly to maintain speed! Can’t wait to get back!

[@myusername570]

Need to make the trip a bit further north! We have quite the trail network hidden up here 🇨🇦 -- note after watching more, there's a really long descent similar to jackpot going from piedmont down to one of the trailheads. Long, flowy, fun

[@robonbikes]

I’m slowly making my way up there it seems! Where would you suggest? That trail on Piedmont, not positive but you might be thinking of Lollygagger. I took a wrong turn once and began going downhill on that trail. Was super fun descending. Then it ran into a road and I realized I had to turn around and go back up it 🤣. Worth it!

[@myusername570]

@robonbikes probably lollygagger. It's part of the traverse. Haven't made it back to piedmont yet though. If you're coming up there's really only one spot because we're middle of nowhere, and that's thunder bay. Take a look at trowbridge falls / shuniah Mines. Tons of singletrack and very active club. We're even holding the XC nationals this year! Trailforks has a ton of info, and if you're making the trip and need info / someone to show you the good stuff hmu.

[@Bertnickram]

Any reason you have not been out to Bertram Chain of Lakes in Monticello? I would love to see a POV of you there as I regulary ride those trails

[@robonbikes]

No reason, just a lot of trails in Minnesota! Great to get the recommendation though, I actually do really want to ride here, so I’ll try to make it happen yet this season 🤘

[@Bertnickram]

@@robonbikes Love it! I really started riding a lot this season and Bertram is a few minutes from my place so I love going there to work on skills. Before this a yearly trip to Cuyuna was all I did. I'd love to see a pov from someone better than me at Bertram

[@hikesbikesbrews]

Rode at Redhead with a buddy, were all pumped for day 2 of it…then when furthest away, he got a flat. Like you, nothing could fix it and no tube. I now plan to bring a spare tube with me on long rides Want to check this trail out so bad

[@robonbikes]

Yeah man, spare tube; big lesson learned for me! Hope you can get here soon. It’s a big ride but the trail is seriously awesome, was blown away by the berms they built out in the middle of nowhere!

[@MrPk5055]

Hey Rob, I recently got a light fat tire bike as its all I can afford for year round rides. Whats your opinion on riding a far tire on trails like this? I get looks, but I've been loving the singletracks in the Twins Cities the last few weeks. Thanks.

[@robonbikes]

Strange that you get looks, as a fat bike would work great on this trail, very capable! Only caveat is that I would make sure it’s rated for off road use - some bikes that are purchased at department stores (Walmart, etc), have very cheap components, and I wouldn’t trust them over rough terrain. I’d check with the manufacturer to ensure your bike is rated for off road use, but in general a fat bike would work great on a trail like this.

[@MrPk5055]

@robonbikes Thanks, Rob! It is a Mongoose, but an Argus Trail. It's aluminum and all Shimano components. 4in generic tires tho. It feels very competent so far. I'd really like to get out to some more challenging and beautiful trails up north. Thanks again! Love your videos.

[@robonbikes]

@MrPk5055 I’d say you’re good to go with that bike! Have fun, and thanks for watching!

[@politan83]

Rob, did you have a spare tube, and do you use some kind of rim protector?

[@robonbikes]

No rim protection. However, last time I broke a rim I upgraded to carbon rims. If I still had aluminum it would’ve been toast. I run tubeless and am ticked I didn’t bring a spare tube on this trip. I usually do on long or remote rides.

[@politan83]

@@robonbikes No judgment BTW. The first time I rode that trail I was clueless and didn't bring anything. It seems like I hear conflicting things about carbon vs. aluminum rims. In your opinion, does carbon hold up better to abuse? I've definitely seen videos of people cracking their carbon rims.

[@robonbikes]

@politan83 no judgment felt brother! 👊 I have limited experience but I truly believe an aluminum rim would’ve been shot, I hit the offset crack in that slab really hard! I think any material can break but if no defects I’ve heard carbon is much stronger. I do not have Santa Cruz Reserve wheels, but there’s a great video of Danny MacAskill trying to break them. He does it, but they take some serious abuse!

[@Twinkie1960]

bumma man….had to hika bike a few monthz back and it waz uphill both wayz 😆

[@robonbikes]

Ha! Of course it was. Yeah never fun.