Legacy Trails Program Awardee

Pincushion Mountain Ski Trails

The goal of this project is to rehabilitate the Pincushion Mountain Ski Trails (Pincushion Trails), using volunteers and contracted mechanical equipment (excavator/cats) to repair erosion damage and repair and supplement drainage culvert systems. The project includes several steps to improve trail functionality and drainage. We will establish a consistent 15-foot-wide trail tread using mechanical equipment to repair erosion damage, move ditches in some sections, regrade worn trails on steep hills, and clean out existing ditches to re-establish proper drainage of water. We will also repair and reinstall or add new culverts to ensure that water can flow freely from the higher side of the trail to the lower side.

Applicant: North Superior Ski and Run Club (NSSRC)
Project Location: Gunflint Ranger District, Superior National Forest, Minnesota
Amount Awarded: $10,000.00

Volunteer hand crews will follow the mechanical work to clean-up debris and rocks and seed the trail. The net effect will be to improve the resilience and recreational value of the trails and also to restore proper hydrologic function to the ecosystem around the culverts.

Basic project planning and design have already been completed by NSSRC and Gunflint Ranger District staff. In spring 2023, additional field work will be completed and an operational plan for the equipment will be developed by NSSRC with guidance from Gunflint Ranger District engineers and recreational specialists. Culverts will be purchased by NSSRC through a local contractor once correct sizing has been determined. The equipment work will be contracted locally, and daily supervision of work will be by a NSSRC volunteer project manager. The NSSRC project manager has 25+ experience constructing and maintaining Pincushion Trails as a volunteer and as a Forest Service employee. The operational plan will sequence the work most efficiently and based on highest need. We expect half of the work will be accomplished in the 2023 field season and the remaining work will be completed in the 2024 field season. By completing the work over two seasons we will be able to close specific loops of the trail system to complete work safely and allow the rest of the trail system to be open for use.

Funds provided by project partner Department of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) will be used to purchase culverts and contract mechanical equipment. We have partnered with IRRR, a State of Minnesota economic development agency, on past project, such as purchasing needed grooming equipment and they are a valuable source of funding for trail projects. IRRR grants require a 50% cash match providing good economic leverage between IRRR grants and a Legacy Trails grant.