State Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, cuts an ATV tow strap rather than a traditional ribbon to mark the opening of the new bridge.

Courtesy of ATVAM

This trail system from here to Ely to Silver Bay is going to be an incredible economic development engine for those communities along the way. So to ATVAM and my colleagues who have helped build out this system, I want to say thank you.”

Sen. Tom Bakk

CRANE LAKE—There were plenty of kudos offered up here last Friday, Sept. 20, as more than 300 ATV enthusiasts from around the state turned out on a mild and sunny fall day for the opening of the largest bridge ever built by a Minnesota ATV club.

Political leaders were there, as well, and they singled out a number of local boosters who went above and beyond to make the $1.26 million project a reality. “Specifically, to Bruce Beste, to Mark Anderson, to Steve Koch and to Gretchen Janssen who have come to the Capitol multiple times to help us secure some funding for projects like this and others,” said Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, who spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “They take time away from their families. They come down and it really helps us to put a local face on a project.”

The 185-foot bridge across the Vermilion River was built by the Voyageur Country ATV club. The project includes a picnic area near the bridge, and 16 miles of trail that connect Elephant Lake to Echo Lake and other trail networks beyond.

Among the other politicians present were Eighth District Congressman Pete Stauber, as well as Sen. David Tomassoni and St. Louis County Commissioners Paul McDonald, Mike Jugovich, and Keith Nelson.

They were joined by a number of other officials, including representatives of the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, along with the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board, which provided the bulk of the funding for the $1.26 million project. ATV user fees contributed the rest of the funds.

Last Friday’s event kicked off the annual convention, ride and rally of the ATV Association of Minnesota, or ATVAM, which is one reason it drew so many riders to the area. The annual event also featured 12 different trail rides in the area on Saturday, followed by a banquet and auction.

Bakk lauded the volunteer involvement within the ATV community and predicted that the bridge and trail connections were going to provide further opportunity for a growing industry.

“This trail system from here to Ely to Silver Bay is going to be an incredible economic development engine for those communities along the way. So to ATVAM and my colleagues who have helped build out this system, I want to say thank you,” said Bakk.

Tomassoni, a Chisholm DFLer, thanked Senate committee chair Bill Engebritson, a Republican, who supports ATV trail development across the state. “We share the same interests even though we’re from different parties. It’s kind of neat we can cross party lines for these kinds of issues and we can get together and have really important things done. This is really a big deal to see all of these ATVs out there today.” He also thanked Rep. Mike Sundein, Rep. Dan Fabian and Rep. Dave Lislegard who were in attendance, and recognized Rep. Rob Ecklund who was on the LCCMR committee and was able to help get another $400,000 for the Voyageur Country ATV trail system.

An ATV tow strap took the place of a ribbon and, once cut, everyone rode across the bridge, then headed for the new picnic area at the Vermilion River Falls, enjoying lunch provided by the ATV club, a ground-breaking ceremony for a new ATV trail, and additional presentations and comments.

Organized in 2015 with 66 members, Voyageur Country ATV now has a membership of over 800, covering Crane Lake, Buyck, Camp Five, Cook, and Orr, and is growing to include Ash River, Lake Kabetogama, and International Falls. It has been influential in opening a number of U.S. Forest Service roads and St. Louis County roads in the area to ATVs, connecting hundreds of miles of existing wooded trails. The club’s mission is to provide safe, signed corridors for ATV riders, connect local communities, promote responsible riding and positively impact local tourism.