TOWER- A planning process that began last summer has created a plan to enhance, connect, and build on the existing trail systems in the Tower-Soudan area.
“This covers the broader needs for all our trails,” said Nancy Larson, a local grant writer who has successfully written grants for trails projects in both Tower and Soudan. “This plan also will cover the needs for maintenance of existing trails and the development of new trails.”
“Having a master plan is really important when applying for grants,” she said. “And so is having the bigger picture in mind.”
The bigger picture, as envisioned by the local planning group, is to capitalize on the area’s central location for many types of trails by providing connections between existing trails, construction of new trails, as well as creating a centralized trail information area at the Tower Depot/Harbor. area. That not only makes the community more attractive to visitors— it also makes it a better place to live. A number of recent studies have shown that regions that highlight outdoor recreation grow faster in terms of population and economic growth than other parts of the country.
The focus on outdoor recreation is already having an impact in the Tower-Soudan area. From paved trails for hiking and biking, like the Mesabi Trail, to wilderness-type hiking trails in the Ancient Cedars forest or the Lake Vermilion state park, to the city’s popular Wagoner ski trails, to the Prospectors Trail for ATVs, there’s no shortage of opportunities out there. The key is putting it all together through trail linkages, informational signage, and promotion.
A group of interested community members, working with Russell Habermann, senior planner with the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission, held a series of three meetings last year as work on the plan was underway. The group included local governmental and school officials, representatives from the DNR and MnDOT, and representatives from other existing trail organizations including the Mesabi Trail, Prospectors Trail, Vermilion Penguins, Wagoner Trails Club, and Lake Vermilion Trail.
As part of the planning process, the group conducted a survey of area residents, which had 200 respondents.
Survey results
In answer to the question about how people currently use trails in the Tower area, over two-thirds of respondents said they use trails for walking (69 percent), a little over half used trails for hiking (52 percent), and a similar number used trails for biking (53 percent). Other uses included snowshoeing (17 percent), mountain biking (15 percent), snowmobiling (33 percent), ATV/OHV (32 percent), and skiing (29 percent). Of those who completed the survey, 17 percent said they used trails at least once a day, 27 percent at least once a week, and 30 percent at least once a month.
While the community already has a well-developed trail infrastructure, the planning group noted that parking areas, rest rooms, signage, and connections between trails need to be improved.
Potential improvements
The planners identified creation of a wayside rest and area trailhead near the Tower Depot/Harbor zone as a top priority. The plan also calls for developing an online information hub for trails on the city’s website. New trail connections are being planned that will link the city’s harbor zone to other existing trails as well as to the Standing Bear Marina through a potential new riverside trail. A new kayak and canoe route is also being planned along the East Two River that will link the harbor zone to Lake Vermilion as well as the nearby West Two River.
New trails, known as the Pine Ridges trails, being built and marked on the hill north of town will need to be more clearly linked with other existing trails, such as the paved Hoodoo Point to McKinley Park loop trail. Volunteers have already done much of the clearing and marking and have funding in place for signage.
Larson said what happens next will depend on which groups, governmental units, or individuals decide to take the lead.
“Hopefully some of these groups involved will take it to the next step,” she said. “These projects will all need to be done independently.”
Future projects may also depend on cooperating with larger organizations. There have been some initial meetings, for example, with the North Country Trail Association, which is setting a nationwide trail route that includes a route through Minnesota.
The study was funded with help from the city of Tower, the Tower Economic Development Authority and IRRR. You can find more about existing area trails on the city of Tower’s website at https://cityoftower.com/recreation. A copy of the Tower Area Trails Plan is available at https://ardcplanning.org/tower/.