Planning a Monster Gravel Loop Ride
Early May we bikepacked part of the Monster Gravel Loop route in northwestern WI. This was my first bikepacking trip ever and I appreciated that the route was easy to follow and reasonably flat.
This route starts in St. Croix Falls, but our ride started in Milltown. I began the first day with three others, but because I needed to be home earlier the second day, I rode solo. I covered 62 miles in two days. Fifty-one of those miles were a part of the Monster Loop, the rest were on an alternate I created due to time constraints. The trail follows a rail-to-trails gravel bed, quiet country roads as well as other dirt/gravel roads. It is a mixed landscape of hardwood forests, wetlands and farmlands. Here’s my tips to planning an adventure. Check out my full report of this ride.
PLAN A MONSTER GRAVEL LOOP ADVENTURE
The 104 mile Monster Route Loop starts in St. Croix Falls, WI and loops northward along the Gandy Dancer Trail eventually splitting from it and heading west towards the St. Croix River. From there it heads south through some quiet and scenic areas back towards St. Croix Falls. You can ride it in either direction. I’m not sure if there is a preference as the elevation is +1,770/-1,768. It was nice having access to a handful of small towns the first day as I got my trail legs.
You can download GPX of the route through Ride with GPS app. I did do this but opted not to pay for the subscription ($6/mo or $50/yr). I was able to follow the cue sheet and compare that to Google maps. I didn’t have any trouble navigating this way. I was also lucky in that I had pretty good cell service on the route I took. A couple of times I had one bar, but not for long. The map includes elevation, points of interest, places to eat, drink, buy groceries, pit toilets and places to camp.
The Gandy Dancer Trail is a 30 mile trail system managed by the Wisconsin DNR and requires a daily or annual pass. You can buy the pass online, otherwise we saw one trail kiosk at Polk Co Visitors Center in St. Croix Falls. A couple of stops in towns along the trail were supposed to have trail passes too, but they were closed or no longer offering them. Some intersections the trail crossed included distances to the next town. Food, groceries and water was very accessible. There are creeks and lakes along the trail if you want to filter water. The trail is mostly shaded, depending on the season. Mid-week the trail activity is pretty quiet. We only saw two walkers, no cyclists.
Because I had a commitment back home, I wanted to be done on day two by 1pm. This map includes part of the Monster Loop, but it highlights the alternate route I created through Grantsburg.
I brought a Sawyer Mini water filter which was handy in the part of the loop that split from the Gandy Dancer trail headed west. There is plenty of filterable water near Burnett County Forest, Reed Lake State Natural Wildlife Area and Crex Meadows, the St. Croix River and other smaller water sources. We were told that we wouldn’t need a water filter, but a slower or lower mileage group would benefit from at least one, especially in more remote sections.
Overall the bikepacking report that I read communicated that the trail is considered easy and doable in two days. I would agree if you are a moderate to advanced rider. Newbies or those who don’t ride much, like me, might prefer to do it in 3-4 days. So, be honest and realistic with your experience, fitness and skills. My endurance was fine due to the fact that I’m an ultra runner. I also have remote, backcountry camping experience and do wilderness guiding on the side.
What you bring will depend on the season, how many days you spend on trail and how comfortable you want to be. If you’re in a group, you may be able to share some things.. You’ll want to decide if you want to buy food and eat in towns along the trail (easier on the eastern side of trail) or if you want to carry all of your own food. Because I knew we’d have good access to towns and that I’m comfortable being ultralight, I didn’t bring a lot of food or gear. My total packed weight with food and water was around 12 pounds.
I was happy with what I brought on my packing list. The only item I might have added were my OR Helium rainpants. The packing list will not be right for everyone, but I gives you an idea of what worked for me. With my outdoors skills, I knew I could run close to the margins, especially being within an hour and a half of home by car and with town stops along the route.
If you go with a group, discuss group and individual expectations prior to the trip.. Have a few plans in place before you leave so that you can easily pivot if either the group itself or an individual needs it. Sometimes the route is harder than expected or someone get’s injured or the forecast changes. Stuff happens. Before you join a ride, self-assess your fitness level, experience and abilities. Whatever happens on trail, may affect the whole group.
In my case, I had the ability to split off from the others, knowing my partner was willing to pick me up wherever. I knew I didn’t have the cycling experience to do the whole loop. I also brought enough gear to be completely self-sufficient. So, it was easy for me to decide to go solo the second day and alter my route. The others followed a similar route the second day, but started later and took more time before they stopped at Granstburg. We all modified the original 100 mile route to a shorter distance. So, my experience speaks to what I did. I don’t have intel on the western side yet.
Modified from Google Maps. Monster Route is red loop. My route is yellow which follows part of the Monster Loop. Route is roughly 1 hour drive from Minneapolis, MN.
Disclaimer: Some of the information provided in this article may not be current or accurate. Conditions along this route are subject to change based on seasonal changes or road work. It is your responsibility to plan for, train and prepare for your adventure. Plan for the conditions you might encounter. Spring in northern Wisconsin is variable, so have a good handle on the expected forecast. Cell service is pretty good in most areas, but not guaranteed. Emergency services in small towns are sometimes staffed by volunteers and help may be hours away.
