Nestled in the heart of Minnesota’s North Shore, outside of Tofte, MN the Britton Peak Bike Trails offer a dynamic riding experience for mountain bikers of all skill levels. With a mix of flowy singletrack, challenging climbs, and scenic views of the surrounding forest, these trails are perfect for adventure seekers looking to explore the rugged beauty of the area. Whether you’re a beginner looking for a smooth ride or an experienced rider seeking technical features, Britton Peak has something for everyone. Each trail is thoughtfully designed to blend with the natural landscape, offering both excitement and tranquility in equal measure. Each trail in the system is listed below:

1. Short Stacker is an excellent one-way trail for beginners to ride, or a fantastic short loop for more experience riders to warm up on. The 1.2 mile loop takes riders through beautiful maple forest and offers riders an opportunity to test their skills on boardwalks, small drops, smooth rock gardens and small berms. Most obstacles, with the exception of some rock gardens, can be biked around or easily walked. The first half of the trail consists of small undulating hills, while the second half of the loop is slightly downhill, allowing riders to get into a fun, flowy state.
2. Crosscut is designated as a one-way blue trail. The trail has a variety of riding with some wonderful rock gardens/features, wooden drops, and other technical features. The features tend to offer some more challenging opportunities for riders than Short Stacker does, but is still very approachable for riders who have a bit of experience under their belt. This trail is, rightly, a favorite loop for many and offers opportunities for those who want to push themselves. The last section of the loop has a beautiful section of flow trail that is slightly downhill, making it easy to gain momentum and become one with the trail.
3. Flume is also a blue loop that can be traveled clockwise or counterclockwise. Although this trail tends to have less features and is a bit less “flowy” than Shortstacker and Crosscut, it has some unique rock roll downs and a series of berms that are a lot of fun to ride. If you’re hoping to enjoy the berms while riding downhill, we recommend riding this two-way trail in a clockwise direction (though a handful of folks would argue riding counterclockwise is more enjoyable).
4. Skookum is designated as a black, or difficult, one-way trail in the Britton Peak Trail system. This is by far the most technical trail of the system. Most of the technical parts of the trail are comprised of rocks formations and features, many of which are found on short downhill or uphill sections.
5. Jackpot and High Climber Trail, starting at Britton Peak near Tofte, offers an exhilarating ride through dense forests and rocky ridgelines. The trail begins as Jackpot at the Britton Peak Trailhead and transitions into High Climber after crossing Onion River Road between Tofte and Lutsen. With punchy climbs, fast descents, and technical features, this challenging route rewards experienced riders with breathtaking views of the Sawtooth Mountains and an unforgettable North Shore adventure.

Getting There

To drive to Britton Peak Trail Head from Tofte, head north on MN-61 (North Shore Drive) for about 1 mile. Turn left onto Sawbill Trail (Cook County Road 2) and continue for approximately 2.5 miles. Keep an eye out for the Britton Peak trailhead sign on the right (note:it appears quickly as you round a curve), where you’ll find a parking area to access the trails.