Trail Riding @ Timber Bay

Your Forward Operating Base

for an Iconic

Iron Range Expedition

Brief

Find yourself at the center of Northern Minnesota’s most exciting motorized arteries: the Prospector Loop, the Stony Spur, and the Taconite State Trail. These interconnected systems provide over 250 miles of world-class access through the Superior National Forest, linking the historic communities of Babbitt, Ely, Tower, and Embarrass into a single adventure network.

Our "accessible isolation," gives you a rare combination of deep-wilderness immersion and direct trail connectivity. Whether you are a "Motorhead" logging high-mileage technical endurance or a family unit seeking a "Memory-Making Adventure," our resort is your launchpad for any expedition through the Vermilion Range.

Highlights

The single most significant technical advantage of Timber Bay is its direct connectivity to the regional trail system. Our location on the "Stony Spur" provides an immediate on-ramp, allowing guests to avoid the congestion of main city trailheads. Walk out your door directly into the most diverse ecosystem of trails you can imagine.

The “Key-On” Advantage

Under St. Louis County Ordinance 64, riders can legally operate ATVs on the shoulder of county roads. Our driveway is directly to the Stony Spur trailhead. This means you can turn your key at the cabin door and be on the trail in minutes without ever deploying a trailer ramp or dealing with the "load/unload" cycle.

The “Hybrid” Expedition

Timber Bay is the only destination in the region where you can bridge the gap between water and woods. Positioned on the shores of a 20-mile-long motorized haven, we offer the "Mothership" advantage: ride technical trails in the morning, and return to a 52-foot houseboat moored at a private island in the evening.

Tactical Support

We provide more than just a place to park; we provide the intelligence to succeed. From GPS-integrated waypoints on the Polaris Ride Command app to a "Recovery Locker" stocked with kinetic ropes and tire repair kits, our team ensures your trip doesn't end with a broken belt or a wrong turn.

Mission Profile

You’re not coming to the Northwoods to figure out where you’re heading next. You have a mission in mind and you’re here to accomplish it.

Good news: We’re here to help.

Whether you’re an expert technical rider, an explorer looking to crank miles, a family making memories for a lifetime, or a couple getting away from it all… You’ve found your starting line.

Download the Trail Map (PDF)

for the Motorhead

Access the high-fidelity technical intelligence and mechanical redundancy you expect. Drive straight into trail "Hero Sections" like the Jackpot Loop and leverage our unmatched partnerships like Lossing’s Power Sports for priority repairs, ensuring total "Trip Continuity" when you’re pushing your machine to the absolute limit.

for the Explorer

We meet you at the starting line to your endurance-focused adventure with "Meal Circuits" like the 100-mile Trestle Run. These high-mileage tours offer "True Wilderness" immersion and historical waypoints, such as the Soudan Underground Mine, providing a "Trophy" experience for those seeking high stakes engagement.

for the Family

Tackle simplified, low-stress routes like the Kawishiwi River "Picnic Run". We’ll take care of your "Director of Fun" with safety checklists and "Bail-Out" points, ensuring a secure environment for multi-generational groups. And of course, always a comfortable landing back here at home in your cabin or on your houseboat!

for the Couple

Lock in the best stress relief and "Up North" vibes you’ve ever experienced. We’re here for a "Logistics-Free" getaway and a totally secluded landing point. Snuggle in to a knotty pine cabin with a rock fireplace or live it up in a hybrid vacation where "reset" includes a private beach after a gentle trail cruise.

Rip the Seasons

M U D

Early Season
[May – June]
Mud & Winch Time

Thaw is over, and now the real work begins

The water table is peaking, turning the Northwoods into a technical battlefield of deep pits and "greasy" hardpack. This isn't a Sunday cruise; it’s a gear-shakedown. We’re talking water crossings that test your snorkel and muck that demands a winch. If you define a "good day" by how much of your machine is visible under the clay, this is your season. Bring the extra recovery gear—you’re going to need it.

D U S T

High Season
[July – August]
Dust & Social Time

Trails hardened into fast, high-speed corridors

This is the time for the "Ride-to-Swim" tactical play: hammer the Prospectors Loop in the morning heat, then retreat to Timber Bay’s private beach to kill the engine and cool off. It’s high-visibility, high-speed, and high-reward. Perfect for the "Director of Fun" looking to balance 50-mph trail runs with a sunset beer on the dock. The Northwoods is open—go wide open.

L E A V E S

Late Season
[Sept – October]
Endurance Time

The "Golden Window" for serious high-mile riders

The biting bugs are dead, the autumn rains have locked down the dust, and the "Harlequin Forest" is on fire with color. The crisp air means your radiator stays cool and your tactical gear feels right. It’s time for the 100-mile "Trestle Run" endurance push. No heat exhaustion, no distractions—just you, a full tank of premium, and a canopy of gold and red: The trophy hunt of riding seasons.

S N O W

Winter Season
[December – March]
Power & Drift Time

When the dirt freezes, the game changes

The Northwoods transforms into a high-traction playground of packed powder and frozen lake crossings. This is the season of the "Power Drift." With the heat of summer a distant memory, your engine breathes deep and runs lean. Carve through the white-out silence of the Superior National Forest, then navigate back to a roaring rock fireplace in your cabin. The trails don't close; they just get faster. Own the frost.

BOOK. IT.

Private Lodges
Clasic Cabins
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Vintage Houseboats

Want Something Fully Customized?

Call us to combine cabins, houseboats, lake rentals and more. We’re happy to help customize the exact mix you need to achieve your goals.

Need More Trail Info…?

Common Questions

  • No. Timber Bay features "Key-On" access. Our lodge is located on Timber Bay Road, which feeds into legal "pavement connectors" (CR 21 and CR 70). You can ride directly from your cabin or houseboat to the Stony Spur II and Prospectors Loop without ever deploying a trailer ramp.

  • We offer 24 acres of secure, drive-through trailer parking. Our parking area is specifically designed for large rigs, ensuring you never have to worry about complex reversing maneuvers in tight spaces.

  • We maintain a "Lossing’s Lifeline"—a priority service agreement with Lossing’s Power Sports in Babbitt. If a registered guest has a mechanical issue, you receive priority "front of line" triage to ensure your trip continues.

  • Yes. Our full-service marina provides on-site fuel. We also offer a "Jerry Can Valet" service, where staff can top off your fuel cans while you’re at breakfast so you’re ready for a 9:00 AM departure.

  • Yes. We provide a dedicated "Pit Crew" Wash Station. It features a high-pressure wand and a containment system designed to meet MPCA standards, allowing you to leave the "Minnesota Mud" at the resort, not in your garage.

  • Early Season (May–June) is your window. High water tables turn low-lying sections of the Stony Spur and Jackpot Loop into technical mud pits and water crossings that test winches and snorkels.

  • Late Season (September–October) is the "Golden Window". The dust is settled by autumn rains, biting insects are gone, and the cool air is perfect for wearing full tactical gear while logging high mileage through the "Harlequin Forest".

  • Yes. We are a year-round operation. In winter, the landscape transforms into a high-traction playground. We even target Giants Ridge overflow dates, offering a secluded alternative to crowded roadside motels.

  • High Season (July–August) is perfect for social cruisers. Trails harden into fast hardpack, making it the ideal time for "Ride-to-Swim" itineraries where you hit the trails in the morning and cool off at our private beach in the afternoon.

  • It’s the TBLH specialty: "Water meets Woods". You can ride 100 miles of technical trail in the morning and captain a houseboat on Birch Lake in the evening. You don't have to choose between adrenaline and relaxation.

  • Yes. We recommend the "Picnic Run" to the Kawishiwi River or the Big Aspen Recreation Area. These routes offer wide corridors and gentle loops, removing the stress of technical obstacles for first-time families.

  • We provide "Co-Pilot Checklists" and clearly marked "Bail-Out" points on our maps. Knowing there is a paved "escape hatch" back to the lodge reduces the barrier to entry for novice riders.

  • Absolutely. Our Bear Trap cabin sleeps up to 18 guests. For larger squads, we use a "Mothership" strategy: book a large lodge for communal meals and add nearby cabins or a houseboat for additional sleeping capacity.

  • It’s our ultimate challenge: catch a Walleye, Pike, and Smallmouth Bass directly from the deck of your houseboat while your ATV is parked at the dock, ready for a 100-mile trail day.

  • Unlike crowded regional competitors, 85% of Birch Lake’s shoreline is protected federal wilderness. You get "True North" seclusion and direct trail access without the shared hallways, noise, or cramped asphalt lots of hotel-style resorts.