Bethel Haunted Forest is ready for Halloween!

Meet in the parking lot by 1:00 PM for a singletrack riding experience with a wider tire bike (MTB or Fattie) to ride on well-packed dirt trails, while twisting and turning through the Bethel Haunted Forest, located about 20-30 minutes drive north of Blaine.

Restroom (Biffee) is available at ride start.  Bring your own water and snacks.

The entire off-road forest route is currently about 7 miles total if all loops (including Advanced - with punchy and short little climbs).  About 5 miles if Advanced loops are bypassed.  Ride multiple loops for more mileage if desired!

Social gathering afterwards in the parking lot or at Garphish Brewery (just a mile up the road) for those interested. 

Meet some of the friendly members of the "Bethel Trail Squad" - a volunteer group (that I am a part of) that created and maintains this special park.

Below is an article written for TCBC newsletter in September 2020, just after it opened to the public in June 2020.

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Our TCBC Newsletter Editor recently asked on the website Forum - What have cyclists been doing during this time of COVID?

A cycling friend at work (Rich Wiitala) coordinated with the City of Bethel, to attain permission for usage of 80 acres of land, for a new city park, called Bethel Haunted Forest, that up until a few years ago was used as an annual seasonal haunted attraction for the Bethel Fire Dept.

Some of the Haunted Forest attraction items are still to be discovered in the woods there, with some now set up as fun new obstacles to manage to get your bike over and/or around!

The trail surface is packed well, actually dries out within two hours after a rain, but could still be rough in some places, especially with roots here and there, wider (2 inch plus) tires are recommended.

The more it gets ridden, the smoother it will get. Grand Opening was early June (2020), and it is open for riding, walking or running currently.

Bethel Trail Squad is the group of volunteers that I'm working with, to keep the trails clear of fallen trees and weeds, and to implement the near-constant suggested updates to add more fun, oh and to ride!

So, are you looking for some brand-spanking new singletrack nearby, with a haunting feel that just seems to be long-lost in time?

Bethel Haunted Forest trails, at about 7 miles long, could be just what you're looking for!

The Trailhead parking lot is located at 23249 University Ave NE, East Bethel, MN 55005.

KMSP TV channel 9 did a news story segment - https://www.fox9.com/news/from-trash-to-treasure-bethel-volunteers-turn-former-dump-into-miles-of-nature-trails

Find “Bethel Haunted Trails” page on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bethel-HauntedTrails/233998720098354

Also, here's an excellent video from Youtuber "Minnesota MTB" riding/ describing it (best watched in "HD" quality) - https://youtu.be/JSqFWHPZoGs

After riding, for refreshments and eats nearby, the City of Bethel's downtown is a short mile up County Rd 13 to the north, and on the two block-long Main St, find Garphish Brewery (with "Trail Tamer" Ale specially-brewed just for Bethel Haunted Forest!), and across the street is The Dugout Bar and Grill.

Here are additional details from the Facebook page: Bethel welcomes you to natural surface single track trails through our “Haunted Forest” Park, a north metro mountain biking/hiking/ trail running destination!  

The park features about 7 miles of natural surface singletrack trail. Stay right at trail signs for a hilly 7 mile loop that includes a beautiful stream and marsh overlook!