Rolley spur snowmobile trail rerouted along Highways 115/77

Brian Trancheff operates his bulldozer cutting the new section of the Rolley Spur of the Iron Ore Trails connecting Lake Vermilion to state trails.

NOVEMBER 2, 2016 — Once all the permits were in place Brian Trancheff has been found hard at work with his excavating equipment preparing the new section of the Rolley Spur trail, part of the Iron Ore Trails which connects Lake Vermilion with the Taconite State Trail and the Arrowhead State Trail. The project has been undertaken to preserve the existing trail which is so important to snowmobile traffic in the Lake Vermilion area. The previous trail crossed in the middle of private land and with the reroute its future use as access to the state trail is assured.

The new section of trail will parallel County Highway 115/77, although it will be buffered from road traffic by the existing hill located along the highway, across from the Highway 77 and Highway 115 junction. The existing hillside is well covered with trees and a good crop of young Norway Pines are already growing which will only add to the buffer in the coming years. The section of trail to be abandoned had crossed in the middle of private land, hindering its use. The new section will now run along the north side of the private land before turning to cross into county tax forfeit lands.

In addition to seeking permits through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Trails and Waterways and the St. Louis County Land and Minerals department Trancheff has worked closely with the Vermilion Penguin Snowmobile Club to develop the site plan for the new trail. The new trail is being built with the needs of snowmobilers in mind and it is expected that everyone will find it an improvement to the existing trail system.

All the work, labor, equipment and gravel are provided by Trancheff free of any charge. The Vermilion Penguin Snowmobile Club will be maintaining the trail through its volunteer program which maintains snowmobile trails throughout East Lake Vermilion, Tower and Soudan. More information about the Vermilion Penguin Snowmobile Club can be found at their website, www.vermilionsnowmobiling.com.