Pedal Power: 4 Ways to Bike in the Grand Forks Region

Riding bikes in Grand Forks allowed me to explore the community as a kid. Growing up, my parents would tell me to just be back by a certain time and my friends and I would just ride our bikes.

It started out riding down the street to my neighbors’ driveway, then around the block, and eventually all around town (as long as I was back before dark). As the curfew got later, my friends and I would cover more distance and explore more parts of Grand Forks.

Years have passed and riding bikes has continued to be one of my favorite activities in Grand Forks. Not only has the community provided a great infrastructure to ride safely, but Grand Forks also has wonderful spaces to ride, a FREE bike share program, opportunities to make friends, and is only a short drive from incredible terrain different from riding in town.

Grand Forks has an absolutely insanely awesome bike path. After a massive flood that decimated most of the Greater Grand Forks community in 1997, a ginormous flood protection system was created to contain the Red River from flooding that again. Within the massive dike, a greenspace was created along the river banks with the best bike path Grand Forks could ask for called the Greenway. Honestly, this is my favorite part of Grand Forks.

 The Greenway has a few different loops that cross bridges from North Dakota to Minnesota, allowing riders to pick their own adventure. If you’re looking to get from place to place in Grand Forks, it’s the perfect way to avoid traffic. Whether you are commuting to work, out for a family ride, or coming home from a night at the brewery, the Greenway is a safer option for riding bikes (please always ride with lights after dark)!

If you’re looking for a scenic escape, it’s great for getting connected to nature, too. There is so much wildlife just beyond the flood protection system, literal feet from residential neighborhoods. On any given evening bike ride, I have seen deer, bald eagles, foxes, and tons of varieties of birds.

This trail system is even maintained in the winter! There is an incredible Norwegian saying  “Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlig klær!” which means “There is no bad weather, only bad clothes!”. If you want to throw on an extra layer or two, the Greenway is open all year (unless the Red River is high). If fat tire biking is your thing, there are groomed ski trails adjacent to the paved paths but DO NOT RIDE IN THE CLASSIC SKI TRACKS, thank you.

The Ski and Bike shop has done an incredible job creating a community for all bike riders from casual riders to serious, 100 mile Gran Fondo (a long-distance road cycling event in which a large number of cyclists ride a marked route) road cyclist types. Many days a week, the shop has group rides for different kinds of riders. This is the perfect place to meet fellow riders and make friends. The groups include road cycling, mountain biking, and gravel riding. Gravel bikes have exploded across the country in the last few years, and it i s perfect for Grand Forks. Once you get out of city limits, there are endless options for gravel riding. If meeting up with new friends, riding bikes, and fostering community is your kind of thing, there is a cycling group for you in Grand Forks.

Just twenty miles west of Grand Forks on US Highway 2, lies a gem of the county, Turtle River State Park. At Turtle River, there are so many different single track mountain bike trails that are welcoming to new mountain bike riders but will satiate the most technical, experienced riders. Although the Red River Valley lacks elevation, Turtle River is the perfect place to scratch the trail riding itch and keep any rider busy for the weekend.

I personally LOVE this pocket of the county and try to get out often to ride the trails. In the summers of Grand Forks, the sun is out for so long that you could work a full day, drive out to the state park and still be able to ride for 3 hours in the summer evening glow..

If road cycling is more your taste and you want to go on an adventure, Itasca State park in Minnesota is a perfect getaway. There are so many pathed bike paths weaving between the trees and up hills, taking riders to iconic sites of the park.

In addition to the paved bike specific trails , there is a 13 mile loop in the park called the Wilderness Trail. This route takes cyclists to quieter sections of the park with incredible hills, gorgeous views of small lakes, and more trees than you could ever count. Any person can drive the Wilderness Trail, but biking this scratch of road allows visitors of the park to slow down, see the park in detail, and bomb awesome hills.

In the last few years, Grand Forks has jumped on the bike share train. The Downtown Development Association operates the community’s bike share program in the warmer months of the, and guess what: ITS FREE! Did you hear that? FREE!

Are you visiting the community and you want to see the Greenway and residential areas of town? Use bike share, it’s free! Do you want to go downtown from UND’s campus without losing your great parking spot outside of your dorm? Use bike share, it’s free! Is your date at the Rhombus Pizza going well and you’re looking for something else to do? Use bike share, it’s free!

There are so many benefits to communities using bike share programs and I am absolutely thrilled that the DDA stepped up to provide a FREE, incredible service (thank you DDA)!

In a nutshell, cycling in Grand Forks is more than just a hobby; it’s a lifestyle filled with adventure and community spirit. From cruising along the scenic Greenway to joining group rides organized by the Ski and Bike shop, there’s always something exciting for every rider. Take a short trip to Turtle River State Park for some thrilling mountain bike trails or explore the charming paths of Itasca State Park. Plus, with the city’s free bike share program courtesy of the Downtown Development Association, getting around town has never been easier or more fun (OR MORE FREE). So, whether you’re a local or just passing through, grab a bike, hit the road, and discover the wonders of cycling in Grand Forks today!