The New C.J. Ramstad Memorial/North Shore State Trail
There are very few trails named after people in Minnesota, but, now Duluth is home to one more.
The first one, which you’re probably already familiar with, is the Willard Munger State Trail. Named after the Minnesota state legislator from Duluth, it starts near the Willard Munger Inn and travels southwest to Hinckley the site of Winter Rendezvous 2010. With a length of 63 miles, it is one of the longest paved trails in the world. Munger now has some company as the existing North Shore State Trail becomes the C.J. Ramstad Memorial/North Shore State Trail this winter.
Ramstad, the former owner, publisher and editor of numerous snowmobile and off-road sports publications and a motorized recreation advocate, died in 2007 along with his son J.J. in an automobile accident. In a promotional piece for Explore Minnesota, he listed the North Shore Trail among his favorites, calling it a “treasure” of the Arrowhead region. The North Shore State Trail stretches 143 miles between Duluth and Grand Marais. It is known for its dramatic elevation changes, tree-lined twisty path and wildlife.
The name change was initiated by local resident Greg Sorenson, who serves as a regional director of the Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association; legislative promotion by Rep. David Dill; and buy-in from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Legislation to amend the trail name was submitted and approved in the 2009 session.
The official name change occurred Aug. 1, and DNR literature will reflect the change this winter.
The North Shore Trail was the obvious choice when determining the appropriate path to carry Ramstad’s name. In addition to being a favorite trail, it’s also a multi-use motorized recreation trail primarily on public lands, which also fit well with Ramstad’s passions.
““C.J. Ramstad is an icon in the snowmobile world and it’s no mystery that the North Shore State Trail is a major snowmobile trail,” said Potter, who sees the new name not just as an honor to Ramstad but also a way to help local businesses market the trail. “What better name to have on a trail than C.J. Ramstad? Anyone who knows anything about snowmobiling has heard of C.J.”
“This was just a natural thing to do in his honor,” Dill said. “C.J. is one of those people who will not be replaced. There will be many people that do the work that he did, but his infectious personality, his passion for what he did — that he lived every day and every minute to fulfill — is undeniable, irrefutable and irreplaceable.”
