more stats
4,888 ft
Distance
134 ft
Climb
-49 ft
Descent
00:10:00
Avg time
88 ft
Altitude change
960 ft
Altitude min
1,052 ft
Altitude max
964 ft
Altitude start
1,053 ft
Altitude end
1.8%
Grade
-14.8%
Grade max
15.2%
Grade min
2,352 ft
Distance climb
1,020 ft
Distance down
1,516 ft
Distance flat
00:10:00
Avg time

Rift Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
  • Riding Area
    Pincushion Mountain Trail System
    Grand Marais, Minnesota
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Local Popularity
    90 in Mountain Biking
  • Global Ranking
    #36623 in Mountain Biking
  • State Ranking
    #200 in Mountain Biking · Minnesota
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    XC
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No

Dropping from the parking lot to the lower trails can be done slowly, or quickly. Rift is the faster option. The descent is steep, but the traverse to the stream is fast and fun.

Tags
Trail Supporters
Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 3 rides
  • 9 miles average
6 Months
  • 33 rides
  • 10 miles avg distance
All
  • 129 rides
  • Last: Oct 12, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Status:
on Jun 25, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 3.99 (7 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to rift trailhead (47.768710, -90.305390)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      3 more »
      mtb
      198 |
      Jul 28, 2020 @ 4:19am
      Jul 28, 2020
      mtb
      190 |
      Jul 22, 2020 @ 1:53pm
      Jul 22, 2020
      mtb
      200 |
      May 30, 2020 @ 3:38pm
      May 30, 2020
      Views 1

      Videos

      no videos have been added for Rift yet, add a video.
      3.7 ★★★★★
      7 Ratings
      5 ★ 43%
      4 ★ 29%
      3 ★
      2 ★ 14%
      1 ★ 14%

      9 Reviews & Comments

      Jeff624
      Trail is now one way which isn’t signed from the parking lot. Got to the bottom and it is a dead end. Trail flows great counter clockwise as many others have said however the trail isn’t signed to be ridden that way anymore.
      superacingurl superacingurl
      At least you sort of kept some blue level rocks in here, for a bit of it 🙄
      dirtcandy
      Rift is now signed as a one way trail, from the bottom of Talus, back up towards the parking lot. However 1/4 mile before the top, there is an alternate trail called Faultline that makes for a much easier climb back up to the too. Trailforks hasn't been updated, but the sign at the trailhead shows Faultline. The upper 1/4 mile of rift remains a two way trail for those who love that rocky descent
      So, Talus from the parking lot is the only way to access the rest of the trail system.

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      Nearby Trails

      Pincushion Mountain Trail System

      • By WanderingManTF Pro BSMTB & contributors
      • #34038 - 1,924 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Rift located?
      Rift is located in Pincushion Mountain Trail System, Grand Marais, Minnesota, United States. It is part of the Pincushion Mountain Trail System trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 47.76871, -90.30539.
      ▼ How hard is Rift?
      Rift is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 1.8%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Rift?
      Rift has 134 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 49 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 960 ft to 1,052 ft.
      ▼ How long is Rift?
      Rift is 4,888 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Rift?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Rift. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ How do I access Rift? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Rift are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Rift?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 10 minutes to ride Rift. The trail is 4,888 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Rift?
      Rift is a very popular trail. There have been 492 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 519 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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