The Sawtooth Stage Race, hosted by the Superior Cycling Association (SCA), is slated to occur from August 21 to 23 in Cook County. Jay DeCoux, president of the SCA, said that the registration is nearing half of the 100-participant capacity for the inaugural year. 

The race is a three-day tour of the best mountain bike trails that Cook County has to offer, including many that were recently rebuilt. 

Day one of the weekend is a 6.8-mile individual start-time trail on Friday afternoon on the Britton Peak trails, located off the Sawbill Trail. Day two takes participants from Lutsen to Britton Peak, into Jackpot and High Climber, with a finish back in Lutsen. The 29-mile loop is a challenge for riders and features 2500 feet of climbing. The Jackpot and Highclimber trails were finished in 2021 and coincided with the rebuilding of Britton Peak’s singletrack bike trails. The Highclimber Trail was rehabbed in 2025. 

Grand Marais hosts the last day of the race with the “Pincushion Dirt Circuit.” DeCoux said this one is a "heart buster" with its start in town, a climb up to Pincushion via the snowmobile trail, and then multiple laps of all the singletrack trails. This stage partially replicates the recently retired "Sawtooth Challenge," the original north shore MTB race that started in the late 80’s. 

The top riders from each stage will receive awards, along with the overall winners, at the end of the weekend. A gravity category will also be awarded with the shortest times clocked on nine of the fast downhill segments throughout the weekend. 

DeCoux shared that SCA is really excited to host the race and have a grassroots event back on the North Shore. Many of the singletrack trails in Cook County occur within the Superior National Forest, offering Midwesterners a unique experience riding purpose-built mountain bike trails on federal public land. 

SCA is hoping to host a larger stage race in the future, according to DeCoux. The Sawtooth Stage Race will help gauge interest and prepare the organizers for more complex logistics. SCA has worked with Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores, based in Duluth, on aspects of their races. This grand idea would be the ultimate collaboration between the two clubs across Lake Superior’s shore. 

A big part of the event is the competition, but SCA’s main priority is cultivating a vibe around the trails and celebrating them. Proceeds from the race will go towards continued maintenance of the mountain bike trails along the North Shore. The club is still working on the specifics of the provisions, but racers won’t be disappointed in the post-race hangouts and celebrations. 

To register or learn more, go to their website: https://superiorcycling.org/sawtooth-stage-race/