Rail-Trails Minnesota: The definitive guide to the state's best multiuse trails

by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Overview

Explore the best rail-trails—48 trails and 1,155 miles—with the official guide

Looking for a level trail where you can enjoy a brisk fitness walk, bike ride, or stroll with the family? All across the country, unused railroad corridors have been converted to public multiuse trails. Here, the experts from Rails-to-Trails Conservancy present the best of these rail-trails in Minnesota.

Experience first-hand how Minnesota earned the nickname the Land of 10,000 Lakes by taking a trip on the 121-mile Paul Bunyan State Trail, one of the longest rail-trails in the United States. The connecting trails of Central Lakes State Trail and Lake Wobegon Trail offer additional views of the lakes. In the southwest, Casey Jones State Trail runs through tallgrass prairie and wooded ravines. For more of an urban adventure, try the 34.5-mile Greenway of Greater Grand Forks in the northwest, which connects Grand Forks, North Dakota, and East Grand Forks, Minnesota.

In this book, you’ll find:

• Detailed maps for every rail-trail, plus driving directions to trailheads
• Icons indicating the activities each trail can accommodate
• Succinct descriptions written by rail-trail experts

“You can now throw away all your self-help books on fighting depression, losing weight, toning muscles, finding something to do with your kids, and learning American history. Just use this guide, find a great trail—and enjoy!”
—Peter Harnik, Director, Center for City Park Excellence, Trust for Public Land

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780899978215
Publisher:	Wilderness Press
Publication date:	05/10/2016
Series:	Rail-Trails
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	484,655
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to converting former railroad corridors to public, multiuse recreational trails that offer easy access to runners, hikers, bicyclists, skaters, wheelchair users, and equestrians. It serves as the national voice for more than 160,000 members and supporters, more than 23,000 miles of open rail-trails across the country, and more than 8,000 miles of potential trails waiting to be built—with a goal of ensuring a better future for America made possible by trails and the connections they inspire. To find out more about Rail-Trails, check out the Conservancy's official website at railstotrails.org.

Read an Excerpt

Mississippi River Regional Trail (Dakota County)

• Location Dakota
• Endpoints Simon’s Ravine Trailhead at Kaposia Landing Park off Concord St. N. near Butler Ave. (South Saint Paul) to Courthouse Blvd. and US 52 (Inver Grove Heights); Spring Lake Park Reserve at 127th St. E. near Idell Ave. to Third St. E. and Bailey St. (Hastings)
• Mileage 19
• Type Rail-Trail
• Roughness Index 1
• Surface Asphalt
• Uses Cycling, in-line skating, fishing, wheelchair access, walking

This Mississippi River Regional Trail running through eastern Dakota County is a segment of a larger regional trail system that is itself part of the National Park Service’s Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.

The northern portion of the Dakota County segment includes a completed, paved 12.3-mile section starting in South Saint Paul and ending in Inver Grove Heights. The Hastings component starts in Spring Lake Park Reserve and goes into the heart of the river city of Hastings, adding another 6.7 miles to the completed trail. The final 9 miles of this trail is currently being developed and is scheduled for completion in 2017, which will bring the length of the Dakota County section to nearly 28 miles when finished.

Beginning in Simon’s Ravine, the northern segment of the paved trail follows along a levee and offers a continuous overlook view of the railroad and barge commerce on and along the Mississippi River. The middle section of this segment follows city streets through Inver Grove Heights before reaching the lower end of this segment just beyond the wooded, 200-foot bluffs in the Pine Bend Bluff Scientific and Natural Area (one of the least-disturbed natural areas along the Mississippi River in the metro area).

Nine miles of the trail are still under development between Pine Bend Bluff and Schaar’s Bluff in Spring Lake Park Reserve, where it picks up again as a 5-mile segment that winds through the bluff-top countryside northwest of Hastings before dropping down and crossing Lock and Dam No. 2 on the Mississippi River. It ends at the southern trailhead terminus in downtown Hastings.

At its northern terminus, the South Saint Paul section of this trail links to another paved trail heading west to Kaposia Park and beyond, called the River to River Greenway. The southern terminus in Hastings connects trail users to a network of trails throughout that city.

Restrooms, parking, and drinking water are available at Kaposia Landing, Simon’s Ravine Trailhead, Swing Bridge Trailhead, and Spring Lake Park Reserve.

DIRECTIONS
To access Simon’s Ravine Trailhead (northern section), from I-94, follow signs for US 10 E. Take Exit 242D to merge onto US 52 S. In 1.9 miles, take the MN 156/Concord St. exit, and turn left onto MN 156 S./Concord St. In 1.9 miles turn left onto Bryant Ave., and parking will be on the right.

To access the south end of the trail, from I-94, follow signs for US 10 E. Take Exit 242D to merge onto US 52 S. In 12.5 miles take the 117th St. exit. Turn left onto 117th St. S.E., and in 0.2 mile turn left onto Courthouse Blvd. The trail is just behind the Pilot Travel Center. There are multiple other access points along the trail.

To access the Hastings trail section (southern section), from I-94, follow signs for US 10 E. Take Exit 242D to merge onto US 52 S. Go 13.6 miles, and take the MN 55 exit. Continue on MN 55/Courthouse Blvd., and go 4.4 miles east. Turn left onto Mississippi Trail, and go 1.7 miles. Turn left onto Idell Ave. In 0.5 mile turn left onto 127th St. E., and go 0.6 mile to reach Schaar’s Bluff trailhead in Spring Lake Park Reserve.

To reach the southeastern trailhead in Hastings, take I-94 to Exit 244. Head south on US 10/US 61, and go 18.1 miles, as the road changes to Hastings Road and Vermillion St. Turn left onto Fourth St. E., and in 0.3 mile turn left onto Bailey St. Parking is on the left in one block. Additional parking is available in Lake Rebecca Park Reserve.

CONTACT:
www.co.dakota.mn.us/parks/parkstrails/mississippiriver

Table of Contents

About Rails-to-Trails Conservancy iii

Foreword vii

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction 1

How to Use This Book 3

1 Afton to Lakeland Trail 8

2 Beaver Island Trail 11

3 Big Rivers Regional Trail 14

4 Blazing Star State Trail 17

5 Bottineau Trail 20

6 Brown's Creek State Trail 23

7 Bruce Vento Regional Trail 26

8 Cannon Valley Trail 29

9 Casey Jones State Trail 32

10 Cedar Lake LRT Regional Trail 35

11 Central Lakes State Trail 38

12 Cuyuna Lakes State Trail 41

13 Dairyland Trail 44

14 Dakota Rail Regional Trail 47

15 Dinkytown Greenway 50

16 Douglas State Trail 53

17 Gateway State Trail 56

18 Gitchi-Gami State Trail 59

19 Glacial Lakes State Trail 62

20 Goodhue Pioneer State Trail 65

21 Great Northern Trail 68

22 Great River Ridge State Trail 71

23 Greenway of Greater Grand Forks 74

24 Hardwood Creek Regional Trail 77

25 Harmony-Preston Valley State Trail 80

26 Heartland State Trail 83

27 Hiawatha Trail 86

28 Interstate State Park to Taylors Falls Trail 89

29 Lake Minnetonka LRT Regional Trail 92

30 Lake Wobegon Trail 95

31 Luce Line Trail 98

32 Mesabi Trail 101

33 Midtown Greenway 104

34 Minnehaha Trail 107

35 Minnesota Valley State Trail 110

36 Mississippi River Regional Trail (Dakota County) 113

37 North Cedar Lake Regional Trail 116

38 Paul Bunyan State Trail 119

39 Red Jacket Trail 122

40 Rocori Trail 125

41 Root River State Trail 128

42 Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail 131

43 Shooting Star State Trail 134

44 St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail 137

45 Sunrise Prairie Trail 140

46 Western Waterfront Trail 143

47 West River Parkway Trail 146

48 Willard Munger State Trail 149

Index 154

Photo Credits 162

Support Rails-to-Trails Conservancy 163