by John Brown,
Famous for mountain biking, hiking, fishing, and bird watching, the Minnesota River Bottoms in Bloomington, MN, offers some of the last natural trails in the Twin Cities metro. And it is an oasis for winter fat biking. At the Bloomington Ferry Bridge site, you will find one of three starting points for many outdoor adventures along the river. The 35W Bridge and Old Cedar Bridge are two other trailhead locations to meet friends and explore.
Trailhead locations and the Bloomington Ferry Bridge history
You have the option to cross under three bridges by riding the trails here along the Minnesota River. The first is the Bloomington Ferry Bridge. Started in the summer of 1849, the Bloomington Ferry began operations next to the Minnesota River bottoms. It carried people from the Bloomington shores to Shakopee. Exactly 40 years later, the first Bloomington Ferry Bridge was opened. Carrying people, carriages, and motorists across the river for over 100 years. The trailhead on the west side of Bloomington is no longer open to auto traffic, but it is a good starting point.
The two other trailheads are downstream from the Ferry Bridge. The next access to the trails is next to the 35W Bridge. The final trailhead is at the Old Cedar Bridge site.
What are the Minnesota river bottoms?
To locals, the “River Bottoms” is a trail network stretching from the southwest corner of Bloomington to the trails of Fort Snelling State Park. Mountain bike riders and runners alike enjoy these trails. While under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, they are not maintained by any government entity and often take on a “path of least resistance” or direction. It is not uncommon for new tracks to form after heavy rains and high river levels. While riding, expect dirt trails exclusively with some log crossings, sand sections, and occasional overgrowth. Warning! In the summer, pay particular attention to Urtica dioica, or stinging nettles, growing on infrequently used trails.
Wildlife of the Minnesota River Bottoms
The River Bottoms are great for all types of recreation. It’s not uncommon to see hikers, bird watchers, and people fishing along the banks of the Minnesota River. I have enjoyed sharing the sights of Bald eagles and beavers with my son, who makes the watershed here their home. Additionally, being a natural area, the River Bottoms are home to countless animals, including white-tailed deer and mink.
What to expect
On the map, there are a few more popular entrances to the River Bottom trail, including Lyndale Ave, Crest Ave, and Old Cedar Ave. These entrances offer ample parking and a clear trailhead. Once you start down the course, you will see that nothing is paved, but it is worn enough to be firm under your tires. Except at the Lyndale trailhead, you will find a short paved section heading east, perfect for walking and wheelchair use. While a mountain bike is best for unpaved trails, fat-tire bikes handle winter well. If you need to cross a stream, there are bridges, and at the 9-mile creek in the summer months, there is a rope ferry to get you across. Because the River Bottoms are so smooth, they are an ideal place for kids to go mountain biking.
When to ride
The best part of the River Bottoms is that it is one of the first places to dry out each spring. It is also one of the first places to freeze when winter rolls through. Like most off-road trails, please avoid this trail system in early spring as it thaws or after heavy rain. Other than that, these trails are sandy enough to drain quickly. One of the best things about the river bottoms is riding fat bikes. Fat bikes can trace their development directly to the river bottom in the winter. When the snow falls, the river bottoms are the perfect mixture of flat trails, bermed turns, and accessibility to create a near-perfect winter track.
Living in the Twin Cities, we are lucky to have a place like the river bottoms to ride. The fact that it is left free to change and is natural makes it unique in a metro area. You will find some of the metro’s last natural trails from the Bloomington Ferry Bridge to Fort Snelling.
For more incredible places to shred the trail, check out Minnesota Mountainbike Off-road Trails to ride.
About John Brown, the author
John operates Browns Bicycle in Richfield, MN, as a lifelong cyclist and consummate tinker. It all started for him in grade school when the bike bug bit and the fever still existed. Now and over the past 30 years, he has worked at every level of the bike industry. He is starting, like most, sweeping floors and learning anything he can about bikes. He eventually graduated as a service manager and then as a store manager. Through the years, he has spent extensive time designing and sourcing bicycles and parts for some of the largest bike companies in the world. All the while, focusing on helping as many people as possible enjoy the love of riding a bike. In that pursuit, he has taught classes (both scheduled and impromptu) on all things bikes. John also believes in helping every rider attain their optimal fit on the cycle of their dreams. Please feel free to stop in any time and talk about bikes, fit, and parts or share your latest ride. You can also see more of John’s tricks and tips on the Brown Bicycle Facebook Page.