Tag Archives: Bluff Country

Bike Pic Feb. 6, Root River Trail with the grandparents

Here in the photo above some young kids are riding with gram-ma and gram-pa on the Root River Bike Trail, out of Peterson, in Southeast Minnesota’s driftless Area.

#FindYourNextAdventure

Thanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking (HFB).

Now, rolling into our 10th year as a bicycle media, our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike, while showcasing unforgettable places to ride. As we search and present more fun photos worth a grin, scroll through the information and stories we have posted to help you find your next adventure. Then, while out there if you see us along a paved or mountain bike trail, next to the route you regularly commute on, or at an event you plan to attend with your bike, be prepared to smile. You never know where our camera’s will be and what we will post next!

Do you have a fun photo of yourself or someone you know that you would like to see us publish? If so, please send it our way and we may use it. Send your picture(s) to [email protected] with a brief caption (of each), including who is in the photo (if you know?) and where it was taken. Photo(s) should be at least 620 pixels wide for us to use them. If we use your photo, you will receive photo credit and an acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As HaveFunBiking continues to encourage more people to ride, please reference our blog and the annual print and quarterly digital Bike/Hike Guide to find your next adventure. We are proud of the updated – At-a-Glance information and maps we are known for in the HFB Destination section on our website and in the guide. Now, as the Bike/Hike Guide goes into its seventh year of production, we are adding a whole new dimension of bicycle tourism information available for mobile devices where you may see some additional bike pics – maybe of yourself so.

Bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure – we may capture you in one of the next photos we post.

Have a great day!

Bike Pic Feb. 3, Root River Bluff & Valley Bike Tour

Here a group of cyclists enjoy exploring the scenic roads by bike, that circle and cross the Root River Trail, in Southeast Minnesota’s Bluff Country. Ride and explore the areas trail and roads, July 9 -11, 2016 on the Root River Bluff & Valley Bike Tour.

#FindYourNextAdventure

Thanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking (HFB).

Bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure – we may capture you in one of the next photos we post.

Have a great day!

Bike Pic Jan. 23, leading the pack out of Fountain

Here in this bike photo a scout troop out of Eagan, with one leading the pack, takes off on the Root River Trail out of Fountain, MN. See more information on riding the Root River Trail, in Bluff Country here.

Also checkout the Root River Bluff & Valley Bike Tour July 8 – 10, 2016.

#FindYourNextAdventure

Thanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking (HFB).

Bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure – we may capture you in one of the next photos we post.

Have a great day!

Bike tour intersects scenic bluff roads with the Root River Trail

Want to explore the bike friendly bluff roads that crisscross the Root River trail system, while enjoying the local foods & history of Southeast Minnesota’s ‘Driftless’ area?

Starting in Whalan, Friday, July 8th through Sunday, the 10^th the eight towns of the Root River Trail will host the Bluff & Valley Bicycle Tour, a 3-day bike ride that showcases many of the hidden gems that you won’t see from the trail. With a scenic route that traverses the country side on quite roadways and byways, intertwining with the popular trail system, discover the magic of Bluff Country. Limited to the first 150 cyclist who registered, here is an overview of the three day bike adventure of a life time.

Two riders cruising the Root River bluffs, in Southeast Minnesota, training for RAGBRAI, in Iowa.

Two bike riders cruising the Root River bluffs, in Southeast Minnesota, training for RAGBRAI, in Iowa.

After a hearty Bluff Country breakfast the tour leaves out of Whalan, on the root River Trail visiting Lanesboro, then out into the bluffs. Now up, out of the valley the tour circles through some of the areas contoured farmlands making a stop in Fountain (the Sinkhole Capitol of the World) for some refreshments. Then it’s on to Preston for lunch. After visiting the National Trout Center here the tour heads south to Harmony, your overnight hosts for Friday evening. Arriving before the evening fun begins cool off with an afternoon tour of the Niagara Caves and enjoy the Amish culture in and around town.

Here cyclists are enjoying the many delicious delicacies available near many of the Root River trail towns.

Here on bike, many enjoy the delicious home-town delicacies available near many of the Root River trail towns.

Saturday morning, after breakfast, the tour heads east on the Amish Buggy Byway. On this stretch of the Bluff & Valley Tour riders will pass though farmlands still cultivated by horses and roadside signs, near farmsteads, offering honey and other whole-food Amish delicacies. At the halfway point, for lunch the tour will enter Minnesota’s first Norwegian settlement where many Selfie opportunities exist. Back on the road again the tour rolls through another scenic valley before arriving in Houston your host town for Saturday evening. After checking out the National Owl Center and bike art there, tour riders will take part in a dinner party and evening of fun and music.

A group riding the scenic roads out of Houston, one of the Root River Trail Towns in Minnesota.

A group riding bike on the scenic roads out of Houston, one of the Root River Trail Towns in Minnesota.

Sunday morning, after enjoying a little bit more of Houston’s hospitality the meandering Bluff & Valley Bicycle Tour visits a town of the past, named because a settler lost his money in a creek there. The tour now turns west, up Vinegar Hill, making its way back along the Root River’s north-face bluffs. When you see a clearing in the hills with the name Rushford etched in white, you will be coasting into town for lunch and more Selfie opportunities around the historic depot while there. Then, it’s one more (gradual) climb and you are coasting back down to the Root River Trail, in Peterson. Here, explore their Norwegian Museum and taste some of the best desserts on the Root River Trail before returning back to Whalan.

The Root River Bluff & Valley Bicycle Tour is best suited for cyclists of intermediate ability and above. Daily mileage will range from 50 – 68 miles (century options are available upon request) on paved roads, with some riding on the famous Root River Trail. The terrain in this area very rolling with a few long, 8+ grade climbs. For more information and registration forms click here.

Bike Pic Jan. 5, road riding Root River’s Bluff Country

Here a family of cyclists enjoy exploring the scenic roads, by bike, that circle and cross the Root River Trail, in Southeast Minnesota’s Bluff Country. Ride and explore the areas trail and roads, July 9 -11, 2016 on the Root River Bluff & Valley Bike Tour.

#FindYourNextAdventure

Thanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking (HFB).

Bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure – we may capture you in one of the next photos we post.

Have a great day!

Bike Pic Dec. 24, Root River Bluff & Valley Bike Tour

Here in this photo a group of cyclist discover the magic of riding their bikes in and out of the many carved river valley bluffs of Southeast Minnesota’s “driftless” area. Find out more the three-day weekend Root River Bluff & Valley Bike Tour planned for July 8-10, 2016. Participants on this bike tour will enjoy the food and fun of the eight Root River Trail Towns; as they pedal the Amish Buggy Byway and meander in and out of valleys edged on both sides by sheer wooded limestone and sandstone bluffs.

Thanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking (HFB).

Bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure – we may capture you in one of the next photos we post.

Have a great day!

#FindYourNextAdventure

Bike Bluff Country roads that cross the Root River Trail

In Southeast Minnesota, want to explore the bike friendly roads that meander around the Root River trail system while enjoying the local foods, history and ‘Driftless’ scenery along the way?

The towns of the Root River Trail will host a three day bike ride that does just that, the Bluff & Valley Bicycle Tour. With a route that runs on quite county roads and byways that intertwine the popular trail system, the tour starts and ends in Whalan, MN., July 7 through the 10^th. Beginning with a Thursday evening packet pickup party, full of music and fun, ride participants are guaranteed a bicycling adventure to remember. Limited to the first 150 cyclist who registered, here is an overview of this three day bike route and adventure you can register for, to ride with old and new friends.

One of the many spectacular scenes while touring though the Bluff Country.

Starting out Friday morning in Whalan, with a hearty Bluff Country breakfast the tour leaves on the root River Trail visits Lanesboro, then up to Fountain for some refreshments. Now up, out of the valley the tour circles through some of this areas contoured farmlands making a stop at an historic village, then on to Preston for lunch. After visiting the National Trout Center the tour heads south to Harmony, your overnight hosts. Here before the evening fun begins take an afternoon tour of the cool Niagara Caves and the Amish culture in and around town.

Here cyclists are enjoying the many delicious area delicacies available near the Root River trail towns.

Saturday morning, after breakfast the ride heads east, passing through Canton, on the Amish Buggy Byway. On this stretch of the tour riders will pass though farmlands still cultivated by horses and roadside signs, near farmsteads, offering honey and other Amish produce and merchandise. At the halfway point, for lunch the tour will enter Minnesota’s first Norwegian settlement where many Selfie opportunities await you. Then it’s back on the route riding through another scenic valley before arriving in Houston your host town for evening. After checking out the National Owl Center and bike art there, tour riders will take part in a dinner party and fun evening.

Here signs explain why Fountain is the Sinkhole Capitol and the benefits these holes have on rest of Bluff Country.

Here signs explain why Fountain is the Sinkhole Capitol of the World and the benefits these holes have.

Sunday, after enjoying Houston’s hospitality the meandering Bluff & Valley Bicycle Tour route visits a town, of the past, named because a settler lost is money in a creek while bathing. Now the route turns west, up Vinegar Hill making its way back west, skirting the bluffs along the Root River and then coasting into Rushford for lunch and photo opportunities while there. Then, it’s one more climb (gradual) and your coasting back down to the Root River Trail, in Peterson. Here, explore the Norwegian Museum and enjoy some desert before returning back to Whalan on the trail.

Here at the National Owl Center, in Houston, MN see all the bicycle art exhibits.

This Bluff & Valley Bicycle Tour, in Southeast Minnesota, is best suited for cyclists of intermediate ability and above. Mileage will range from 50 – 68 miles/day (century options are available upon request) on paved roads, with some riding on paved trails. The terrain in this area is rolling with some long, 8+ grade climbs. For more information and registration forms click here.

A bike fence along the Root River, at the edge of Lanesboro, MN