Tag Archives: Minnesota Mountain Bike Trails

Bike Pic March 25, fresh snow for your Monday morning ride

A bike pic to remember, with fresh snow on the trail to shred! Ejnoy, it might be your last chance for winter riding fun.

So, adjust to the warmer temps and get into the zone when continuing your time outdoors and your #NextBikeAdventure. View all the great ideas and bike destinations in the latest Iowa or Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide. Then plan your next outing with family and friends, and check out more stories at Let’s Do MN.

Thanks for viewing today’s bike pic

Now rolling through our 20th year as a bike tourism media, enjoy! As we pedal forward, we aim to encourage more people to bike and have fun while highlighting all the unforgettable places you can ride. As we continue to showcase more places to have fun, we hope the photos we shoot are worth a grin. Enjoy the information and stories we have posted as you scroll through.

Do you have a fun bicycle-related photo of yourself or someone you may know we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to [email protected]. Please Include a brief caption for the image, who shot it, and where. To be considered, the photo (s) sent to us should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide. If we use your photo, you will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As we continue encouraging more people to bike, please view our Destination section at HaveFunBiking.com for your #NextBikeAdventure. Also, check out the MN Bike Guide, now mobile-friendly in our 15th year of producing this handy information booklet full of maps.

Bookmark HaveFunBiking.com on your cell phone and find your next adventure at your fingertips! Please share our pics with your friends, and don’t forget to smile. With one of our cameras ready to document your next cameo appearance while you are riding and having fun, we may be around the corner. You could be in one of our next Pic of the Day.

Have fun as we pedal into 2024!

Bike Pic March 20, early spring fun might be in the forecast

This is a bike pic to remember! With snow forecasted for this weekend, you may have one more chance to ride your fatty. Here, this biker chick, earlier this year, had some fun riding the Minnesota River Bottoms in Bloomington, MN.

Thanks for viewing today’s bike pic

Do you have a fun bicycle-related photo of yourself or someone you may know we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to [email protected]. Please Include a brief caption for the image, who shot it, and where. Photo(s) sent to us should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide to be considered. You will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram if we use your photo.

Have fun as we pedal into 2024!

Bike Pic March 13, wheelie Wednesday into your sweet spot

A bike pic to remember! This wheelie Wednesday or Hump Day, take a chance. If life were a fat bike trail a wheelie could help smooth out your day-to-day ride or aid you in dropping into your sweet spot. Why not review the following tips to make your week an adrenaline high?

Now, adjust to the warmer temps and get into the zone when continuing your time outdoors and your #NextBikeAdventure. View all the great ideas and bike destinations in the latest Iowa or Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide. Then plan your next outing with family and friends, and check out more stories at Let’s Do MN.

Thanks for viewing today’s bike pic

Do you have a fun bicycle-related photo of yourself or someone you may know we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to [email protected]. Please Include a brief caption for the image, who shot it, and where. Photo(s) sent to us should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide to be considered. You will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram if we use your photo.

Have fun as we pedal into 2024!

Bike Pic March 06, finding traces of snow this wheelie Wednesday

With only traces of snow in some parts of the upper midwest, today’s bike pic shows a bold north biker dude having fun shredding the trail. Why not review the following tips to make your week an adrenaline high?

So adjust to the warmer temps and get into the zone when continuing your time outdoors and your #NextBikeAdventure. View all the great ideas and bike destinations in the latest Iowa or Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide. Then plan your next outing with family and friends, and check out more stories at Let’s Do MN.

Thanks for viewing today’s bike pic

Do you have a fun bicycle-related photo of yourself or someone you may know we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to [email protected]. Please Include a brief caption for the image, who shot it, and where. Photo(s) sent to us should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide to be considered. You will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram if we use your photo.

Have fun as we pedal into 2024!

Bike Pic Feb 28, a wheelie Wednesday to remember

A bike pic to remember! This wheelie Wednesday takes a chance. If life were a mountain bike trail, a wheelie could help smooth out your day-to-day ride or aid in dropping into your sweet spot. Why not review the following tips to make your week an adrenaline high?

Thanks for viewing today’s bike pic

Do you have a fun bicycle-related photo of yourself or someone you may know we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to [email protected]. Please Include a brief caption for the image, who shot it, and where. Photo(s) sent to us should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide to be considered. You will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram if we use your photo.

Have fun as we pedal into 2024!

Bike Pic Feb 23, yeah it’s Friday, and more warm weather ahead

This Bike Pic Friday, fond memories of what a snow covering the trail should look like, so adjust your gear and have fun.

Thanks for viewing today’s ice cream smiles Sunday bike pic

Do you have a fun bicycle-related photo of yourself or someone you may know we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to [email protected]. Please Include a brief caption for the image, who shot it, and where. Photo(s) sent to us should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide to be considered. You will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram if we use your photo.

Have fun as we pedal into 2024!

Bike Pic Feb 21, wheelie Wednesday may help you into your sweet spot

No matter the snow amount, take a chance this bike pic wheelie Wednesday. If life were a fat bike trail a wheelie could help smooth out your day-to-day ride or aid you in dropping into your sweet spot. Why not review the following tips to make your week an adrenaline high?

Thanks for viewing today’s ice cream smiles Sunday bike pic

Do you have a fun bicycle-related photo of yourself or someone you may know we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to [email protected]. Please Include a brief caption for the image, who shot it, and where. Photo(s) sent to us should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide to be considered. You will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram if we use your photo.

Have fun as we pedal into 2024!

Bike Pic Feb 20, fond memories of snow trails past

This Bike Pic Tuesday, with our snow levels melting fast get out soon before it is all gone. See what’s going on with the MN Trail Navigator event listings.

Thanks for viewing today’s ice cream smiles Sunday bike pic

Do you have a fun bicycle-related photo of yourself or someone you may know we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to [email protected]. Please Include a brief caption for the image, who shot it, and where. Photo(s) sent to us should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide to be considered. You will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram if we use your photo.

Have fun as we pedal into 2024!

Twin Cities Metro mountain bike trails to enjoy

In the Twin Cities, you will find an extensive network of mountain bike trails, offering rugged single-track and easy-to-moderate trails to enjoy. Explore the following list, with many regional and city parks that maintain off-road trails to provide riders at every skill level with a fun experience. Whether seeking a serene roll or a challenging thrill, there’s no shortage of mountain bike trails in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. For that next Adventure you are planning, here are more than 25 trail systems to shred.

Plenty of trails to shred.

Fun riding Twin Cities Mountain Bike Trails

Bethel

Bethel Haunted Forest Trails: 6 miles

A series of interconnected loops in an 80-acre wooded area, one mile south of the town of Bethel. Rated easy to intermediate with advanced sections featuring hills, twists, and log crossings. Trails are shared with hikers and are open for fat biking and snowshoeing in the winter.
Map

Spring, summer, fall, or winter, the River Bottoms is a fun place to ride.

Bloomington

Minnesota River Trail: 11 miles

Another Twin Cities mountain bike trail system is nicknamed Minnesota River Bottoms. You will find mostly singletrack winding through wooded areas along the river bank. The trails can be challenging and muddy after rain. Plenty of jumps (optional) and some obstacles. Trails are shared with hikers and are groomed for fat biking in the winter.
Map

Burnsville

Buck Hill: 6 miles

This is a beginner to an intermediate system that includes two downhill flow trails. The skills park here features a bermed course with drops, a rock garden, skinnies, and a dragon tail.
Map

Terrace Oaks: 2.3 miles

A fairly technical, intermediate singletrack trail system with many climbs and amazing descents.
Map

Cottage Grove

Cottage Grove Bike Park

West Draw Park is a work in progress with the Cottage Grove Bike Park. Setting on 26 acres, this family-friendly park currently includes a 4x track, two pump tracks, and a complete dirt jump plaza.
Info

Cambridge

Springvale County Park: 3 miles

A flowing singletrack trail system offers banked turns and a beautiful rolling jump while weaving up and around a lake, then traversing streams, swamps, forests, and a glacier moraine berm. Elevation gain is just under 160′ but these trails are fast and are great for beginner to intermediate riders. Constructed drops, teeter-totters, rolling jumps, boardwalk sections, and rock gardens keep the ride interesting. Trails can be accessed from both the North and South parking lots. There is a bike repair station along with a bathroom and drinking fountain in the South parking lot. Groomed for fat bikes in the winter.
Map

Chaska

Hawk’s Ridge Mountain Bike Trail: 4 miles

Hawk’s Ridge occupies a narrow sliver of land just east of Pioneer Ridge Middle School. It’s primarily an open, hilly, multi-use trail hand-built by volunteers of the Carver Trails group. Trails are beginner and intermediate levels with great views, challenging corners, and verticals carved into the hillside. There is a green (easy) trail around the perimeter of the park and a short black (most difficult) trail also. Note: Parking is available across the street at Pioneer Ridge Middle School during off-school hours only. Since there’s no parking on any residential streets around Hawk’s Ridge, riders must park at nearby city parks and ride in during school hours. Map

Eagan

Lebanon Hills Regional Park: 11 miles

This course is a favorite for many in the region, with some beginner trails but mostly intermediate. With a good mixture of rolling hills and technical singletrack. Woods provide a secluded feel in the south suburban area. Groomed for fat bikes in the winter.
Map

Great jumps along the switchbacks.

Elk River

Hillside Park: 6 miles

The park here is mostly posted with advanced to expert trails that are either climbing or descending for the entire course. A great park for skills practice. with quick/tight switchbacks, rock rolls, drops, berms, and good jumps. Groomed for fat bikes in the winter. Map

Inver Grove Heights

Salem Hills: 4.4 miles

Gently rolling hills through woods and reclaimed prairie consisting of three loops: Harmon Park, Sawmill, and Foul Pond Loop.
Map

Lake Elmo

Lake Elmo Park Reserve: 8 miles

A beautiful park for beginners to intermediate with a pleasant view of Eagle Point Lake. This is a multi-use trail with many fun features with some hard-packed singletrack and grassy trail. Be prepared to share the park with horseback riders. Fat bikes are allowed on Big Bluestem Trail in the winter. Map

Reid Park Trails: 1 mile

On 30 acres, this beginner-friendly trail is a work in progress.
Map

Sunfish Lake Park: 5 miles

This park offers three loops with distinct ratings of easy, intermediate, and advanced skill levels. Features include a bridge, logs, and switchbacks. Note that other trails exist in this park, and biking is only allowed on the singletrack trails. Groomed for fat bikes in the winter. Map

Find trails for beginners to advanced.

Lakeville

West Lake Marion Trail: 5 miles

On the west side of Lake Marion, near Casperson Park,

The hard-packed singletrack course flows through rolling wooded and open field terrain. Find a pump track at the trailhead. Groomed for fat bikes in the winter.
Map

Lino Lakes

Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park: 3.2 miles

Here you will find two separate, one-way singletrack trail loops. One on the east side of the park (Sherman Lake Loop) and one on the west side (Rice Lake Trail), about two miles apart. Both are continuous loops with a single entry and exit point connected to existing paved trail riders will use to access the loops. The two trails ride similarly with a flowy design, but a slightly different feel. Both are entry-level trails suitable for most riders. The trail loop on the west side features a few challenging climbs combined with fun, flowy segments for a total length of approximately 1.4 miles. The 1.8-mile east side loop features a few jump opportunities with some downhill segments that should add a little thrill for gravity trail fans. The plan is to eventually have additional miles of trails in separate nodes across the park. Map

Maple Grove

Elm Creek Park Reserve: 12.7 miles

Built to accommodate all skill levels of riders with Interconnected singletrack loop trails. the system is mostly intermediate, with short sections of easy and advanced trails.
Map

Minneapolis

Theodore Wirth Park: 12 miles

A great trail system consisting of several separate loops, just minutes from downtown. The singletrack trails are Intermediate to advanced, offering twists and turns with many technical features. Groomed for fat bikes in the winter. One more of the Twin Cities mountain bike trails to check out. Map

Minnetonka

Lone Lake Park: 5 miles

This trail system is designed to accommodate a variety of mountain biking skill levels. It offers ample challenges, from the steep topography to the fast, flowy single-track. The trail is also open to hiking and trail running in dry months, as well as snowshoeing and fat biking in the winter. Two trailheads provide users easy access from Rowland Road, in the park’s southwest section, or Shady Oak Road, in the east.
Map/Info

Here you will find many features to keep the ride interesting.

Monticello

Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park: 14.25 miles

This system offers many options for all skill levels, including fast singletrack, switchbacks, and a meandering double track. Be ready to deal with logs, roots, and wooden bridges.
Map

Montiview Challenge Course: 2.75 miles

As the name implies, this trail demands good bike-handling skills. A very tight and twisty singletrack route with many short, steep hills runs through the woods and some open spots with great views of the surrounding area. Jumps, bridges, teeters, rock gardens, boulder piles, and other features keep the ride interesting. The park also features a sculpture by a local artist and a bike repair station. A work in progress; look for more trails to be added in the future. Parking and a restroom are available near the trailhead at the top of Holy Spirit Trail, and the park can also be accessed from the off-road paved path off Jason Ave. Groomed for fat bikes in the winter.
Info

Oak Park Heights/Stillwater

Valley View Trails: 3.2 miles

Intermediate singletrack with some beginner and advanced sections. Features include a bridge, boardwalk, rock garden, and switchbacks. Trails are one way with an estimated 400′ elevation change.
Map

Rockford

Lake Rebecca Park Reserve: 13.25 miles

Easy to advanced singletrack loops through the wooded landscapes with wetlands. Start at the Hilltop picnic area.
Map

Saint Paul

Battle Creek Regional Park-West: 8 miles

Battle Creek features a wide selection of trails within its boundaries for Intermediate to advanced riders. including both 3.3-mile multi-use trails and 4.5 miles of singletrack. Thickly wooded, with some limited visibility on turns. One more of Twin Cities mountain bike trails to check out. Map

Fort Snelling State Park: 10 miles

Enjoyable riding for beginners along the Dakota County side of the river. Generally flat trails but scenic. Starts as a wide double track then narrows to singletrack. Trails are multi-use and perfect for fat biking in the winter.
Map

Savage

Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve: 10 miles

This trail system features glacial ridges, hilly terrain, and an extensive, lush forest. This is a challenging trail and a favorite for mountain bikers.
Map

Shakopee

Excel Energy Mountian Bike Park: 4 miles

The loop trails circling Quarry Lake are rated beginner to intermediate. The singletrack course weaves between the tree cover and a larger prairie area, taking advantage of natural and constructed topography. This trail was designed and built to be ridden in any kind of weather, so it doesn’t close when it’s wet. One special feature is the so-called chicken foot, a fallen oak tree that’s been cut flat for riders to balance on as they ride across it. The park also has a pump track. Map

Waconia

Monarch Singletrack: 10 miles

This trail system at Carver Park Reserve comprises five connected loops that accommodate all experience levels. Easy Rider features wider tread and few sharp turns and climbs, making it ideal for hand cyclists and beginners. The Raptor Ridge loop has flowy trails and a highlight of the entire singletrack: A vista overlooking Parley Lake followed by berms and a roller descent. Paradise Trail has the longest climb of the system and an expert feature area with a concrete rollout, jumps, a slalom section, and a shorter, technical climb. It offers bypasses for the difficult features to accommodate intermediate-level riders. Groomed for fat bikes in the winter.
Info/Map

Enjoy the twisty stacked loop of intermediate single-track trail here.

Woodbury

Carver Lake Park: 4 miles

Carver Lake Park is a nice twisty stacked loop of intermediate singletrack. It’s never too technical, but there are several places where a short advanced side trail leaves the main trail, then rejoins it again shortly.

One more of the Twin Cities mountain bike trails to check out. Offering great flow, it’s easy to get a couple of full laps in less than 1.5 hours with the three sections or loops. Or, add an extra lap on your favorite loop. The trail dries out faster than others in the Twin Cities as well, which makes for a shorter downtime after it rains. There is water (during the warm months) and an outhouse and repair station available at the trailhead. You will also find a well-developed skills park here. The trail is also groomed for fat bike riding in the winter. Map

See more trails in Minnesota to shred here

Bike Pic Feb 19, riding into the Monday morning sun

Today’s Monday morning sun bike pic is a bold north biker dude commuting to work on his fatty in Minneapolis, MN. Enjoy the warmer weather!

Thanks for viewing today’s ice cream smiles Sunday bike pic

Do you have a fun bicycle-related photo of yourself or someone you may know we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to [email protected]. Please Include a brief caption for the image, who shot it, and where. Photo(s) sent to us should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide to be considered. You will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram if we use your photo.

Have fun as we pedal into 2024!