Tag Archives: Mississippi River Trail ride

Fun Bike Pic – July 31, MRT

Rohanda and Jim Victorsen look on, with a grin, as Jen Pacyga waves (front right) as she prepares to dip her wheel into the Headwaters for the ride of her life (May of 2012), on the Mississippi River Trail (MRT).

Thanks for viewing the Bike Pic of the Day here at HaveFunBiking, hope you enjoy the photo?

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 post more fun photos worth a grin, scroll through the information and stories we have posted to help you find your next adventure. Then, if you see us along a paved or mountain bike trail, next to the route you regularly commute, or at an event you plan to attend with your bike, be prepared to smile. You never know where camera will be and what we will posted 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 post. 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 bike guide to find your next adventure. We are proud of the updated, at-a-glance information, and maps we are known for in the Destination section of our website. 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 device. Plus, beginning September 2015, this year’s e-version of the Guide will move to quarterly editions where you may see some additional bike pics posted.

 Bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure – we may capture you in a pic to post!

Riding the MRT on the 2012 Mississippi River Ride - photo HaveFunBiking

By Bike, Join MN’s Mississippi River Trail Celebration

Printby Kerri Kolstad, Founder of Wahoo Adventures

Join us in August to see why Minnesota is the 2nd best bicycling state in the U.S. as we tour 470 miles of the state’s Mississippi River Trail (MRT) system. Over eight days enjoy pedaling along the scenic and industrious river, from Itasca State Park to the Iowa Border.

Dipping tires at headwaters of Ol' Man River, at Itasca State Park,  on the 2012 Mississippi River Ride -photo HaveFunBiking

Dipping tires at the Headwaters, at Itasca State Park, on the 2012 Mississippi River Ride -photo HaveFunBiking

In this inaugural Headwaters to Hills Bicycle Tour you will enjoy many celebrations along the way, including:

  • A ribbon cutting, for the completion of the MRT, with signage along the 800 mile stretch from the Headwaters – with the MnDOT Chief of Staff, DNR Parks and Trails Director, Mississippi River Parkway Commission, and the Director of the Minnesota Bicycle Alliance
  • A chance to ride the recently designated 72 mile stretch through the Twin Cities, by the National Park Service. With route options on both sides of the river from Dayton to Hastings, this section of the MRT is also signed as the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
  • In St. Paul, at the tours halfway point, enjoy a party in the downtown area, near Old Man River, with the Mayor of the City and the National Park Service Superintendent. Then a relaxing evening at the Hotel 340. The next morning the National Park Service Rangers will lead the tour towards Hastings to begin our tour of the southern section of the MN’s MRT
  • Upon arrival at the Iowa border we will celebrate our trans-state tour with balloons, barbecue, and ice cream sundaes
  • And, everyone will receive personalized, autographed copy of the book “Bicycling Guide to the Mississippi River Trail” by Bob Robinson.
One of the many river crossings as the MRT makes a north, east, south and west arc through the Minnesota's wooded forests.

One of the many river crossings as the MRT makes a north, east, south and west arc through the Minnesota’s wooded forests.

The Mississippi River Trail starts right here in Minnesota!  This is a world-class bicycle route that originates and follows the river from its headwaters starting in Itasca State Park, it continues through ten states to the Gulf of Mexico. It is a 3,000-mile network of bicycle-friendly roads and multi-use paths that provides a cross-section of America.  Also known as U.S. Bike Route #45, when complete will help the U.S. Bicycle Route System encompass more than 50,000 miles of routes and create amazing new opportunities for cross-country travel, regional bicycle touring, and commuting by bicycle.  To date, 8,992 miles of U.S. Bicycle Routes have been established in 18 states.

Bikers visiting Paul Bunyan and Babe, in the first city on the Mississppi River, Bemidji.

Bikers visiting Paul Bunyan and Babe, in the first city on the Mississppi River, Bemidji.

On this Headwaters to Hills Bicycle Tour we will also be celebrating with the towns we travel through, they include:

  • Bemidji – Home of Paul and Babe
  • Walker – Eelpout Capitol
  • Brainerd – Home of Zebulon Pike – Pike’s Peak Fame
  • Little Falls – Birth home of Charles A. Lindberg
  • St. Cloud – Red River Ox Cart Route
  • St. Paul – Tour the Fort Snelling Site
  • Red Wing – Headquarters for Red Wing Potter and Red Wing Shoes
  • Lake City – Birthplace of Water-skiing
  • Wabasha – Relax and enjoy the National Eagle Center
  • Winona – Marine Art Museum

Here is your chance to fall in love and celebrate the MRT, the river and its history that we will uncover along the way – Join Wahoo Adventures and several State Agencies this summer for this fun Headwaters to Hill Tour – with proceeds benefiting the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota.

Find more information about this bicycle adventure, go to the Headwaters-to-Hills Tour.

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Signs for the Mississippi River Trail route