Tag Archives: MN trails

Bike Pic Jan 7, Miles of Saturday Smiles Out On The Trail

Miles of Smiles has a new day this year, Saturday’s will now be known as Miles of Smiles Saturday. So send us pics of your family, friends or a selfie of yourself with those beautiful smiles while having fun biking to: [email protected]. It may be featured as one of our pics of the day with you getting photo credit.

See all the places to explore in 2017 by downloading the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide and remember to register for the Root River Bluff & Valley Bicycle Tour.

Thanks for viewing Today’s Miles of Saturday Smiles Bike Pic

Now rolling into our 10th year as a bike tourism media, our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike and have fun. While highlighting all the unforgettable places for you to ride. As we continue to showcase more place to have fun we hope the photos we shoot are worth a grin. As you scroll through the information and stories we have posted, enjoy.

Do you have a fun bicycle related photo of yourself or someone you may know that we should post? If so, please send your picture(s) to: [email protected]. Include a brief caption (for each), of who is in the photo (if you know?) and where the picture was taken. Photo(s) should be a minimum of 1,000 pixels wide or larger to be considered. If we do use your photo, you will receive photo credit and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As we continues to encourage more people to bike, please view our Destination section at HaveFunBiking.com for your next bike adventure – Also, check out the MN Bike Guide, now mobile friendly, as we enter into our 8th year of producing the guide.

So bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure. Please share all our picks with your friends and don’t forget to smile. We may be around the next corner with one of our camera’s ready to document your next move while you are riding and having fun. We may capture you in one of our next Pic of the Day posts.

Have a great day!

Bike Pic Jan 6, Flashback To Inaugural Root River Bluff & Valley Bike Tour

Flashback Friday to our inaugural Root River Bluff & Valley Bicycle Tour this past July! It was so much fun and such a success that we are bringing it back again this year! Get registered today and invite your friends! You won’t want to miss out on this amazing 3-day weekend bike adventure, July 7th – 9th, in Southeast Minnesota’s Bluff Country!

Then, see all the other places to explore in 2017 by downloading the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

Thanks for viewing Today’s Flashback to Root River Bike Pic

Have a great day!

Bike Pic Dec 10, Family Fun on the Walking Trail or By Bike

This Saturday, make time for a family fun outing. Grab your fat bikes or hiking boots, hit the trail and watch the snow come in. We all get caught up in the Holiday rush and forget to make time for outdoor family Activities. Photo is from this past June at along a Dakota County Trail near Hastings, MN. In the photo, passing mom and the kids on her bike is Mayor Mary from Apple Valley, MN.

See all the places to explore with your family in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

Thanks for viewing Today’s Family Fun Bike or Walking Pic

Have a great day!

Bike Pic Nov 13, Sunday Smiles Biking Aound Lake Winona

Miles of Sunday smiles while Biking on the trail around Lake Winona. A little cooler since this photo was taken this summer, in Southeast Minnesota, but its still a nice day to get one more ride in. The chimney rock in the background is a pinnacle on Sugar Loaf Bluff overlooking the City of Winona and the Mississippi River.

With the season changing, we hope you get out on your bike and enjoy some more fall riding possibilities. See many more bike-friendly places to explore in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

Thanks for viewing the Sunday Smiles Biking Pic of the Day

So bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure. And don’t forget to smile, while you are riding and having fun. We may capture you in one of our next photos that we post daily.

Have a great day!

Bike Pic Nov 12, Fall Colors Riding Along the Greenway Trail

Another beautiful fall day to enjoy a bicycle ride along the trail. Here in this photo, taken a little over a week ago, a cyclist is riding along the Greenway Trail in Minneapolis, MN when the colors were at there peak.

With the leaves turning and perfect biking weather, we hope you get out on your two wheeled steed and enjoy all the fall riding possibilities along the way. See many more bike-friendly places to explore in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

Thanks for viewing the Fall Bike Ride Pic of the Day

So bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure. And don’t forget to smile, while you are riding and having fun. We may capture you in one of our next photos that we post daily.

Have a great day!

Bike Pic Oct 28, Another Top Ten Biking Day in the Upper Midwest

For late October, another top ten biking day in the upper Midwest. Here in this photo cyclists enjoy riding along the Mississippi River Trail in the Twin City Area of Minnesota.

With the leaves turning and perfect biking weather, we hope you get out on your bike and enjoy all the fall riding possibilities and Halloween decorations along the way. See many more bike-friendly places to explore in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

Thanks for viewing the Fall Top Ten Biking Day Pic

So bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure. And don’t forget to smile, while you are riding and having fun. We may capture you in one of our next photos that we post daily.

Have a great day!

Bike Pic Oct 27, Fall Colors Are Still Prevalent in Parts of Minnesota

Fall colors are still prevalent in parts of Southern Minnesota making this part of the state great for some more picture-perfect memories on your bike. See more details here.

With the leaves turning and perfect biking weather, we hope you get out on your bike and enjoy all the fall riding possibilities and Halloween Decorations in Minnesota. See many more bike-friendly places to explore in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

Thanks for viewing the Fall Colors Pic of the Day.

So bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure. And don’t forget to smile, while you are riding and having fun. We may capture you in one of our next photos that we post daily.

Have a great day!

Bike Pic Oct 22, A Top Ten Weather Day on a Colorful Fall Weekend

A colorful fall weekend and another #top-ten-weather-day to get out on the bike and make some new autumn memories while the leaves are at there peak. Here, in this photo, a couple, on a tandem bike is retracing some of the Minnesota Ironman Bike Ride routes from this last spring, near Stillwater, MN. The 51st MN Iroman bike ride is April 30th, 2017. Rumor has it there will be new routes. Where will they be?

With the leaves turning and perfect biking weather, we hope you get out on your bike and enjoy all the fall riding possibilities in Minnesota. See many more bike-friendly places to explore in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

Thanks for viewing the Fun Colorful Fall Weekend Pic of the Day.

Now rolling into our 10th year as a bike tourism media, our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike and have fun. While showcasing all the unforgettable places for you to ride. As we continue to showcase more place to have fun we hope the photos we shoot are worth a grin. As you scroll through the information and stories we have posted, enjoy.

So bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure. And don’t forget to smile, while you are riding and having fun. We may capture you in one of our next photos that we post daily.

Have a great day!

Minnesota’s Peak Riding Time Is Fall: Part Two

Autumn Is Minnesota’s Peak Riding Time: Central Minnesota

With the summer season officially off the calendar, fall is a great time to extend your bike riding adventures here in Minnesota. As the trees change colors along the miles of paved and mountain bike trails, cyclists will find a kaleidoscope of colors along the way. With the abundant rainfall this year, colors are predicted to be spectacular. If the weather remains mostly sunny during the day and cool at night, conditions will favor a stunning ride while exploring Minnesota. It’s no surprise that Minnesota’s peak riding time is in the fall and now.

Each year the fall color peak normally arrives in the northern one-third of the state in mid-September to early October. This year the peak cycle, statewide, is running a week or so later than normal due to ideal summer conditions – so enjoy!

To get a more accurate gauge to the change in colors in areas of Minnesota that you would like to visit, a color report is available online or through a weekly e-newsletter from Explore Minnesota Tourism each Thursday afternoon during the fall season.

This section is part two of a three part series.

Trails to Enjoy in Minnesota’s Peak Riding Season

Central Lakes: This trail offers 55 miles of pedaling opportunities through rolling landscapes. It provides cyclists with views of the many lakes and countryside from Fergus Falls to Osakis. Then, it is at Osakis where it connects with the Lake Wobegon Trail. See more information on the Central Lakes Trail here.

Glacial Lakes: This scenic trail through the Little Crow Lakes region starts at the Civic Center at the northeast edge of Willmar and winds 22 miles northeast, passing the big, festive beach on Green Lake in Spicer, then New London and Hawick. Then, from New London, cyclists can ride three miles west to Sibley State Park. See more information at: Willmar Tourism.

Lake Wobegon: Offers 46 miles between St. Joseph (just west of St Cloud), up to Osakis where the trail connects to the Central Lakes Trail. Along the way, the main section of the Lake Wobegon passes a series of picturesque old churches. These churches are in the towns that inspired the stories of Garrison Keillor. Then, in Albany, a spur extension allows cyclists the option to travel north up through Holdingford. Then, cyclists can go across the Mississippi River to U.S. Hwy 10 just below Little Falls. See more information on visiting the Wobegon Trail at: Granite County Tourism. For the north spur section see: Little Falls Tourism.

Luce Line State Trail is a 63 mile long former rails to trail route that starts in the Plymouth and for 30 miles west it is a limestone surfaced trail that runs out to Winsted. From Winsted to Hutchinson the trail is paved, See more at: Hutchinson Tourism.

Still More Trails

Prairie Waters: In this area, in the Upper Minnesota River Valley, there are miles of quiet country roads to see the fall colors. Also, taking these trails allows spectacular wildlife viewing opportunities. Plan a bike trip around Lac qui Parle Lake, or travel on the Minnesota River Valley National Scenic Byway roads. Here, in this four county area, many of the route loops allow you to ride past wildlife refuges and parks for bird viewing and historic points of interest. Additionally, several of the Prairie Water cities also offer paved trails for family fun, in addition to trails for mountain biking. See more at: Prairie Waters Tourism.

Twin City Trails

Gateway/Brown’s Creek: This trail is a recreational jewel of the East Metro Area of the Twin Cities. The Gateway section runs 18 miles from Lower Downtown St. Paul to Pine Point Park. The recently acquired 5.9 mile Brown’s Creek Trail connects before Pine Point Park on the Gateway Trail. This enables trail users to go to the scenic St. Croix River Valley, in downtown Stillwater. See more about this area at: Stillwater Tourism.

Grand Rounds: This national scenic byway through Minneapolis includes 51 miles of bicycle trails. Since these trails go around the lakes and along Minnehaha Creek and the Mississippi River, they can be extra fun. See more at: Minneapolis Tourism.

Lakeville Trails: On the southern edge and close to many Twin Cities attractions, Lakeville is a family friendly mecca for bicycling trails. And, it’s also great for fall color scenery. With more than a 100 miles of paved trails, many parks and several great road routes, both visitors and residents alike will find plenty of safe riding opportunities here. See more information at: Lakeville Tourism.

Still More Trails

Minneapolis Northwest: At the northwest corner of the Twin City Metro Area is Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park and Maple Grove offer a huge number of trails that connect to other metropolitan communities, Elm Creek Regional Park and the Mississippi River Trail, See more information at: Minneapolis Northwest Tourism.

Twin Cities Gateway: Situated on the north side of the Mississippi River from Downtown Minneapolis, the Anoka County Gateway Trails offers families and touring cyclists hundreds of miles of paved trail to grasp all the river valley colors at their peak. See more at: Twin Cities Gateway Tourism.

Staying safe in Minnesota’s peak riding season:

Even on off-road trails, bicyclists need to wear helmets. Since you are much more likely to fall on your head by locking wheels with another bike or by stopping suddenly than you are to be hit by a vehicle, keep on those helmets!

Also, don’t forget to stop at stop signs on the trail, even if it’s just a driveway or gravel road.

Have Fun and check back this Thursday for part three of Minnesota’s Peak Riding Time!

Minnesota’s Peak Riding Time Is Fall: Part One

Autumn Is Minnesota’s Peak Riding Time: Northern Minnesota

Each year the fall color peak normally arrives in the northern one-third of the state in mid-September to early October. Granted, there is an exception to that rule if you are looking at biking in the Arrowhead region along Lake Superior. If you are, then the peak fall colors normally arrive about a week later than inland areas due to the warming effect of the lake. In the central one-third of the state, wooded areas become colorful between late September and early October. For the southern-third of Minnesota, colors peak early to mid-October. This year the peak cycle, statewide, is running a week or so later than normal due to ideal summer conditions – so enjoy!

This section is part one of a three part series.

Northern Minnesota Trails To Enjoy Peak Colors

Northeastern Minnesota

Gitchi-Gami: This trail along the North Shore now has a 29 mile segment. This segment goes from Gooseberry Falls State Park through Split Rock Lighthouse State Park to Beaver Bay. For more information on visiting the area see Heart of the Northshore Tourism Association.

Mesabi: This is one the most interesting trails in the state with 120 miles completed so far between Grand Rapids and Virginia/Biwabik. Built only partly on old rail lines, it dips and climbs around bogs and mine-pit lakes. Then, it continues around slag heaps and natural lakes highlighted by aspen and pines. See more at Grand Rapids Tourism on the west end and the IronTrail Tourism for the east end of the trail.

Willard Munger: This 75 mile trail between Hinckley and Duluth is one of the oldest and longest paved trails in the nation. The trail starts in Hinckley, Minnesota 61 and then goes to Carlton. For more information on the south end of the trail see: Hinckley Tourism and at the northern end. For near Jay Cook State Park, see Carlton Tourism.

Sunrise Prairie/Hardwood Creek: These county trails, just north of the Twin Cities and parallel of Interstate 35W, starts from Washington County’s Hardwood Creek Regional Trail at Forest Lake. Then, the trail changes to Sunrise Prairie Trail at Stacy for another 16 miles up to North Branch. See more information at Sunrise Trail Prairie Trail or Hardwood Creek Trail.

Northwestern Minnesota

Paul Bunyan: This 120 mile trail winds through lake country from Brainerd/Baxter to Bemidji. The southern trailhead is in Baxter, off Minnesota 371 at Excelsior Road (parking is near Northland Arboretum). The trail takes you up through the Chippewa National Forest then to Akeley (7¾ miles to Walker on the Heartland Trail). Afterwards, the trails continues onto Bemidji. Then, it goes to Bemidji State Park. See more information on the south end of the trail at Brainerd/Baxter/Nisswa Tourism and Bemidji Tourism at the north trailhead.

Heartland: There are lots of towns to explore on this 49 mile ride. The trail takes you between Park Rapids to Cass Lake, through Walker and connects to the Paul Bunyan Trail. For At-a-Glance Tips see: Leech Lake Tourism on the east end and Park Rapids Tourism at the west end of this trail.

Migizi: This scenic U.S. Forest Service loop ride around Pike Bay is 17 miles if you count the spur to-and-from Norway Beach Recreation Area on Cass Lake, streets in the town of Cass Lake, and the three miles that run south of Cass Lake along Minnesota 371. See Cass Lake Tourism for more information.

Trip Tips: To Enjoy Minnesota’s Peak Riding Times by Bike

Before you go:

Always check the MnDNR website for a trail map or to see if road construction or flooding has closed a portion of that area.

Also, each Thursday afternoon during the fall season a color report is available online. You can also receive it through a weekly e-newsletter at Explore Minnesota Tourism.

Staying safe:

Don’t forget to stop at stop signs on the trail, even if it’s just a driveway or gravel road.

Also, ride with a buddy, especially on isolated stretches.

Have Fun and check back this Thursday for part two of Minnesota’s Peak Riding Time!