Tag Archives: Red Jacket Trail

Fall colors are still prime in southern Minnesota this weekend

As the Fall colors continue to lose their brilliance or drop, throughout the northern half of the state, many southern sections of Minnesota are just peaking or still in their prime. To find a perfect fall colored adventure this weekend check the Minnesota Fall Color Website, brought to you by Explore Minnesota and Minnesota State Parks and Trails.

Trail options with fall colors in their Prime

From the site, it looks like southern and parts of western Minnesota are still offering a kaleidoscope of prime fall colors for your bike touring pleasure this weekend. Here are a few areas to check out.

Cannon Valley: This 19.7-mile trail between Cannon Falls and Red Wing is a popular Rail-to-Trails attraction here in Minnesota. It’s a beautiful, shady ride above the Cannon River with a picnic area in Welch, its midpoint. It is maintained by a trail association and there is a daily fee of $3. See more at Cannon Falls Tourism at the west trailhead and Red Wing Tourism at the east trailhead, near the Mississippi River.

Douglas: This is a 12.5-mile rolling trail ride through rolling farmland between Pine Island’s city park and the northern outskirts of Rochester. For more information see Rochester Tourism.

Great River Ridge: This 13-mile paved trail connects the southeast Minnesota towns of Plainview, Elgin, and Eyota and is near Whitewater and Carley state parks. The first half follows a winding creek. Also, the five miles from Elgin to Plainview are slightly uphill and follow the highway. See more at Plainview/Elgin/Milleville Tourism.

And still more Southern Minnesota Trails

Shooting Star: This 22-mile trail follows the Shooting Star Scenic Byway from Austin to LeRoy. LeRoy is on the Upper Iowa River near the Iowa border and continues towards Austin, just south of I-90. Then, in the eastern half, the trail goes through Lake Louise State Park. After passing through Adams and Rose Creek, the trail rolls into Austin’s bike-friendly atmosphere. See more at Austin Tourism.

Winona’s Trails: The terrain around Winona is looped by spectacularly beautiful bicycle trails and routes aimed at a variety of riders. Whether you are out for a scenic ride with the family on the 5-mile paved trail around the lake or the bike-friendly street routes in town, there are great backgrounds. The Mississippi River Trail leading in and out of Winona will have colors that can add excitement to your adventures and memories, and this is even true if you decide to sample the mountain bike trails here. For more, see Winona Tourism.

South and Southwest Minnesota trails

Root River/Harmony-Preston Valley: Between Fountain and Houston, the 42-mile Root River Trail, in the lovely bluff country, is one of Minnesota’s pride and joys. Then add the 18-mile, Preston to Harmony trail section and you will find more spectacular colors on this rolling terrain. For more, see Root River Trail Towns Tourism.

Blazing Star: This paved trail currently runs from the lake with the same names as Albert Lea to Myre-Big Island State Park. The total trail distance of paved is approximately 20-miles. Along the route, you can enjoy the natural environment that includes wetlands, oak savanna, big woods, and prairie. Also, the park is a great birding spot, especially during fall migration. See more at Albert Lea Tourism.

And one Western Minnesota trail option

Luce Line State Trail is a 63-mile long rails-to-trail route that starts in the Plymouth and stretches out west 30-miles west, on a limestone surface trail, to Winsted. From Winsted to Hutchinson the trail is paved, See more at Hutchinson Tourism.

Ride safe and enjoy the colors!

Bike Pic Mar 15, fond summer memories with cooler temps on the way

This Bike Pic Friday, with fond summer memories, we found this photo of a family enjoying the trails in the Mankato Area of Minnesota.

What better way to continue your fun, finding your #NextBikeAdventure. See all the great ideas and bike destinations in the 2019 Bike/Hike Winter Planning Guide. Then plan your next outing with family and friends in one of Minnesota’s HaveFunBiking Destinations.

Thanks for Viewing Our ‘Tuesday’ Bike Pic

Now rolling into our 12th year as a bike media, our goal is to encourage more people to have fun. In this expanded e-guide issue, we have added more free bike maps to review for planning your next adventure.

As we continue to showcase more destinations you can explore, we are all about capturing fun photos to capture those memories. Hopefully, some 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 at HaveFunBiking (HFB)? If so, please send your picture(s) to [email protected]. Please include a brief caption (for each), who is in the photo (if you know?) and where you shot the picture. Your photo submitted should be at a medium resolution or more, for consideration. If we do use your photo, you will receive photo credit at HaveFunBiking and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.

As we continue to encourage more people to bike, please view our Destination section at HaveFunBiking.com for your next bike adventure. Here you will find all the information you will need when visiting one of our Community Map Partners, accessible on your mobile-friendly devices.

Watch for our spring print guides in April.

As 30-Days of Biking progresses in April, the spring 2019 Bike/Hike Guides will be available in both print and digital format. So bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure.

Please share all our pic’s with your friends and us on our Facebook and Instagram. Don’t forget to smile; we may be around the next corner with our HFB camera, ready to capture you for the next ‘Pic of the Day’ posts.

Have a great day!

Bike Pic Oct 25, putting more kids on bikes in Mankato, MN

A bike pic to remember! This perfect fall weather day we caught this young biker dude out riding with his mom on one of the communities recreational trails in Mankato. The MN High School Cycling League will be there at Mount Kato this weekend. A fun event to come and watch, over 1,500 students from 65 school teams racing.

Get into the zone and plan your next bike outing with family and friends at one of Minnesota’s HaveFunBiking Destinations. View all the fun ideas and bike destinations in the new HaveFunBiking Guide.

Thanks for viewing our ‘fall’ Bike Pic

Now rolling into our 11th 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 destinations you can have fun visiting 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), or 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 continue to encourage more people to bike, please view our Destination section at HaveFunBiking.com for your next bike adventure – Also, check out the latest Bike Guide, mobile-friendly as we enter into our 9th year of producing print and digital guides.

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

Have a great day and a memorable new year ahead!

Biking Your Way to Adventure in Mankato and the Surrounding Area

by Andrew Ellis,

It always amazes me how bike-friendly Mankato is, and this time was no different. Taking in the Mankato River Ramble Bike Ride, the first weekend in October, I found several new and safe twists and turns the whole family will enjoy as a bike destination. Tucked along the Minnesota River in Southwestern Minnesota, it’s a quick hour and a half drive from the Twin Cities to find your #nextbikeadventure here.

Bike-Friendly Mankato

Trail riding in Mankato.

The city is located at the point where the Minnesota River and the Blue Earth River merge. This industrialized farm community is actually divided into two, with North Mankato located just across the Minnesota River and easily accessible by bike trail. With several trail systems that connect you to the north side, across the river and the many farm communities up on the bluffs, it’s a great destination for all skill levels of cyclists.

Overall I found my recent visit here fun and easy to get around by bicycle. The bike-friendly roads and trail made it easy to connect from one trail system to the next. Plus, there are countless public bike racks within the area for safe storage. Spending a few days here before the River Ramble, using my bike to get around, allowed me an easy way to see the city’s many attractions, such as the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota, the rock climbing walls at Minnesota State University, and many art exhibits. The presence of the colleges here adds to Mankato’s lively and welcoming atmosphere, so you can easily browse of mix of nationally known and locally-owned shops, and restaurants, and even venture outside the city limits for a tour of the local winery or brewery.

Biking Opportunities in Mankato

Family fun riding the Red Jacket Trail into Mankato.

Family fun riding on the Red Jacket Trail into Mankato.

When you’re in a city that’s been certified as a bike-friendly community by the League of American Cyclists, you know you’ll find endless opportunities for pedaling around. That’s especially true for Mankato and its surrounding area, full of walking and biking trail loops and more. So, no matter what kind of terrain you’re looking for, there’s bound to be some road or trail in the Mankato area right for you.

Mankato’s Paved Trails Systems

The Indian Lake Conservation Area, a 120-acre regional park, has a trail that’s just over 1 mile long. It takes you on a small scenic tour of what the park has to offer. There is also the South Route Trail in Minneopa State Park, that’s just over half a mile long. This trail connects to the North Minnesota River Trail which also connects to the Sakatah Trail. The North Minnesota River Trail also highlights Mankato’s prime location in the river valley at Riverfront Park.

Bike routes that lead to outlying farm communities

Family fun riding the southern end of the Red Jacket Trail.

Mankato’s biking loops are a great way to explore the area without fear of getting lost. The Lake Crystal Loop is the most popular among bikers. It takes you south on the scenic Red Jacket Trail and through the Minnesota River Valley for an adventurous ride. You can even top the adventure off with a piece of award-winning pie.

You can also take the North Mankato Loop that mixes trails with low-traffic roads, passing several parks and eating establishments for a snack. If you prefer to tour the city, then the Mankato Loop contains mostly off-road trails. It keeps you in town and passes through the Minnesota River Valley.

If you feel like venturing outside the city, take the St. Clair/Eagle Lake Loop. It’ll give you a nice taste of small-town hospitality, and you can even stop for a picnic in the park or eat at one of the local diners. If you want to explore the northern part of the city, then try out the North Gravel Ride. You’ll ride along the Minnesota River’s bluffs on your way to the prairie land of Kasota. If you want to hit the open road, then try St. Clair, Smiths Mill, and the Madison Lake Loop, which takes you southeast of the city.

Mountain Biking

If you’re looking for more of a challenge, then behold Mankato’s mountain biking trails. The Ft. LeHillier Trail was created by the Mankato Area Mountain Bikers (MAMB) and offers both an easy and a difficult track ready for your wheels to get down and dirty. Also, check out the Kiwanis Recreation Area, which has four different loop options that total five miles of mountain biking thrills. And let’s not forget Mount Kato, with over seven miles of wooded single-track trails, something for all skill levels.

Outside of town, you can try the trails at Seven Mile Park between North Mankato and St. Peter. It’s a multi-purpose trail system you can use, but watch out for other users.

Road Biking

Getting around the city and the surrounding area is relatively easy. The city’s streets and attractions are essential to making Mankato a bike-friendly destination. As for the surrounding area, there are plenty of roads that you can take to navigate around the area. Many of the loops mentioned above include using roads to follow the courses. However, each road differs in the amount of traffic and the amount of shoulder it has for riders – so stay alert.

An At-A-Glance Look at Mankato

Be sure to check out our At-A-Glance Mankato Article for more details on where to stay, play, and explore for your hand-held devices. As this story and the At-A-Glance Article are mobile-friendly for your convenience, have fun!

Have Fun riding in the Mankato Area.

Now with fat bikes, any time of the year is the perfect time to visit Mankato.

Bike Pic June 21, courtesy is part of friendly Mankato scene

Having fun riding his bike in Mankato, a League of American Bicyclist certified friendly city, this young gentleman makes sure the walkers he is approaching have plenty of room as he passes.

MN Bike Guide

Find many more bike friendly places to ride and explore in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

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

Now rolling into our 10th year as a bicycle tourism media source, our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike, while showcasing unforgettable places to ride. As HFB searches and presents more fun cycling related photos, worth a grin, scroll through the information and stories we have posted that may 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, be prepared to smile. You never know where our cameras will be and what we will post next!

Do you have a fun bicycle related photo of yourself or someone you know that you would like to see us post? 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 a minimum of 800 pixels wide or larger for us to consider using them. If we do 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 Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide to Find Your Next Adventure. We are proud of the updated At-a-Glance information and maps we are known for at the HFB Destination section on our website and in the guide. Now, as the Guide goes into its seventh year of production, we are adding a whole new dimension of information, now available for mobile devices.

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 May 29, miles of smiles Sunday in Mankato

A miles of smiles bike photo of a family enjoying the trails around Mankato, MN on the River Ramble Bicycle Ride held each October.

See many more bike friendly places to ride and explore in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.

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

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!

Try Mankato for your Next Bike Adventure

The allure of bringing your bike to Mankato offers a lot of possibilities. Here as the Minnesota River bends to the north to meet the Mississippi in St Paul, the scenic valley here offers miles of biking memories for all levels of adventurists. Its a fun destination to consider for your next bike touring adventure.

Mountain bikers having fun at Mount Kato.

History and an Overview of Mankato

The city was named for the English translation of mahkato – the Dakota word for the area’s greenish-blue, claylike soil of the area. Today as a bike friendly community, recognized by the League of American Bicyclists, Mankato is bicycling hub offering miles of paved trails that connect to the town’s designated on-street bike routes and mountain bike areas. See more information and maps at our At-A-Glance Mankato article at HaveFunBiking.com.

Places to Stay

Once you have selected one of the bike friendly lodges in the area it is easy to park your car while visiting and commute by bike. If you need a rental, help shipping your bicycle in or making a few adjustments most of the local hotels work with the area bike shops to help accommodate your needs.

Maps

From a hotel that you have selected, you will find many picturesque routes to ride with family members or friends that take you to area attractions and fun place to eat. For the trail rider, enjoy over 50 miles of family-friendly paved trail in town, on the Red Jacket and the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail. Road touring enthusiasts will find a network of suggested scenic routes with wide shoulders on low traffic roadways. And thanks to the work of a devoted group of local mountain bikers the area continues to grow as a premier off-road biking destination.

Fun Things to Do When Not Biking

When you are not biking, Mankato is also a hub for arts, entertainment, great food and nightlife. After exploring the Minnesota River Valley’s bicyclists will find a strong local food scene. Here restaurants in the area and nearby neighborhoods serve everything from delicious pizzas, creative burger creations, finger licking ribs, to ice cream treats and local craft beers.

Try Mankato for your Next Bike Adventure or see more opportunities in the Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.