With more than 4,000 miles of paved Minnesota bike trails, the state has become a world-renowned bicycle touring destination for all to enjoy. Making considerable strides in connectivity, so in some areas of the state, you can pedal your bike fifty to a hundred and fifty miles without leaving the trail. For example, in southeastern Minnesota, the Root River Trail connects to the Harmony-Preston trail for 60 miles of scenic enjoyment. As you plan your next adventure, look through the following list of Minnesota bike trails for miles of fun memories. More maps are available in the Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide for your riding pleasure.

With Minnesota’s bike trails listed here, find your next adventure

Blazing Star shooting State Trail  –  6 paved miles

The Blazing Star State Trail is paved and runs from Albert Lea Lake in Albert Lea to Myre-Big Island State Park, approximately six miles. The trail currently connects to Albert Lea’s city trail system.

Brown’s Creek State Trail  – 8 and 6 paved miles

This beautiful railroad-grade trail connects the Gateway State Trail, in the city of Grant to Stillwater and the city’s round-the-river loop there.

Cannon Valley Trail – 20 paved miles (Rail Pass Required)

The Cannon Valley Trail follows the Cannon River, in southeast Minnesota, to the Mississippi River, using the abandoned Chicago Great Western Railway corridor from Cannon Falls to Red Wing.

Casey Jones State Trail  – an eight and six-mile stretch are paved

The Casey Jones State Trail consists of three segments, with the most extended section of former railroad grade between the city of Pipestone and the Pipestone/Murray county line. The segment from Pipestone to County Road 67 is paved, and the third portion of the trail offers a paved loop between Lake Shetek State Park and the city of Currie.

Central Lakes State Trail – 55 paved miles

This trail begins in the city of Fergus Falls. It ends in the city of Osakis, where users will enjoy the many different landscape views, ranging from open grassland/prairie, lakes, wetlands, farmland, and forested rolling hills. Towns to visit along the trail include Evansville, Brandon, Garfield, and Alexandria. The Central Lakes Trail at Osakis connects to the Lake Wobegon Trail for another 65-mile stretch to St. Cloud.

C.J. Ramstad/North Shore State Trail – 146-mile long multi-purpose unpaved trail

This Minnesota bike trail is a natural surface trail from Duluth to Grand Marais that runs through St. Louis, Lake, and Cook counties in the Arrowhead region. This trail meanders through the forested ridgeline overlooking Lake Superior. The un-maintained trail provides access to some of Minnesota’s most rugged and beautiful scenery.

Cuyuna Lakes State Trail – 8 paved miles

This trail, abandoned by mining companies over 35 years ago, runs from Crosby to Riverton, inside the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area. Many of the lakes along this trail system were former mine pits and now offer a world-class single-track mountain bike trail system around them.

David Dill/Arrowhead State Trail – 69-mile long multi-purpose unpaved trail

This long-distance, natural surface trail near Tower, MN, is suitable for horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking in the summer.

David Dill/Taconite State Trail – 6 paved miles

This trail stretches 165 miles from Grand Rapids to Ely and intersects with the David Dill/Arrowhead State Trail just west of Lake Vermillion. The first six miles from Grand Rapids are paved for biking and in-line skating, and connects to the Mesabi trail.

Gateway State Trail – 18 paved miles

The popular east metro trail begins in the city of St. Paul, travels northeast through Maplewood, North St. Paul, and Oakdale, through Washington County, and ends at Pine Point Regional Park. Here the Browns Valley Trail connects and runs to the city of Stillwater. Located on a former Soo Line Railroad bed, the trail is generally level and wheelchair accessible.

Gitchi-Gami State Trail – 86 miles, with on 33-miles, not continuous, paved.

This trail is considered a moderately challenging route and features one scenic view of Lake Superior after another. The trail parallels Highway 61, using the road’s wide 10-foot shoulder along undeveloped segments. The opportunity to spot wildlife is also a common occurrence here.

Goodhue Pioneer State Trail – Two paved segments, four and 5.5-mile

This trail is popular with hikers, bikers, horseback riders, and snowmobilers. Currently, there are two sections of the trail. The northern portion is a paved trail between Red Wing and the Hay Creek Unit of the Richard J. Dorer State Forest and connects with Red Wing city trails and the Cannon Valley Trai. The southern segment of the trail features 4.5 miles of paved trail and is used by hikers and bikers. This segment starts in the city of Zumbrota and connects to the city’s trail system.

Great River Ridge State Trail – 13 paved miles

Located in the beautiful southeastern Minnesota river valley, this trail system follows a former railroad grade with picturesque views of river bluffs. The trail is generally level and accessible and is famous for bicycling, hiking, and in-line skating. Currently, the trail begins in Plainview, traveling south through the town of Elgin, and ends at County Road 9.

Heartland State Trail  – 49 paved miles in two connecting segments

This was one of the first rail-to-trail projects in the country. The trail is located entirely on a level abandoned railroad grade, with the 27-mile segment connecting Park Rapids and Walker and the 22-mile segment connecting Walker and Cass Lake. The Park Rapids to Walker segment also has a parallel natural surface trail for horseback riding, hiking, and mountain biking. The Heartland State Trail also connects with the Paul Bunyan State Trail and other regional trail systems.

Lake Wobegon State Trail – 65 paved miles

The trail runs west from St. Cloud, through Waite Park, Avon, Albany, Freeport, Melrose, Sauk Centre, and up to Osakis, where it joins the Central Lakes Trail and continues to Fergus Falls. At Albany, a paved spur heads north to Holdingford, then to the Mississippi River Trail below Little Falls.

Luce Line State Trail – 63 miles, mostly packed limestone

This former railroad-grade trail stretches across the varied landscapes of metropolitan and rural Minnesota. Primarily crushed limestone surface with a parallel Treadway.

Matthew Lourey State Trail – 80-mile long multi-purpose unpaved trail

The gravel-surfaced trail passes through forests linking St. Croix State Park with Chengwatana, St. Croix, and Nemadji state forests. The entire trail is open to hiking in the summer. Mountain biking is allowed in some sections of St. Croix State Park.

Mesabi Trail – 150 paved miles  (Rail Pass Required)

Stretching from the Mississippi River in Grand Rapids to the Boundary Waters near Ely, the Mesabi Trail is like no other in the country. Cutting through the forests of northeast Minnesota, your adventure will take you past lakes, creeks, and ponds, by vast red pits of old iron ore mines now filled with emerald green water.

Mill Towns State Trail – 3 paved miles

This trail currently connects with the city of Northfield trails system near Babcock and Riverside Park on the north end and follows the Cannon River to the city of Dundas, where the trailhead connects to other local trails.

Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area – 6 paved miles, 36 unpaved miles

Not far from the Twin Cities. Watch for wildlife as you travel the multi-use trail, which is paved for six miles from Shakopee to Chaska and unpaved from Chaska to Belle Plaine.

 

Paul Bunyan State Trail – 115 paved miles

The Paul Bunyan State Trail is 115 miles long, not including a couple of short on-road connections through the cities of Baxter and Bemidji. Extending from Crow Wing State Park to Lake Bemidji State Park, it is the longest of Minnesota’s state trails and the longest continuously paved rail-to-trail in the country. It connects with the 8-mile Heartland State Trail. At Lake Bemidji State Park, it connects to the Blue Ox Trail, an unpaved motorized trail for snowmobiling and off-highway vehicle riding that extends northeast to International Falls.

Root River State Trail – 42 paved miles

Discover the dramatic bluff lands of southeastern Minnesota on this popular trail. Very accessible, except for some hills near Houston on the east end. Along the trail west, visit the towns of Rusgford, Peterson, Whalon, and Lanesboro before reaching the western trailhead at Fountain. Before Fountain, the Root River Trail connects to the Harmony-Preston Valley State Trail.

Harmony-Preston Valley State Trail – 18 paved miles

Come and enjoy Minnesota hospitality, southeastern style. The paved Harmony-Preston Valley State Trail is a beautiful 18-mile-long multiple-use trail connecting Harmony and Preston communities with the existing Root River State Trail. Main summer uses are hiking, biking, and in-line skating. The trail is groomed for cross-country skiing in the winter.

Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail – 39 paved miles

The Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail is a paved, 39-mile multiple-use trail developed on an abandoned railroad grade. The trail begins at Lime Valley Road near State Highway 14, joins the Minnesota River Trail in Mankato, follows a signed route on city streets through Waterville, passes through three miles of Sakatah Lake State Park, and ends east of Interstate 35 in Faribault. It is generally level and wheelchair accessible. Horses can use a parallel treadway, from Lime Valley Road to the County Road 12 bridge.

Shooting Star State Trail –  29 paved miles

The Shooting Star State Trail is currently paved for about 29 miles between LeRoy and Austin. It begins in the city of LeRoy, travels north through Lake Louise State Park, then west toward the communities of Taopi, Adams, and Rose Creek. There is a short break in the trail in Rose Creek between City Hall and Rose Creek Wayside Park. It picks up again in Rose Creek Wayside Park and travels west and north, primarily in state and county highway right-of-way, until it reaches the intersection of 28th Street NE and I-90. Just across the 28th Street bridge over I-90 is a paved path connecting to the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center in Austin. When complete, the trail will also connect with the community of Lyle (south of Austin) and the Wapsi-Great Western Trail in Iowa (south of Taopi).

Willard Munger State Trail –  70 paved miles

This 70-mile Willard Munger State Trail segment is a completely paved trail. Beginning south of Hinkley, the trail first passes through the towns of Finlayson, near Banning State Park, then Rutledge, Willow River, near General C.C. Andrews State Forest, Sturgeon Lake, Moose Lake, and Moose Lake State Park, and Barnum. At  Carlton, the northeast portion of the trail transforms, offering some spectacular scenery at Jay Cooke State Park and along the St. Louis River, to the twin ports of Duluth and Superior. 

See more trails in Minnesota, if off-road riding is of interest