Welcome. We're your premier source for fun places to explore by bicycle or on foot. Offering guides, maps and articles on road and trail riding for the novice to seasoned cyclist - helping you find your #NextBikeAdventure
Another mountain biker having fun in Lebanon Hills Park. Check MORC trail conditions to see which trail systems may be closed after another day of rain yesterday.
What better way to continue your summer fun and your #NextBikeAdventure. View all the fun ideas and bike destinations in the latest Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide. Then plan your next outing with family and friends in one of Minnesota’s HaveFunBiking Destinations.
Thanks for Viewing Our ‘Mountain Biker’ Pic of the Day
We are now rolling into our 10th year as a bike tourism media. As we pedal forward our goal is to continue to encourage more people to bike and have fun while we highlight all the unforgettable places for you to 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 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 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 #NextBikeAdventure – Also, check out the MN Bike Guide, now mobile friendly, as we enter into our 8th year of producing this hand information booklet full of maps.
Remember, 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. We may be around the corner with one of our cameras ready to document your next cameo apperance while you are riding and having fun. You could be in one of our next Pic’s of the Day.
The newly expanded trailhead of Lebanon Hills acts as a gateway to some of the most enjoyable trails in the Twin Cities Area. With nearly 12 miles of one way singletrack trails, Lebanon Hills has become one of the go-to trails in Minnesota. The trails feature riding for all skill levels combined with world-class facilities to enhance your riding experience. All the bike trails are built and maintained by the Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists (MORC).
Where Lebanon Hills is
Another happy mountain biker riding through the forests of Lebanon Hills Park.
The Lebanon Hills Mountain Bike trails (Leb to the locals) are located in Eagan Minnesota off Johnny Cake Ridge Road. The newly expanded trailhead boasts ample parking, clean bathrooms, public grills and picnic areas as well as a skills course appropriate for all ability levels. Leb is a part of the larger Lebanon Hills Regional Park system that includes two swimming lakes, nearly a dozen hiking areas, three camping areas and close proximity to the Minnesota Zoo.
What to expect in Lebanon Hills
The first thing you will notice about riding in Leb is the amazing condition of the trails. Thank the Minnesota Off Road Cyclist organization (MORC) for the smooth berms, clear trails and exciting features. Ride into the first trail and enjoy the sweet smell of pine trees while you wind through a healthy forest. First, you are given the choice of staying on the beginner trails or hanging a hard right onto the intermediate loop. Staying on the beginner trails will lead you to five 8’ tall berms that are a total blast to ride. From those berms you can branch off into another intermediate loop or head into a skills section that including a berm, roller, and jump line.
Another fun run through an open meadow in Lebanon.
If you choose that first right onto the intermediate loop, you are rewarded with twisty sections, a rock drop, and high speed downhill sections. That intermediate section brings you out to the far end of the park. Once out there, you can enter into the truly advance loops built on rock gardens, step climbs and steep descents. The trails on the far side of the park meet at one point, perfect for a quick break between loops.
Here on the advanced trail in Lebanon Hills you will find some obstacles to challenge you.
Best part of the trails
Leb gives its riders amazing trails as well as awesome views. The best part of Leb is how well it integrates into nature. Even though the trails of Leb are well trafficked, Places like the “lake loop” give the impression of sanctuary for hundreds of riders a weekend. Because all the trails are directional, there is a great feeling of isolation even though other riders may be just a few hundred feet away. Overall, Lebanon hills is a great way to enjoy the beauties of nature in the Twin Cities area.
Here in Lebanon Hills is a place for all ages to build on their skill levels.
How to help
If you ride and enjoy the trails at Leb, consider volunteering for trail maintenance. The Minnesota Off Road Cycling organization (MORC) schedule trail work sessions on Tuesdays through the summer. The group meets in the parking lot at 6 O’clock and welcomes anyone interested in helping. Wear long pants, boots, and work gloves because you will be doing hard labor. You will find that the hard labor is enjoyable because you are giving back to fellow riders.
Best seasons to ride
Those with fatty’s are finding Lebanon Hills the perfect trail system year round.
If you love the trails at Leb during the summer, rejoice, they are open through the winter as well. Not only are the trails open when the snow falls, but well traveled. Because of that traffic, the trails stay clear and ride-able right up until the spring thaw. With that said, once the thaw begins, the trails are usually closed for about six weeks while things dry out. A quick check on MORC’s trail conditions website will let you know when the trails are open.
After all these years, they are smiling once again as they cross the Old Cedar Bridge, from Eagan across the Minnesota River into Bloomington, MN. The bridge was closed to auto traffic in the late 90’s and then was used only by bicyclists and pedestrians up until 2002, when it was officially closed to all modes of traffic crossing the river. See an assortment of photos on the history of the bridge 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 along the way. See many more bike-friendly places to explore in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.
Thanks for viewing the Old Cedar Bridge Day 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. 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.
The Old Cedar Bridge over Long Meadow Lake, at the bank of the Minnesota River, has now been restored for use for cyclists and pedestrians. It will be official be open October 14, according to the City of Bloomington,MN. Here in the photo members of the Hiawatha Bicycling Club used the restored bridge bridge earlier this week to cross the river on one of their fall club rides.
Here a cyclist looks at the Old Cedar Bridge, a great place to cross the MN River, until 2002.
The bridge was closed to auto traffic in the late 90’s and was then used only by bicyclists and pedestrians up until 2002 when it was officially closed to all modes for a crossing. See an assortment of photos on the history of the bridge here.
Now with the Old Cedar Bridge open and leaves turning, we hope you get out on your bike and enjoy another fall riding possibilities in hear in Minnesota. See many more bike friendly places to explore in the new Minnesota Bike/Hike Guide.
Thanks for viewing the first Old Cedar Bridge 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.
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. 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.
Thanks to Friends of the Environment member Howard Schneider, the community in Lakeville, Minn. will offer three family-friendly bike tours this summer, showcasing the city parks while offering tips on safe riding. Each Tour will demonstrate potential routes from the miles of city trails and quiet roadways in the area. Both residence and visitors to Lakeville, all ages and ability, are welcome to take part in the rides scheduled.
As a volunteer, Pedal the Parks guide Schneider will lead three 12- to 16-mile long rides on Lakeville trails and roads that will last up to two hours. All participants are required to wear helmets and will receive a Rules of the Road card and the Minnesota Trails Summer 2014 Biking issue. The ride cost is $5 per family and registrations are being accepted online or at City Hall, 20195 Holyoke Avenue. Here is the schedule for the summer bike ride tours in Lakeville – all rides start at 9 a.m:
The Nor’easter Tour was on June 28, with more than 35 riders starting at Steve Michaud Park, at 17100 Ipava Avenue, in Lakeville. Beating the rain this first tour passed through eight parks, four conservation areas with the Lakeville Parks and Recreation Director, Brett Altergott joining the tour. If you missed this one there are two more dates to explore city trails and bike routes.
On Aug. 9, Big Lakes District Tour, riders will meet at Casperson Park, 19720 Juno Trail and ride around several lakes including Lake Marion, which features the new trail and bridge on Kenrick Avenue.
For the Sept. 20 Southern Charm Tour, riders meet at Pioneer Plaza, 20801 Holyoke Avenue and ride trails close to downtown, including the bike parade at the Lakeville Arts Festival.
Schneider, a retired Dakota County employee, said “the rides are fun, environmentally responsible and allow people a fun way to exercise”. The events could also serve as an aid for parents interested in teaching children about bike riding safety. “When we have stop signs or red lights, we all wait and go together so we can safely cross the street,” Schneider said.
For those visiting the Lakeville area who want to learn more about connecting to the hotels from the trails and fun things to do when not riding, see the HaveFunBiking.com At-A-Glance article.
