In Minnesota:
Minnesota has an abundance of nicely paved paths through parkland and waterfront areas to make your biking experience more enjoyable. Each trail offers unique features to fit your biking needs! Here is a list of trails that are located within approximately 100 miles of the Twin Cities:
- Big Rivers Regional Trail (Mendota Heights to Lillydale): This unique four-mile trail is built on the rail bed of the Minnesota Central Railroad. Enjoy the scenery as you bike between high limestone bluffs and beautiful river valleys.
- Cannon Valley Trail (Between Red Wing and Cannon Falls): This trail features 19.7 miles of smooth concrete. Open year round for bicycling, inline skating, skateboarding, hiking and walking, this trail runs through the trees and countryside of beautiful southeastern Minnesota. The $3 Wheel Pass charge helps fund regular repaving of the surface.
- Cedar Lake Trail (Hopkins to Minneapolis): This seven-mile paved trail starts in Hopkins, goes through St. Louis Park, and ends in Minneapolis. The trail currently has 16 access points located throughout the length of the trail.
- The Gateway State Trail (St. Paul to Pine Point Regional Park): This 18.3 mile-long paved trail takes you on a tour of urban areas, parks, lakes, wetlands and fields in the St. Paul area. Enjoy rural landscapes without traveling from the metro area. This trail provides access to downtown and the State Capitol complex.
- Hardwood Creek Trail (Forest Lake to Hugo): This nine-mile trail is located on a former Burlington Northern Railroad grade, making it very level and flat. The trail provides access to other local trails and businesses, taking skaters through new residential areas, natural areas and the commercial areas of Hugo and Forest Lake, allowing skaters to stop at local shops and restaurants.
- Minnehaha Trail (Fort Snelling Park to Minneapolis): This five-mile trail is located in the heart of the Twin Cities and offers beautiful landscapes.
- West River Parkway (Minneapolis): This eight-mile trail goes from Boom Island to Minnehaha Falls. Because the trail follows the Mississippi River, you get a wonderful river view and a tour of the University of Minnesota campus.
To find more trails in Minnesota, visit the Minnesota Trails Web site, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, or Trails.com
In Wisconsin:
- Autumn Trek Bike Tour (River Falls): Starts at Hoffman Park in River Falls and follows paved, quiet, scenic country routes along the Trembelle and Kinnickinnic River Valleys. Ride difficulty is directly related to length of ride (from 25 to 100 miles).
- Bike-4-Trails (Marshland, Onalaska, Sparta, Elroy, Reedsburg): Four exciting and scenic-laden bicycling rails are jointed together to form 100 miles of the most scenic countryside in southwestern Wisconsin. Start at any one of the four trailheads and tour all 100 miles or just a few!
- Bike Wisconsin: Sponsors the state’s two premier multi-day bicycle tours. The Great Annual Bicycle Adventure Along the Wisconsin River in June, and Sprocket’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Wisconsin in early August.
- Cable Area: Located in Northwest Wisconsin, this pristine environment has an abundance of wildlife, clean air and an unhurried pace of life. Trails are located in the midst of the Chequamegon National Forest
For more trails in Wisconsin, click here
To find a trail anywhere in the United States, visit the Rails to Trails Conservancy Web site, or Trails.com
