Explore the best rated trails in Rochester, MN, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Batchelder Trail and John Wellner Memorial Trail . With more than 63 trails covering 392 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
$30 season pass or a $7 daily, with a "non-cash surcharge" if you try to pay online. The trail is nice, but the fee is getting out of hand.
This trail is awesome! We only went about 16 miles from Houston and then back, but it was very enjoyable. We plan to come back and do another section of trail with our kids.
My first time on this trail was today. Started seeing some nice fall colors on the trees. Beautiful scenic ride with cliffs, hills and valley. The overall trail was really nice. Nicely kept up and very smooth to ride on. Only down fall was that it was too narrow. Could use about another foot on each side
Context: Rode trail end to end both directions on a m road bike w 700 X 23m tires. Past reviews seem accurate wrt beauty of surrounding landscape. Disregard older reviews re poor pavement conditions. The pavement is smooth end to end. An occasional weather crack (closer to Faribault) is typically marked. Would ride again on same bike any day.
The trail is a super ride, lots of nice scenery and a very fast track. However was sorely disappointed that the pie shop in Whalan is only open weekends after labor day. That was to be the highlight of the ride!
I spent the month of August riding rail trails around the state, and this was the most scenic and best maintained trail I encountered. Lanesboro is a great little town to stop for lunch or ice cream, and would be a good choice for your riding "headquarters". Camping available at Lanesboro and other points along the trail.
We rode this trail today and it was gorgeous! The wildflowers and the fresh air is just what I needed!
Did about 40 miles out, then turned and came back. Have been on a dozen trails in the area, and this is the best trail so far. Very well maintained. A few steep hills for a little challenge
My first time on the trail was on 8/13. As soon as I got into the trees, I was met by two turkeys on the trail then a few miles further on, two deer ran across the trail, smooth going all the way. About halfway through the trail, I saw people on inner tubes floating down the river, having a great time. Made it all the way to the end and a mile towards Redwing. On the way back I jumped 6 more deer. A gorgeous trail that’s well-kept. Nice bathrooms and rest areas. I live in Brooklyn Park and it was well worth the drive. I’ll do it again, especially in the fall.
It had beautiful landscape that constantly changed from farmland with wide open spaces & bright sun to wonderful &welcoming shade that held all kinds of birds and bugs… the problem came with dodging all the potholes and craters in the asphalt…. Making it uncomfortable when trying to keep speed up to go faster than the bugs or rolling to the next shade tree when the sun is overhead… we did read a few reviews some good some not , im not a review writer nor do I take much stock in the ones I read … but I am writing this one because of our disappointment … it was felt by both of us and we both gave the same reasons…. The surface of this trail…. And then it just ends… 2miles from Eyota, MN which was originally the reason to take this trail… and if the trail surface had not been so bad, we would had rolled our way into town, have lunch, meandered around the town and return to the trail, instead, we were done… over it…. It’s a dam if you do, dam if you don’t… Catch22 … kinda of a trail… the beauty you see on this trail is worth seeing if a crater filled, potholed road doesn’t bother you too much.
The trail is double track rail-trail through the woods with views of marshes and the river. Essentially flat with very gradual ups and downs. Limited facilities. I parked at the trailhead for both Great River State Trail going northwest and the La Crosse State Trail going east. The trail emerges onto the street after about a mile, so follow the Great River State Trail signs which take you to the Great River Landing "Trailhead." I bought my daily trail pass just outside the tourist info office. Crossing one of the large marshes a Sandhill Crane mother was standing in the trail blocking our path to protect her 2 children (colts). We waited, and after about 10 minutes they moved off the trail. Note that the trail is bumpy in places, but overall trail conditions are good.
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