Explore the best rated trails in Winona, MN, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Elroy-Sparta State Trail and John Wellner Memorial Trail . With more than 61 trails covering 343 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.
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.
Best and most favorite trail of the trails we rode in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin on this trip!! Rode 50 miles round-trip, Petersen to fountain. Trail is smooth asphalt. Gorgeous river views along the way. Last 5 miles are uphill to fountain, but a very fun dissent on the return! Second day, Peterson to Houston 36 miles r/t. First 5 miles to Rushford, smooth trail. The remaining 13 miles to Houston, trail has some sinkhole spots and the bridge transitions are rough. Still some river views. Each of the little towns along the trail has a couple restaurants, just call ahead to make sure they’re open during the week.
Rode this trail over two days. Camped at Tunnel Trail Campground just east of Wilton. Rode Wilton to Sparta. Two tunnels in the section. Very cool!! The trail surface was mostly OK, except where the trail maintenance tractor had driven on it when the trail was soft and left ruts from the tractor tires. The section from Wilton to a Elroy has one tunnel. Small descent after the tunnel and then flattens out on the way to Elroy. Least favorite part of this ride.
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.
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
Surface is packed and mostly in good shape. Probably a 3 star trail but the tunnels make it a 4+. Went from Sparta to Wilton and will return to check out the rest.
Trail condition from Onalaska to West Salem is good. Smooth packed dirt/gravel/limestone. Things get much worse thereafter. Rough surface with branches all over the place. Got a branch in my spokes but luckily no damage. Apparently a storm came thru a few weeks ago which should have been cleaned by now. Hard to believe that anyone considers this a 5 star trail. First part is 4 stars then 3 stars afterwards afterwards.
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.
We started out on the LaCrosse River State Trail the first day, completing 6 miles out and back, then 10 miles out and back of the Great River State Trail. The surface is hard packed stone. There were a few grassy areas of weeds in the center of trail. Overall this portion was well maintained.
On day two we completed the trail. The surface was not maintained quite as well, but rideable. Part of this trail goes through a National Park. We stayed on the outside and didn't ride inside the park. The trail portion was hilly with one area of surface stone that had signs of washing out with heavy rains. Gravel was loose in that area. Not good when going up or down a hill. A portion was on a road meant more for motorized vehicles than bicycles. As it was heavy gravel. If we ever ride this trail again, we would skip the National Park entirely. It was a total of 2.5 miles out and back in the Park of not the best conditions.
There is no parking area at the northernmost portion, The Marshland Trailhead.
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