The Douglas State Trail occupies the railbed of the former Chicago Great Western Railway corridor between the cities of Rochester and Pine Island. Along the way, trail users are treated to a diverse landscape of verdant agricultural land, rolling fields and forest. Not far from Rochester, the trail passes through its namesake town of Douglas.
The trail is paved over its entire route, but there is also a parallel natural surface treadway for horseback riders and snowmobilers. In Rochester, connect directly with the
Douglas-Cascade Trail to continue farther into Rochester.
Three trailheads along the route provide parking and restrooms:
- North end: Pine Island City Park (off Center Drive/County Highway 62) in Pine Island; this trailhead also offers a Borrow-A-Bike program for those that would like to ride the trail but don't have a bike.
- Mid-way: along County Road 14 in Douglas
- South end: along Valleyhigh Drive NW in Rochester
The Douglas Trail passes through verdant farm country north of Rochester. The trail is smooth & flat yet the scenery is varied with some open sunny stretches, as well as deeply shaded sections. The meandering Zumbro River runs nearby. On the Rochester ...
I wasn't expecting such a nice smooth ride virtually all the way from Pine Island to Rochester, what a treat even though we peddled in the rain from Douglas to Pine Island. If you hate hills this is your ride, the elevation couldn't have varied more than ...
The north end of the Douglas State Trail has now been resurfaced. The roughest part of the trail is now the two miles immediately north of Douglas - the section that was last resurfaced about ten years ago (approximately milepost 4.5-6.5).