By pbadam in January, 2009
I rode this trail on a warm summer day in June Beginning at Harmony. This trail is extremely hilly with many winding curves, and three very long steep hills you have to navigate until you reach the bottom at Preston valley. It might be better starting in Preston, and hitting the hills going up to Harmony, and then having an easier ride back. The trail is approximately 24 miles between Harmony and the town of Fountain. The scenery consists of some wooded areas, but mostly open sun, so bring plenty of sun block along. There are a number of rest areas along the way, but the best one is at the Traihead Motel and snack shop in Preston. There you'll find rest room facilities, a place to sit to meet new friends, and enjoy an ice creme cone or sandwich. About 5.6 miles down the trail you'll find, as the locals like to call it, the junction where the Harmony-Preston Trail meets the Root River Trail. Going North from the junction takes you up a 5 mile steep incline to the town of Fountain. You need to be in good physical condition to make it to the top, but the ride back is worth the effort. You'll have many views of the south branch of the Root River along the trail, and a cool corridor where the trail passes among limestone bluffs.
This trail can be physically challenging, and I wouldn't recommend it for the novice.
Dennis Adam
Sheboygan, WI
By dreamshark in October, 2008
A beautiful trail, ranging from easy rolling hills to (reportedly) very challenging climbs at the ends where it climbs out of the river valley. We stayed overnight in Lanesboro and rode the trails near the town, which are rolling and scenic but not difficult. We were there in June, 2008.
Shade: at least 50% of the trail in this area is shaded - always a plus on a warm day. Scenery: unremarkable 2nd-growth Minnesota woodland, but the trail parallels, crosses and re-crosses the Root River, which raises the scenery rating to well above average. Trailheads are handsome, easy to find and have plenty of parking. Towns: Lanesboro is delightful – cute as a button, always bustling even on a Sunday evening. There are lots of places to eat and even entertainment. Preston is less welcoming, but does have a 24-hour grocery store and a sandwich shop (which must be open some time, but not when we were there). Smaller towns are typically right on the trail and offer at least a shady little park to rest in. Lodging: B&Bs galore, with reservations easy to make through an outstandingly good town website. They do tend to fill up early on the weekends, however.
By Tom Baughman in October, 2003
"My wife Theresa and I pulled our 4-year-old daughter Jennifer in the bike cart with our 8-year-old son Nathaniel riding his own bike. We started at Lanesboro on the Root River Trail and took the Harmony-Preston Valley trail to Harmony. It's a climb of about 500 feet, with much of the climb after Preston. The initial few miles of the Harmony-Preston Valley Trail are the best, between cliffs and the river, with lots of trees. Then the trail runs though farmland and woods.
Preston has a tank in a park that the kids loved, but no restrooms (big mistake). Preston basically doesn't seem to care if it profits from cyclists. Preston has a side trail about a mile long, with one side pretty along the river and cliffs, but the other side residential.
Between Preston and Harmony, the trail climbs about 400 feet in four steep climbs, with almost enough distance between each to get a break. Nathaniel considered the climbs easy, but he's not your typical 8-year-old, offering no complaints about a 48-mile ride with a 500-foot climb and making us look silly on the climb. Lance Armstrong watch out?!?!
Once you're up, you're in rolling terrain until Harmony. Harmony has at least three ice cream shops, which made the climb worthwhile. The trail has a lot of sun, including the steep climbs, so either leave early or do it on a day that isn't hot. For sunny, warm days, the nearby, interconnected, mostly more scenic, and much better shaded Root River Trail is a better choice.
The trip back down from Harmony to Lanesboro was fast and fun, but you definitely need to brake on the dives to keep at a safe speed. Be careful and don't run over any kids.
-Tom Baughman; Algonquin, IL"