Luce Line State Trail:
Minnesota
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Description:
The Luce Line State Trail runs for 63 miles between Cosmos and Plymouth. The trail leads from urban Minnesota, just outside Minneapolis west to the state's rural landscape. The trail travels through suburbs, wooded stretches, across wetlands, near lakes, through tall-grass prairie remnants and into the countryside over varying surfaces.

The trail is limestone between Plymouth and Winsted, with a parallel trail for equestrians. Between Winsted and Hutchinson the trail is gravel and between Hutchinson and Cedar Mills the surface is crushed granite. Between Cedar Mills and Cosmos the trail is mowed grass. Certain areas are not maintained regularly and can be a challenge following severe weather when the surface becomes muddy or otherwise impassable. In winter snowmobiles are allowed on the trail west of Stubb's Bay Road.

Wildlife encountered along the way include deer, foxes, minks, owls, pheasants and many species of duck and geese.

The Luce Line State Trail occupies the former rail bed of the Electric Short Line Railroad, started in 1908. The tracks continued to be expanded into the late 1920s, when the rail became known as the Minnesota Western. Passenger service stopped in 1947, and in 1956 the Minneapolis and Saint Louis Railway took over. The corridor was abandoned by 1970 and the Luce Line Trail was born.

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Parking & Trail Access:
Parking is available at the following locations:

*Plymouth, off of 10th Avenue North and Vicksburg Lane
*Long Lake, off Stubbs Bay Road
*Lyndale, off County Road 92
*Off of Carver County Road 127, south of County Road 20
*In the towns of Watertown, Winsted, Hutchinson and Cosmos
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Reviews: [2 trail ratings]
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Great from the Twin Cities to Winsted
By slawson612 in August, 2011
Good trail lots of nice views of lakes and farms while you are close to the cities. The trail is very flat and easy riding until Winsted. Now, google maps show the trail completed all the way past Hutchinson MN but the trail disappears just past Winsted... literally! You have to follow a dirt road for about a mile and turn left at the first cross road and then you'll find the trail again but in much worse condition. My wife and I ride recumbents so it was a bit of a leap of faith but we followed our motto and "Pressed on" eventually pulling into Hutchinson later that evening. If you stop in Hutchinson treat yourself to Zella's for dinner. In Watertown on the main street there is a little Italian place called DaVinci's that makes their own sausage that is wonderful.
****
By jobtraklite in August, 2010
Google maps bicycle option shows the Luce Line going east to within about a 1/2 mile of the trail along Lake Wirth in Minneapolis. The Hennepin County bike map shows that this gap to be completed by 2009.

The old Luce Line is flat but scenic
By timbee in July, 2010
The Luce Line Trail is one of the few unpaved trails in MN. But the crushed rock makes for a mostly hard surface--better for a hybrid or MT bike than road. The eastern end is paved for a few miles and goes through the suburbs of Plymouth, Wayzata, Long Lake and close to Lake Minnetonka. There are quite a few intersections so be careful. Facilities are few and far between so bring your own water & nourishment. It's easy to do a shared loop with the paved Dakota Rail Trail by taking Ferndale through Wayzata and then cross back "on road" for 4 miles on CR 110 (wide paved shoulder) between Mound & Maple Plain. BTW, it 's possible to ride the Luce east into Minneapolis and connect with other city trails.

The western end has few users; with many scenic stretches in and out of the shade and past numerous horse farms, wetlands and Winsted Lake. If you want to go west of Winsted there are no signs directing you to the trail. I rode out to the airport, even on the runway and found only a sign & a mucky, dirt trail so I aborted but I guess I didn't go far enough to find the elusive trail to Silver Lake? Unless you live close, this trail is a good "once a year" ride.
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