NOTE: The trail suffered severe damage from flooding in 2011 and some sections are closed. Check with the
MN Dept. of Natural Resources for updates.
The Minnesota Valley Trail is used by cyclists, equestrians, hikers, snowmobilers and cross-country skiers. The trail passes through the Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area on its southern end, as well as other natural areas along its route. The trail parallels the Minnesota River, which means it's subject to flooding in high-water years. Along the way, you'll encounter hardwood forests, floodplain forests and wetlands.
Between Belle Plaine and Chaska the trail has a natural surface and can be rough in places. Between Chaska and Shakopee the trail is paved. There are plans to extend the trail to cover a total of 80 miles between Fort Snelling and Belle Plaine.
Parking is available in Shakopee at the NW intersection of County Highways 101 and 69 and at Huber Park in downtown Shakopee. Access is also found a ways NE off Chestnut Blvd/Route 41 and east of County 11/9 just south of the river.
Since no one has added a review for over a year I thought I'd confirm that the trail is open--no flooding issues in Sept. 2012. :) You can tell that in the spring this trail does flood easily since the river is right there and the trail was built on the ...
As of early July '11, much of the paved trail from Chaska to Shakopee & eastward to Bloomington is impassable due to flooding caused by heavy spring snow melt and persistent rain. There are portions on the Chaska dikes that are still good but anything ...