Explore the best rated trails in Austin, MN, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Batchelder Trail and John Wellner Memorial Trail . With more than 71 trails covering 355 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.
I rode this new trail for the first time today. I have lived here many years and I saw parts of town I haven't seen before. There was some on street riding with not a lot of signage so use the TL map and you won't go wrong. Very enjoyable!
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.
Context: Rode trail end to end both directions on a m road bike w 700 X 23m tires. Past reviews seem accurate wrt beauty of surrounding landscape. Disregard older reviews re poor pavement conditions. The pavement is smooth end to end. An occasional weather crack (closer to Faribault) is typically marked. Would ride again on same bike any day.
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.
We rode this trail today and it was gorgeous! The wildflowers and the fresh air is just what I needed!
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
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 part from Riceville (lake Hendricks park) is very nice, smooth & scenic. Not hard to find your way thru McIntyre, just follow the signs. The last section puts you on a gravel road for about a mile, then more new pavement but you're really subject to the wind (probably why all the wind turbines are nearby). Someday they plan to punch thru to a MN trail.
Going south from Riceville is pretty much boring, flat, open riding with many right angle turns (follows section/property lines?) Once you're back on the trail half ways to Elma it's pretty nice again. Elma has a cute RR depot as trailhead.
Nice ride but start at Riceville and go north to MN border and if you can start in Elma & go north until you get to all the straight-aways (and very windy). The scenery is pleasant either way you go.
If you want a nice pleasant ride that is paved, this is a great ride for any bike type. Travels through country side with minimal traffic. Worth the stop.
My wife and I have been riding trails from Florida to Minnesota over the last 2 months. This trail has been one of the best so far! Its wide, paved, shaded, and generally very smooth. What a gem!
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