Explore the best rated trails in Gaylord, MN, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Lake Independence Regional Trail and Stone Road Trail . With more than 34 trails covering 332 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.
This has been on my to-do list for a while. Finally did it out-back from Hopkins and it didn’t disappoint. Great views and interesting scenery. The signage could be better around highway 62 and in Chaska, but it’s pretty good elsewhere. Looking forward to riding it again next year!
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 really nice trail to ride, nice scenery when you ride. However, once you get past Cedar Mills heading West towards Cosmos. That's when it changes grass is thick and makes hard to ride.
This is not a destination trail, but does loop between the two parks and go under highway 62. It’s mostly gravel north of 62 and paved south of it and the part in Lone Lake park is very hilly. It also goes past the Lone Lake mountain bike loops if you’re looking for more adventure.
I attempted this trail for the first time last week. I agree with one of the reviews where the beginning point in Belle Plaine is tough to find. The parking lot is may be enough for three or four cars gets washed out dirt all rutted. After unloading my bike, I went to what appeared to be the entrance completely overgrown with weeds. My E bike gives me 40 miles to a battery. I tried going through just a mile and coming back, a total of 2 miles, it used up 25% of my battery due to so much mud. It would be perfect for a gas dirtbike. Not worth a trip.
So far we have only ridden the west from approximately HWY 100 to Hopkins. It has beautiful scenery with woods and marshland. The boardwalks are fun especially now that we have e-bikes with shock absorbers. For a metro trail you can go quite a ways without having to cross a street.
As the last reviewer said "it's a horrible trail". Lots of bumps, ruts, cracks, etc. The main trailhead in the downtown area is very nice, you do go thru a nice park eventually and it connects to a couple of other trails. Probably better to start at the other trails or parks in the first place. Until this trail gets re-paved, better to avoid it.
My husband and I rode our ebikes from Shakopee to Carver. Majority of the ride was under tree canopy with nice views of the MN river. We are just getting into riding, the trail level was appropriate for us. Enjoy!
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!
Overall this surface is well maintained but can at times have some bumps or areas that need patched/resurfaced. Can go around Baker Park, to Lake Independence, Maple Plain, or Loretto. It provides nice connection to the Luce Line Trail near Orono / Long Lake.
Can connect to St. Michael along Co Rd. 146 north of Hanover (go past River Inn and keep going north until you see it).
Also from Hanover can take trail out to Beebe Lake.
Some planning maps show a future connection planned to Lake Rebecca but not sure when that will happen.
The east end of the trail is in the suburban Twin Cities and provides connection into Twin Cities trail network. As you move west you get into more rural areas around Hutchinson. If going through Winsted will need to use road for a bit. The far western portion of the trial around Cedar Mills switches from a crushed limestone to other aggregate so be prepared if going that far west.
In Orono / Long Lake you can connect to Baker Park and Lake Independence Trail (Maple Plain and Loretto area) then further north on path along Co. Rd. 19 to Old Hanover Bridge by River Inn, and to St. Michael along path beside Co. Rd. 146.
There is also a connector trail to Delano up Co Rd 30 but the surface can be poorly maintained. Once in Delano you can connect into Lake Rebecca Park and Rockford.
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