Explore the best rated trails in Hinckley, MN, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Saunders State Trail and Interlink Trail . With more than 15 trails covering 555 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 was a pretty rough trail when we rode it on our recumbent trikes. It seemed designed for snowmobiles and walkers. I hope it has been graded better. I would not ride it again in the condition it was in. Particularly with so many better trails not far way by Stillwater, MN.
We hopped onto the trail in McGregor and we’re very disappointed with the trail. It’s a mixture of large rocks and sandy soil. Probably better for all terrain vehicles and snow mobiles, not suitable for bikes.
Lots of rocks kicked up from ATV side when bike riding and a lot of cracks and holes in the trail. It was fun but not as fun when ATVs were frequently riding on the paved part. We expected them to keep left but apparently it’s common for them to keep right?
We went on this trail for about 7 miles one way and back. There are a couple of places you can stop to use the restroom. It does require a trail use fee of $5 per bicycle. Walking it is free. The trail is crushed stone and easy to bike on with a gravel bike. Not for a road bike obviously but other bikes should be fine on it.
It’s really sad that this trail is now virtually unrideable on a road bike. I drove 75 minutes to Hinckley with the plan to ride 20 miles north and 20 miles back. I turned around after 10 miles due to the condition of the trail. It’s one of the more beautiful trails in the state, yet so very sad that maintenance has obviously been non-existent for years. I had ridden it three years ago and don’t remember it being so neglected. I hope they get the word around if they ever decide to maintain it, as I would love to use it if I could.
The Gandy Dancer Trail is non-motorized from St. Croix Falls to Danbury. No summer ATV/UTV use is permitted south of Danbury. The trail description says they are allowed north of Siren. That is false.
Agree with last reviewer however this trail, besides there being beautiful scenery, has some interesting features like root cracks and bubbles and in some spray painted areas, big trail wide divets. I could never tell if we were on an incline though. Based on the last review the ride back to the West Duluth trailhead should have been a downward slope but it was oddly not. We rode to the Jay Cooke park cutoff before turning back so we could see the waterfalls and the swinging bridge. The trail to the park was not well marked though so use your TrailLink app to make sure you don’t pass it.
We left from the Willard Munger trail head in West Duluth. We rode just a few miles to the St. Louis River bridge. Very beautiful. The Duluth end of the trail is very scenic. It is also a good place to start and finish your ride. The climb heading west is a few hundred feet in elevation, so your ride back is a piece of cake.
Love this trail because the pavement is smooth riding and there are relatively few road crossings. Far outshines the Gateway because of both of these issues. Not the most scenic.
The 11-mile paved part from Onamia to Isle is rough due to freeze/thaw cracking, every 30 feet is a bone-jarring crack and some big bumps occasionally. Also the paved trail is scattered here and there from gravel from the adjoining ATV gravel trail. Nice and flat through the wooded prairie and bog. 2-mile Section from Waukon to Isle is better pavement. Scared up a huge black bear which surprised me but the bear ran the other way. Best with mountain bike but doable on road bike, bring a spare tube.
It’s neat that our state buys trail right-of-way like this, but this end is rough with lots of ponded water this past Spring weekend. We gave up before we got to the the Million Dollar Bridge.
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!