Explore the best rated trails in Mankato, MN. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Cologne Community Trail and Batchelder Trail . With more than 24 trails covering 189 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.
Rode start to finish on our tandem. It is all asphalt, no gravel at all. Great burgers and fries at Longhorns in Lester Prairie. They let us fill our Camelback with ice and water before we left. Highly recommend!
What a great trail. We loved it. Ride it in July 2022. Temps were great and lake and trees make this trail amazing. It’s a must if your in the area. We from Texas and was in town for work and couldn’t miss the opportunity to ride this trail.
Went from Wayzata to Mound — about 16 miles round trip— on rollerblades and had a wonderful time. Very well kept! The wood bridges were rough, but you just have to take it a bit slower and be aware of pieces sticking up.
This trail is NOT closed from Waterville west. It is new pavement that was installed a year or 2 ago. There is a lot of shade but also some long stretches of open space. I usually ride to the huge, new railroad bridge half ways from Madison Lake to Mankato. There are a couple of places to buy a meal or snacks in Madison Lake & Elysian.
Another 5 miles & you're in Mankato. The "trailhead" there needs some work. A better spot to start is a large new park in downtown Mankato overlooking the MN river. From there you can continue west and connect up with 2 more trails--one is the Red Jacket the others are city trails.
I began this ride coming from the south on the Bluff Trail. I got lost near Lake Jonathan, doubled back a few times and just got frustrated. I was so on a road bike and I wasn’t sure if the trail actually was supposed to go on dirt trails. I gave up and took the road (Pioneer Trail) home from Chaska to Eden Prairie.
Most of this trail from Shakopee to Chaska is under water due to flooding. Completely impassible!Otherwise the trail would be really nice.
Today was 60 degrees, the warmest day of 2022 so far. Got out there to run. Lots of other people using the trail. Beautiful overlooks! The path into Eden Prairie from Chaska is largely unpaved. Some snow and ice still covers the ground.
We start from Gale Woods Farm and bike West to trail end at Babcock Avenue in Lester Prairie, where trail becomes ATV trail. Tried biking that unpaved part but it is full of the ballast rock from former railroad which made for bad ride. Trail section in Carver County has some bad pavement sections, but otherwise a smooth and flat trail. Near Lake Waconia a family has created a fantastic trail stop on their hobby farm with playground type equipment for the kids, animals to pet and feed, and benches to relax on. The best part is they have a refrigerator and freezer where you can buy a cold bottled water, popsicles, or Schwans ice cream bars for 50 cents to $1.00. We always stop to buy ice cream, pet the goats, cats, and miniature horses. Bring some nickles and you can buy corn to feed the animals. Stop in one of the towns along the trail to eat - we have a favorite in New Germany that has an outdoor patio and great pizza.
The trail requires crossing an active rail way track. No legal crossing. Not sure this is safe
This trail wonders through tree tunnels, bridges over train tracks, grassy fields full of wildflowers and spotted several groups of deer. Many places along the route however have bad cracks and yes I worried about my spokes as did the 2014 reviewer. Was surprised to see the 2017 review said it was newly paved. Beautiful ride just watch the road.
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