Explore the best rated trails in Monticello, MN. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Soo Line Trail - Southern Route and Great Northern Trail. With more than 83 trails covering 886 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.
The Hardwood Creek Regional Trail is actually two parallel trails running along US 61 in rural Washington County. The paved trail is open for biking, walking, running, and in-line skating, while the...
The Cherokee Trail connects two regional parks while providing some of the best views around of the Mighty Mississippi and downtown St. Paul. The wide asphalt trail begins on Plato Boulevard within...
Nokomis-Minnesota River Regional Trail contributes 7 miles to the Twin Cities’ extensive network of regional trails. The paved path is 10-foot wide, providing room for a variety of trail users...
The Mark Sather Trail is part of a 10-mile bike and pedestrian route around White Bear Lake that is known as Lake Links Trail that includes on- and off-street segments. The trail is an example of the...
The Rice Creek West Regional Trail travels the final five miles of the creek’s 46-mile journey to the Mississippi River. The trail connects the residents living along its length to creek’s rich...
Minnesota’s Rocori Trail, named for the three small towns through which it will eventually run (Rockville, Cold Spring, and Richmond), currently has two disconnected segments open for use. The...
The developing Swedish Immigrant Trail will one day span 22 miles from Taylors Falls on the banks of the St. Croix River to the central Minnesota town of Wyoming. The paved trail will run east-west...
The Kenilworth Trail runs through dense forest along the eastern side of Minnesota's Cedar Lake. Occasionally, trail users can catch glimpses of some of the stately residences in the ritzy Minneapolis...
When complete, the Great Northern Greenway will provide a seamless non-motorized connection between north and northeast Minneapolis across the Mississippi River The trail passes through thriving,...
Minnetonka, a suburb of Minneapolis, boasts over 90 miles of bike-ped trails and counting. The trails range from regional trails such as the Lake Minnetonka LRT Regional Trail to smaller local...
This north-south path runs alongside McKnight Road on the border of St. Paul and Maplewood. Starting on Larpenteur Avenue, this blacktop path travels past residential neighborhoods and shopping...
Closure Notice: Beginning Oct.28, 2020 through Fall 2021, segments of this trail north and south of Upper Afton Road will be closed to allow for a regional sewer rehabilitation project. The Point...
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The Gateway State Trail is an 18.3-mile-long segment of the Willard Munger State Trail that offers an urban link to the countryside. The western end of this paved trail begins on the north end of...
The Indian Mounds Trail runs through the regional park located atop the Mississippi's eastern bluffs, with a fabulous view of Downtown St. Paul & the Mississippi River. This is one of the few places...
Beaver Island Trail follows the route of an inactive railway that was originally part of a charter railroad of the Minneapolis and Northwestern Railway Company. Built in 1882, the railroad line...
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This Mississippi River Regional Trail running through eastern Dakota County is a segment of a larger regional trail system that is itself part of the National Park Service’s Mississippi National River...
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The Mississippi River Regional Trail in Anoka County stretches over 19 miles along the the east side of the river. The trail crosses the county from north to south, running through the communities of...
The Sunrise Prairie Trail runs north-south atop an unused right-of-way along a Burlington Northern Railroad corridor, traversing residential neighborhoods in the towns and mostly farmland in its...
Minnehaha Trail connects two popular parks in the Twin Cities as it follows Minnehaha Creek through a corridor that is a mix of woodland and open areas. It is sometimes referred to as Minnehaha Creek...
Highway 96 Regional Trail parallels the roadway of the same name. The trail crosses Ramsey county, traveling west from White Bear Lake to New Brighton. The scenery alternates between residential and...
The Rum River Regional Trail in Anoka, the trail stretches near three miles, including two-short on-road segments. The trail begins in the Akin Riverside Park, at the intersection with the Mississippi...
The Bassett Creek Regional Trail is envisioned as an important connector between French Regional Park and Theodore Wirth Regional Park through the cities of Plymouth, New Hope, Crystal and Golden...
Minnesota’s Rocori Trail, named for the three small towns through which it will eventually run (Rockville, Cold Spring, and Richmond), currently has two disconnected segments open for use. The...
The Big Rivers Regional Trail runs along the upper portion of what was originally a two-tiered section of railroad track built for one of the state’s oldest lines, the Minnesota Central Railroad. At...
Although only 1 mile long, the Dinkytown Greenway provides an important link in a biking network connecting Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The trail begins near TCF Bank Stadium and runs through the...
The Courthouse Loop Trail is one of several trails located in the Carver County city of Chaska. As the name suggests, the trail forms a loop around Courthouse Lake, which sits directly behind the...
Minnetonka boasts over 90 miles of multi-purpose trails and counting. Located just 8 miles of Minneapolis, this city has a growing network of bike and pedestrian infrastructure knitting it together....
Highway 96 Regional Trail parallels the roadway of the same name. The trail crosses Ramsey county, traveling west from White Bear Lake to New Brighton. The scenery alternates between residential and...
Nokomis-Minnesota River Regional Trail contributes 7 miles to the Twin Cities’ extensive network of regional trails. The paved path is 10-foot wide, providing room for a variety of trail users...
Located in the Minneapolis suburb of Eden Prairie, Bryant Lake Regional Park offers 2.2 miles of immaculate paved trail cutting a swathe through grassy fields, shady woodlands and wetlands. The trail...
Harriet Island Regional Park offers a beautiful recreational space along the Mississippi River in St. Paul, just across the river from downtown. A paved trail runs the length of the park spanning just...
Located in Hennepin County, the West Mississippi River Regional Trail is a growing trail project that will one day stretch 20 miles through Dayton, Champlin, Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center. There...
Beginning at the southern tip of the Crow-Hassan Park Reserve in Hanover, the Lake Independence Regional Trail spends most of its 15.9-mile span paralleling County Road 19, cutting a straight path...
When complete, the Great Northern Greenway will provide a seamless non-motorized connection between north and northeast Minneapolis across the Mississippi River The trail passes through thriving,...
The Great Northern Trail offers a paved north-south route across the city of Elk River on the fringe of the northwestern outskirts of Minneapolis. For nearly 5 miles, the rail-trail winds through the...
The 22-mile original section of the paved Glacial Lakes State Trail follows the former right-of-way of the Burlington Northern Railroad between Willmar and about 1 mile west of Paynesville at...
The St. Paul Grand Round is a 26-mile route encircling Minnesota's capital. The loop was designed by Horace Cleveland, the landscape architect who also designed the Grand Rounds in neighboring...
Unlike its name would suggest, Nine Mile Creek is actually 15 miles from its headwaters at Minnetog Lake to the Minnesota River. This regional trail was constructed to meander alongside the creek as...
A quintessential part of St. Paul's extensive trails system, the Samuel H. Morgan Regional Trail offers a variety of sights and sounds along its nine-mile path, from gorgeous views of the Mississippi...
The Sunrise Prairie Trail runs north-south atop an unused right-of-way along a Burlington Northern Railroad corridor, traversing residential neighborhoods in the towns and mostly farmland in its...
The Rice Creek North Regional Trail serves multiple purposes: it’s a connector, running through the two counties (Anoka and Ramsey) and five cities: Lino Lakes, Circle Pines, Blaine, Shoreview and...
The Luce Line Trail occupies the former railbed of the Electric Short Line Railroad, started in 1908. The tracks continued to be expanded into the late 1920s, when the rail line became known as the...
The trail is named in honor of Bruce Frank Vento, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1977 until his death in 2000, representing Minnesota’s fourth congressional district. Vento is...
The Great Northern Trail offers a paved north-south route across the city of Elk River on the fringe of the northwestern outskirts of Minneapolis. For nearly 5 miles, the rail-trail winds through the...
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The Brown’s Creek State Trail, which opened in October 2014, is a 5.9-mile addition to Minnesota’s extensive Willard Munger State Trail system. The rail-trail stretches from the St. Croix riverfront...
The Soo Line Recreational Trail is a continuation of the Soo Line Trail (southern route) just north of Royalton, Minnesota. This 10-mile segment, however, does not permit motorized uses, unlike its...
This paved trail links Minneapolis’s Warehouse District to both the Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail and the Cedar Lake LRT Regional Trail in Hopkins. It also intersects the Kenilworth Trail...
Minnesota’s Hiawatha LRT Trail runs along a north-south route paralleling both Hiawatha Avenue and the Metro Transit Blue Line in Minneapolis. The trail connects downtown Minneapolis and the vibrant...
The Sunrise Prairie Trail runs north-south atop an unused right-of-way along a Burlington Northern Railroad corridor, traversing residential neighborhoods in the towns and mostly farmland in its...
Crystal Lake Regional Trail connects two cities—Robbinsdale and Crystal—in the northwestern suburbs of Minneapolis. It also links to the Twin Lakes Regional Trail and the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway,...
A recent addition to the region's impressive network of bike trails, the Robert Piram Regional Trail runs from Harriet Island Regional Park to the Kaposia Landing Fields in South St. Paul. The highly...
The Soo Line Trail Southern Route is more popularly known as the Soo Line South ATV Trail. The converted rail-trail runs for 105.6 miles in Minnesota between Royalton and the Minnesota–Wisconsin state...
Nestled alongside Coon Creek, this two-lane asphalt trail runs between Northdale Boulevard and Coon Rapids Boulevard. The trail mostly travels within the wooded confines of two city parks: Erlander...
Located in a residential subdivision of Sauk Rapids, the Prairie Lane Trail wraps around a set of pleasantly landscaped retention ponds. The trail is hard-surface and accessorized with lighting and...
The Chaska Ravine Trail is a hidden gem for cyclists and pedestrians looking to travel off the beaten path within the suburban community, offering a quiet, natural pathway right in the midst of...
Located in the Minneapolis suburb of Eden Prairie, Bryant Lake Regional Park offers 2.2 miles of immaculate paved trail cutting a swathe through grassy fields, shady woodlands and wetlands. The trail...
As of spring 2016, bridge access to the Minnesota Valley State Trail was still closed at Memorial Park in Shako-pee until further notice. Check the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website...
The Mark Sather Trail is part of a 10-mile bike and pedestrian route around White Bear Lake that is known as Lake Links Trail that includes on- and off-street segments. The trail is an example of the...
This Mississippi River Regional Trail running through eastern Dakota County is a segment of a larger regional trail system that is itself part of the National Park Service’s Mississippi National River...
Minnetonka, a suburb of Minneapolis, boasts over 90 miles of bike-ped trails and counting. The trails range from regional trails such as the Lake Minnetonka LRT Regional Trail to smaller local...
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.
Would be great for biking or running, scary at many pets for rollerblading
The trail path is in excellent condition, no bumps or potholes. The terrain is level, the path is straight. A nice trail to just ride and enjoy being outside and riding.
I chose to ride Elm Creek expecting a great ride. It was so beautiful. I TrueType enjoyed the nicely maintained paved paths thru woodlands, meadows, lakes, and low land areas. Would I go again? In a heart beat. Tom
The whole family enjoyed this historic and scenic walk.
My young son and I biked this trail and it was a great ride.
It starts at the old Zephr train site and veers through the hills north of Stillwater.
The trail's incline is super deceptive. We biked about 5-6 miles out and thought we were going pretty slow, but we were slowly going up the hills in the area. On the way back it took us about half the time as we flew down the hills. We barely had to pedal most of it until we got back to the old train site.
During your ride/walk/run, there's plenty of spots to stop to take in the scenery as there's lots of creeks and foliage. The trail felt busy for a Sunday morning, but people are respective. This trail is definitely worth your time.
We rode from Bryn Mawr to M Falls and back. 28 miles. Stopped at Bread and Pickles for late lunch. It’s a really nice trail but the constant roots were so annoying. Ugh!
The trail requires crossing an active rail way track. No legal crossing. Not sure this is safe
The 51m is a bit misleading.
I started at the Franklin Bridge east bank road north on the East River Rd through the University Of Minnesota on a Family Friendly Trail (FFT). When go under the Washington Ave Bridge the trail is blocked and actually disappears so you riding Road Without Lane (RWOL) but stay on the East River Rd and you will see a sign for the Dinkytown Greenway (DTG), left down the hill then right onto DTG which is FFT. Ride the DTG and take the 1st right turn up to 5th St SE and right again where you ride on Sidewalk back to 15th Ave. SE where you turn right. 15th Ave SE is Road With Barrier (RWB) even though the barrier are vertical rubber tubes it is better then nothing. The barrier goes away at Rollins and the remainder of 15th Ave. SE is Road With Lane (RWL) and ends at Como Ave. Turn right onto Como two blocks on a RWL turning Left onto 18th Ave. SE here is becomes RWB. This street becomes Stinson Blvd at Hennepin Ave becoming a FFT and continues this way unto New Brighton Blvd. From here and until you reach St. Anthony Parkway you can choose to ride narrow pedestrian sidewalks or RWOL. The trail should run down the center median since that median is too narrow for any other use. Essentially this is what can be used as the missing link trail to complete the Grand Rounds.
Once on St. Anthony Pkwy you return to a FFT. When the trail reaches Central Ave which is a dangerous intersection, made worst because bikers must switch from the northside of the Pkwy to the southside. Otherwise the FFT runs until it reaches 42nd St Bridge where there is construction of the trail to go under the bridge which likely will be done by end of summer but for now you must cross the street.
The 42nd St Bridge however is very narrow, side by side will be difficult and opposing bike and any pedestrian traffic makes it harder. Once on the westside but still on the bridge there is a ramp into the park below. This route may be chosen instead of trying to cross traffic on Lyndale. At the bottom of the ramp turn left make an "S" to next trail turn right then straight over the creek bridge with an immediate left turn stay left under I94 and Lyndale pass the falls and then there is a 20ft dirt trail getting back on the main bike way, FFT this is the Webber Pkwy segment. Another switch from the northside of the pkwy to the southside occurs at Fremont & 45th and ends at Humboldt at the Webber Library.
At Humboldt The Victory Memorial Parkway begins and stays a FFT. Following this route I am mentioning at the main monument celebrating the Veterans Of WW1 is the 10 mile mark, This entire segment is very straight and flat.
The trail connects with the Theodore Wirth Pkwy. At this point next to North Memorial Hospital there is correctly bridge construction going on.
If you are riding the trail in the direction I am noting, when you reach N 29th Ave, keep right go downhill this is the correct way. If you take what appears to be the obvious route along the Parkway you find out your wrong, Beware! Otherwise the FFT is obviously has no trouble just stay on trail. the Wirth Pkwy is Rolling and twisting segment one of the best around. When you reach the bridge over I394 you covered 15m.
When you reach the Cedar Lake Rd and Cedar Parkway split you much cross the street at the light which a very tight, narrow and heavily traveled intersection. You follow the parkway along Cedar Lake FFT is mostly flat section of the trail which takes you to Dean Parkway an FFT to Lake Calhoun. The crossing at Lake St can be dangerous, Take care when crossing.
The Lake Calhoun Trail is one way clockwise so once you cross you must turn left. This area is also rather flat until you reach William Berry Trail is short and rolling then you connect with the Lake Harriett Trail which is also one way clockwise so again you go left. This segment is also rather flat. When you reach the Minnehaha Parkway you have trailed 20.5 miles.
Once on the Minnehaha Trail you are briefly on a RWL on W. Minnehaha Parkway back into a FFT and stays that way throughout the Minnehaha segment which may be the most fund section curvy with hills passing can be difficult in this stretch, Beware at the Cedar Ave crossing! The Bike trail leaves the Parkway and follows the creek instead again this is a fun curvy stretch. If you stay on the Pkwy it is RWOL or narrow pedestrian sidewalks. The Creek trail returns to the Pkwy just before it reaches Minnehaha Park. There the FFT follows Godfrey Parkway and then continues on as the East Mississippi Rd Trail. When you reach the Midtown Green trail and RR Bridge you are 30m continue on and cross the river on Franklin Bridge and you gone 31miles.
Great paved trail with mile markers to either go for a quick mile or two or a full rollerblade workout! Dog friendly and a beautiful scenery!
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