Explore the best rated trails in North Mankato, MN, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail and Cologne Community Trail . With more than 25 trails covering 197 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.
It's a nice, well-maintained trail that goes around the lake.
This could be a really nice trail. I was trying to connect from the Minnesota Valley Trail to the Lake Minnetonka Trail and thought this would be a nicer ride than taking Jonathan Carver Parkway. Unfortunately, signage is non-existent along this trail and it splits at multiple places so staying on the trail requires a lot of stopping and checking your map. On the positive side, it has a lot of potential and the gravel sections were fun.
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.
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.
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!
Nice surface and well maintained trail. Stop by the Minnetonka drive in while in Mound.
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!
I wouldn't recommend this trail to anyone. It is probably the worst trail I have ridden. In terrible shape with lots of cracks and bumps, riding along the river is harrowing at best very steep hills with cracks and leans towards the rock covered embankment new to the river. Stay away from this trail.
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