Explore the best rated trails in Winona, MN. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Elroy-Sparta State Trail and John Wellner Memorial Trail. With more than 57 trails covering 333 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 is a flat ride. You need to pay $5 a day or $25 a year. You need to purchase it at a business in town. We purchased it at a golf course 1 mile from where we started.
This trail was great, beautiful farm country to ride through. As well as challenging tunnels. It was an uphill climb from Sparta to tunnel 3, but the return was well worth the effort. Will be back again!
My husband & I took a really great scenic roundtrip ride between Peterson & Whalen, MN. We saw lovely sections of the Root River, cliffs, & autumn colored trees. What was an extra treat, was a wonderful homemade pie shop (also serves's lunch) right on the bike path as we entered Whalen! We have e-bikes, but we only used the pedal assist on the longer inclines; they weren't very steep in this segment. The path was in good condition; the fallen walnuts posed the only hazards. We traveled to get to the trail & stayed in Houston, MN at the trailhead & visited the International Owl museum. Next time we get there, we'll take in an additional segment of this trail.
Enjoyed this trail on an autumn Sunday morning. Crossed over 17 (?) bridges! Excellent natural surroundings- would definitely do this again.
Great trail but needs repair, mowing needs to be done more to keep weeds off trail , northern end better maintained Rochester to rail bridge need work
I have to confess I didn't do much research ahead of time for trail conditions and usage. So I was a bit surprised when I discovered it was a atv/utv trail. I started in Fairchild and everything looked promising. A nice firm trail surface, little to no traffic, beautiful landscape...until I hit the quick sand. Well, that's what it felt like on my gravel bike. Maybe 5 miles into my ride the trail went from nice hard packed to loose sand where I could not pedal. I bailed onto the adjacent paved road and considered quitting for the day. However the road I jumped onto paralleled the trail so I decided to explore a little. This worked out very well as I continued West on the paved country road until I hit a trail crossing where I was happy to discover the trail was back to a firm surface. I stayed on the trail all the way to Strum (20 miles?) where I turned back and started making stops at the local food and drink establishments I had passed along the way.
Overall the trail was mostly firm and great for my gravel bike. A couple sections in the open heat were dry and loose but rideable. I noticed many a paved country road that paralleled the trail so there were options out. The motorized users I encountered were all very polite and slowed down when passing.
Some of my Favorite stops included: Northwoods Brewpub in Osseo, the Tin Tiki at Trails End near Price and Blooms Country Inn in Price.
3 Stars for excellent conditions at times. A unique adventure on a well maintained surface. One local told me they grade and care fore trail system quite regularly so you don't see giant mud holes or bumpy washboard sections. And I can verify that.
Do it! Scenic and beautiful with small towns in between for quick and easy breaks. And, of course I have to mention that the tunnels are amazing!!
Only 4 stars due to the surface not being what we expected due to the app saying it is asphalt.
We started from our hotel on Mondovi Road and Short Road heading south. At this point we were 3 miles in from the trails start. At our 8 mile mark (11 miles from the start of the trail) the surface changed from clean asphalt to what is more like a "rail trail", with crushed black stone, only it was over the asphalt. There were low weeds in the center of the trail, with points where there was only a small path to ride along each edge of the trail. It is mostly wooded and relatively low grade. We went as far as the trailhead on 730th street. 31.88 miles round trip.
The next day we started at the 730th street trailhead where there is an outhouse and a picnic table. We went as far as Durand where the trail ended at a trailhead. The last 6.5 miles (as per signage) is maintained by a different county and was in excellent condition with smooth asphalt. 23.31 round trip.
The total one way of this trip is closer to 30.5 miles. Approximately 17 miles is fairly good asphalt, and 13 miles with crushed black stone, more consistent with a rail trail.
This trail was soooo cool. Long but worth it with those tunnels!
We rode from Whalan to Peterson and then we turned around and rode to Lanesboro and finally back to Whalan - a total of 27 miles. We rented bikes at the Cedar Valley Resort, which were reasonably priced and great quality. The trail was beautiful - very rural with good views of the river, prairie, and bluffs. The surface was smooth, shaded, and clear of debris. Most of it was flat with a few hills. We saw songbirds, turkeys, and goats. The towns provide a nice break with a chance to stop, walk around, and get something to eat.
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