Albert Lea, MN Hiking Trails and Maps

111 Reviews

Looking for the best Hiking trails around Albert Lea?

Find the top rated hiking trails in Albert Lea, whether you're looking for an easy short hiking trail or a long hiking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a hiking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

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Activities
Length
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Type
36 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Clear Lake Bike Trail System

5 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Loon Lake Trail System

2.2 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

South Route Trail

8.3 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Straight River Trail

8 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Wapsi-Great Western Line Trail

27 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Zumbro South Trail

6.5 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Blazing Star State Trail

6 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Harry Cook Nature Trail

2 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

Mill Towns State Trail

6 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Red Jacket Trail

6.3 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail

39 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Shooting Star State Trail

24.3 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Cedar River Greenbelt Trail

4 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

Hanson Trail

3 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

North Minnesota River Trail

4.8 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Prairie Land Trail

10 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone

40th Street Bike Path

1.5 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

48th Street Bike Path

2.1 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Batchelder Trail

1.3 mi
State: MN
Asphalt
Accordion

Cascade Creek Trail

3.6 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Hart Farms Trail

0.7 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

High Line Trail (IA)

2.7 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Hynes Spur Trail

1.8 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Mayowood Bike Path

0.7 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Minneopa Trail

2.7 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

NIACC Trail

2.2 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Northern Link Trail

1.42 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Park Avenue NW Trail

1.5 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

River Bend Trail

1 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Salem Road Bike Path

1.5 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Southern Woods Trail

0.75 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Todd Park Bike Trail

2.4 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

West Circle Drive Bike Path

4.1 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Wildwood Trail (Austin)

1.2 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Winnebago Trail

3.7 mi
State: IA
Crushed Stone
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
Circling around the 652-acre lake on the eastern edge of Waseca, the Clear Lake Bike Trail System provides a fun recreational experience and a unique way to explore this pristine body of water. A very...
MN 5 mi Asphalt
Largely constructed on a former rail corridor running north/south out of the city of Waseca, the Loon Lake Trail is a short but sweet trail that provides residents with off-road access to important...
MN 2.2 mi Asphalt
The South Route Trail begins west of Mankato in Minneopa State Park, known for its beautiful waterfalls and views of the Minnesota River Valley. Heading southeast from the park, following County Road...
MN 8.3 mi Asphalt
The Straight River Trail forms a backwards L as it runs north-south through Faribault and then curves west. The paved trail begins at the Cannon River Reservoir, then travels through woodlands in Two...
MN 8 mi Asphalt
The Wapsi–Great Western Line Trail is a 27-mile pathway on the former Chicago Great Western Railroad. The trail passes through a plethora of backdrops, including wide, rolling landscapes, Iowa...
IA 27 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
Offering nearly 10 miles of paved pathway through Rochester, the Zumbro South Trail serves as both an important transportation route and recreational destination. As the western end of the trail...
MN 6.5 mi Asphalt
The Blazing Star State Trail is located in Albert Lea, near Minnesota’s southern border. The town is known as “The Land Between the Lakes,” and the trail begins on the northern shore of one of the...
MN 6 mi Asphalt
The Harry Cook Nature Trail runs for 2 miles from the edge of the small city of Osage, Iowa to the city's public Spring Park. The trail, which opened in the early 1990s, occupies the bed of an...
IA 2 mi Crushed Stone
At one time, flour and grist mills dotted the Cannon River Valley. These mills formed the backbone industry for a number of towns. The Mill Towns State Trail seeks to honor this legacy with a planned...
MN 6 mi Asphalt
Named after a Seneca Indian chief who lived in the area until the 1830s, the Red Jacket Trail runs along an old Milwaukee Road (formerly the Minnesota Railroad and the Central Railroad) right-of-way...
MN 6.3 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
This trail is so nice they named it twice: Sakatah is the Dakota word for “singing hills.” The Dakota people of the Great Sioux Nation originally lived in this scenic part of Minnesota, where the Big...
MN 39 mi Asphalt
Shooting Star State Trail, which is over 24 miles long, is an 8-foot-wide asphalt path from Nicolville (east) to Le Roy (west). It follows an unused railroad bed on Milwaukee Road, which once...
MN 24.3 mi Asphalt
The Cedar River Greenbelt Trail snakes along the west side of the river between Osage and Mitchell. The limestone trail is suitable for walking, jogging, biking and horseback riding. The trail is open...
IA 4 mi Crushed Stone
The best place to begin the Trolley Trail is in Mason City in Ray Rorick Skate Park, located adjacent to the 81-acre Lester Milligan Park, which has two fishing and swimming ponds, hiking and biking...
IA 7.5 mi Asphalt
The Hanson Trail is a paved, off-road alternative to State Route 9 in Forest City, Iowa. The trail parallels the road for its entire length through fertile farmland. Forest City and the Winnebago...
IA 3 mi Asphalt
The paved North Minnesota River Trail hugs its namesake river for much of its journey on the western end of Mankato. Along the way, it offers views of the river, limestone cliffs and the city. From...
MN 4.8 mi Asphalt
The Prairie Land Trail is envisioned to someday stretch 21 miles across Cerro Gordo county, from Mersevey to Mason City, connecting with Mason City's own network of trails. At present, 10 miles of...
IA 10 mi Crushed Stone
The 40th Street Bike Path is an asphalt sidepath trail that follows its namesake roadway through a lightly developed stretch of southern Rochester, coasting over rolling hills and the edge of woods to...
MN 1.5 mi Asphalt
Running for over two miles over gentle hills, highway exit ramps, and creeks and fields, the 48th Street Bike Path is an asphalt sidepath trail that provides a route for cyclists and pedestrians in...
MN 2.1 mi Asphalt
The Batchelder Trail is a local walking and biking path in Faribault, Minnesota, a city south of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro. The asphalt trail starts on Park Avenue and winds behind a residential...
MN 1.3 mi Asphalt
Accordion
Linking some of Rochester's most popular parks and recreation sites, the Cascade Creek Trail follows its namesake creek for over three miles, from Manorwoods Lake and Cascade Lake in the west, to the...
MN 3.6 mi Asphalt
A short sidepath trail that runs through a neighborhood in the southern reaches of Rochester, the Hart Farms Trail offers a pleasant asphalt path for local residents. Sharing the roadside with a row...
MN 0.7 mi Asphalt
When finished, the High Line Trail will stretch 8 miles across Mason City, IA and connect to other local trail routes. In 2023, the trail's first 3 miles opened from 12th St. NE to 19th St. SE. The...
IA 2.7 mi Asphalt
The Hynes Spur Trail links the heart of Forest City, Iowa, with its municipal airport to the south. The short paved trail passes through Pammel Park and adjacent to the Bear Creek Golf Course, with...
IA 1.8 mi Asphalt
A neighborhood offshoot of the longer Zumbro South Trail, the Mayowood Bike Path is an asphalt sidepath trail that parallels Mayowood Road in southern Rochester. The trail is relatively flat, running...
MN 0.7 mi Asphalt
The Minneopa Trail is part of Mankato's catalogue of trails including Red Jacket Trail, the South Route Trail, the North Minnesota River Trail and the nearly 40-mile Skatah Singing Hills State...
MN 2.7 mi Asphalt
The NIACC Trail in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, connects the campus of North Iowa Area Community College with the edge of downtown Mason City. The trail provides a convenient and safe alternative to...
IA 2.2 mi Asphalt
The Northern Link Trail provides a pleasant walking and biking experience in Faribault County. The hard surface trail forms a V-shape, starting at the Two Rivers Park parking area in the east and...
MN 1.42 mi Asphalt
Faribault is a city about half an hour south of Minneapolis-St. Paul, and the eastern endpoint of one of Minnesota's 40-mile Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail. In addition to the regional trails, the...
MN 1.5 mi Asphalt
Although short, the River Bend Trail provides access to a recreational gem, the River Bend Nature Center, a 750-acre park with woodlands, prairie, rivers, and ponds. Along the way, the paved trail...
MN 1 mi Asphalt
The Salem Road Bike Path is an asphalt sidepath trail that runs along Salem Road and West Frontage Road in a pretty, suburban section of southern Rochester. The pathway picks up where the West Circle...
MN 1.5 mi Asphalt
The Southern Woods Trail is a short, paved trail that runs through a pretty section of suburban southern Rochester. The trail starts in the north where the 48th Street Bike Path crosses over Willow...
MN 0.75 mi Asphalt
The Todd Park Bike Trail makes use of an old railroad grade to connect recreational destinations in Austin. The paved trail links Todd Park to Mill Pond on the Cedar River. The trail traverses Todd...
MN 2.4 mi Asphalt
A suburban sidepath trail that runs along the western edge of Rochester, Minnesota, the West Circle Drive Bike Path provides an important link in the city's expanding trail network. The path runs...
MN 4.1 mi Asphalt
Located in the low-lying woodlands in along Wolf Creek, this trail picks up across 11th Street from Todd Park and its paved bike trail. The trail winds through the riparian forests on lands once owned...
MN 1.2 mi Asphalt
The Winnebago Trail provides the residents of Mason City with a safe, off-road link to nature, winding 3.7 miles from East Park and through residential areas to the Lime Creek Nature Center as it...
IA 3.7 mi Crushed Stone

Recent Trail Reviews

Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail

Scenic. Gradual elevation change. Smooth.

October, 2023 by l_kunz

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.

Wapsi-Great Western Line Trail

beautiful Iowa Prairie

August, 2023 by knnodtvedt

We rode this trail today and it was gorgeous! The wildflowers and the fresh air is just what I needed!

Wapsi-Great Western Line Trail

Mostly pleasant

July, 2023 by timbee205_tl

The part from Riceville (lake Hendricks park) is very nice, smooth & scenic. Not hard to find your way thru McIntyre, just follow the signs. The last section puts you on a gravel road for about a mile, then more new pavement but you're really subject to the wind (probably why all the wind turbines are nearby). Someday they plan to punch thru to a MN trail.

Going south from Riceville is pretty much boring, flat, open riding with many right angle turns (follows section/property lines?) Once you're back on the trail half ways to Elma it's pretty nice again. Elma has a cute RR depot as trailhead.

Nice ride but start at Riceville and go north to MN border and if you can start in Elma & go north until you get to all the straight-aways (and very windy). The scenery is pleasant either way you go.

Accordion

North Minnesota River Trail

A connection to better trails

July, 2023 by timbee205_tl

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.

Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail

Worth a trip

July, 2023 by klarson5

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!

Prairie Land Trail

descent but nothing special

October, 2022 by pdchawk

The trail starts south of mason city and goes to Thornton (15 miles each way) . It’s crushed limestone with very little shade and no benches to stop and rest. It’s basically a continuous trail through farm fields. It’s the only long distance trail in the mason city area so it’s better than nothing.

Trolley Trail (Clear Lake/Mason City)

don’t travel to ride this “trail”

October, 2022 by pdchawk

Basically this is just a sidewalk next to a busy highway that connects mason city to clear lake. There isn’t much shade or much for scenery.

Cedar River Greenbelt Trail

CAUTION!!!

September, 2022 by andreaevel

If biking mountain bikes required! Extremely rugged trails! Steep, rocky, and wet. Risk takers only! Take your life into your own hands! Hiking might be a safer option!

North Minnesota River Trail

Horrible Trail

August, 2022 by mleabattani

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.

Cedar River Greenbelt Trail

beautiful but rugged

July, 2022 by wollenburg.nellie

The trail is beautiful but something to note this is for a moderate rider. A lot of the trail has rugged terrain with an abundance of rocks. Luckily our youngest was not with for this ride or we would of had to turn around. I highly suggest parking at the restaurant Old County Seat to begin your ride. That way when you circle back you can stop for some food or just grab a drink. PS - I highly recommend their Bloody Mary’s or the 1919 Root Beer!!

Cedar River Greenbelt Trail

hiking

July, 2022 by alachapelle24

This trail has it all. From hiking to horseback riding. Fun trail with some great views alone the river. Has some pretty big rocks to walk through on part so had to be careful with that. Overall great trail!

Harry Cook Nature Trail

hiking/walking

July, 2022 by alachapelle24

This trail is great for small hikes/walks when you’re in a time crunch or just wanting to get out of the house for a couple hours! Follows the cedar river for a while and not far from town either.

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