Mankato, MN Running Trails and Maps

170 Reviews

Looking for the best Running trails around Mankato?

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

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Activities
Length
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Type
27 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Clear Lake Bike Trail System

5 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Cologne Community Trail

3.2 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Courthouse Loop Trail

1 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Dakota Rail Regional Trail

28.8 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Loon Lake Trail System

2.2 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Sleepy Eye Lake Bike Trail

3.12 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

South Route Trail

8.3 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Straight River Trail

8 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Waconia Shared Use Path

1.8 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Blazing Star State Trail

6 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Chaska Ravine Trail

5.1 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Dirt

Mill Towns State Trail

7.25 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail

19.91 mi
State: MN
Crushed Stone

Minnesota Valley State Trail

34.1 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Red Jacket Trail

6.3 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail

39.3 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

North Minnesota River Trail

4.8 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Batchelder Trail

1.3 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Chaska Creek Trail

0.9 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

East Cannon River Trail

2.6 mi
State: MN
Asphalt
Accordion

Lake Marion/South Creek Greenway

7.54 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Concrete

Minneopa Trail

2.7 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

New Ulm Bike Circle

6.9 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Northern Link Trail

1.42 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Park Avenue NW Trail

1.5 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

River Bend Trail (MN)

1 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Young America Rail Trail

1 mi
State: MN
Dirt, Grass
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
The Cologne Community Trail meanders from the south to the north of the city of Cologne linking residents to important civic and recreational destinations in their community. The asphalt recreational...
MN 3.2 mi Asphalt
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...
MN 1 mi Asphalt
Overview The nearly 29-mile Dakota Rail Regional Trail leaves off from its eastern end at the lakefront in downtown Wayzata, an idyllic suburb of Minneapolis. The paved rail trail carries trail...
MN 28.8 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
Run, roll or ride the Sleepy Eye Lake Trail, to get a 360-degree experience of the whole lake. The asphalt trail has two main trailheads: Allison's Park on the south side of the lake and Sportsmen's...
MN 3.12 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 Waconia Shared Use Path allows residents to get to their neighborhoods parks safely on foot or by bike. The asphalt trail goes from Waterford Park in the west, a small park with passive green...
MN 1.8 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 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...
MN 5.1 mi Asphalt, Dirt
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 7.25 mi Asphalt
Overview The Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail runs southwest from the Minneapolis suburb of Hopkins to Carver Bluffs Parkway and Carver Creek Circle. The trail is over 19 miles in length...
MN 19.91 mi Crushed Stone
Notice: Check Minnesota DNR for current conditions and potential closure information. Overview The Minnesota Valley State Trail is used by cyclists, equestrians, hikers, snowmobilers, and...
MN 34.1 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
Overview The popular Red Jacket Trail, which runs south from Mankato, utilizes three converted railroad trestles, including the stunning Red Jacket Trestle, which is more than 80 feet high and 550...
MN 6.3 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
Overview 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,...
MN 39.3 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 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
The City of Chaska has a number of multi-use paths and trails. Following Chaska Creek, this 2-mile paved path curves around the west side of the city's downtown to meet the Minnesota River. Heading...
MN 0.9 mi Asphalt
Overview The East Cannon River Trail runs for 2.6 miles through Northfield, MN. The entire route is paved and largely follows the East Cannon River. About the Route The East Cannon River...
MN 2.6 mi Asphalt
Accordion
Overview The Lake Marion/South Creek Greenway is a planned 20-mile regional trail network that right now stretches 7.6 miles across two distinct segments in Burnsville and Lakeville MN. The trail...
MN 7.54 mi Asphalt, Concrete
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
While the idea is to have a bike-ped loop around the city of New Ulm, on the ground there are two discrete off-street segments of trail. The first is 4.9 miles long, from 20th Street to Broadway,...
MN 6.9 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 Young America Rail Trail runs for a mile through the City of Norwood Young America. The route partially follows a former railroad corridor. The trail surface is primarily dirt and...
MN 1 mi Dirt, Grass

Recent Trail Reviews

Minnesota Valley State Trail

Ran the trail

November, 2024 by bob_hoad

Although having lived in the area for years, I've never used any part of this trail. I ran it from Belle Plaine to Memorial Park in Shakopee in November. I should note that this fall season has had little rain and has been on the warm side. Around 50 degrees when I ran it. So trail conditions can vary wildly.
There were a few spots with standing water near the Belle Plaine side, all easily avoidable. There is also a length of sand, probably pushing a mile overall, around the Jordan area. This section was tough to run due to the horses making ruts in the sand. I would guess a bike would need to be pushed through some of this. Other than the sand, this trail was great and totally runnable. The brush and grass had been cut and no trees or branches on the trail.
Something I wasn't aware of, from Chaska to Shakopee, the trail is paved.

Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail

Please put this trail on your to do list. Faribault to Mankato is 39 miles of scenic trails and small villages that have embraced the trail. The only down side is the underwhelming trail head in Mankato (no services) other than parking.

October, 2024 by mankato

Please put this trail on your to do list. Faribault to Mankato is 39 miles of scenic trails and small villages that have embraced the trail. The only down side is the underwhelming trail head in Mankato (no services) other than parking.

Dakota Rail Regional Trail

A great fall ride

October, 2024 by rmtrsws6g4

Rode this from Wayzata to Waconia and back. Well maintained, great views of a variety of environments (prairie, suburban, marsh, lake). I would recommend taking a side tour of the Six Mile Marsh Prairie Trail. Well worth the detour.

Accordion

Dakota Rail Regional Trail

Rode for the first time from Wayzata to St. Bonifacious and back. One small detour but it was well marked. Low traffic and lovely views of the lakes and fields. Would recommend a bite to eat at the Bistro in St. Bonifacious.

October, 2024 by mankato

Rode for the first time from Wayzata to St. Bonifacious and back. One small detour but it was well marked. Low traffic and lovely views of the lakes and fields. Would recommend a bite to eat at the Bistro in St. Bonifacious.

Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail

correction

September, 2024 by fayeanhorn

It’s the trail transition on Hwy 62 that had been my problem.

Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail

some very nice sections

September, 2024 by fayeanhorn

Finally rode from Hopkins to Chaska, I’ve been on trail a few times before but keep getting off the trail. Very poor signage at the tricky trail changes. I’m speaking particularly of bridge on Hwy 212. That being said now that I’ve from figured it out thanks to TrailLink. I will definitely ride again. Yes there are short sections that you ride along a busy highway, but the majority is wooded and very scenic. The crushed rock is very hard packed so easier to ride than some crushed rock trails.

Clear Lake Bike Trail System

Nice Trail

September, 2024 by rl_henderson

Beautiful views of the lake. Rode twice to get 10 miles!

Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail

Really nice trail!

August, 2024 by hayleykulstad

We rode from Faribault trailhead on 8/31/24. There had just been a storm the week before so there were trees down the first few miles but we took streets to get around it. There was a section closed like the reviewer said before me but you can go around this too on the road by the lake. This trail is flat and wide. Fun to stop in Waterville for lunch half way at the Corner Bar and sat outside.

Dakota Rail Regional Trail

Great trail out of Wayzata

August, 2024 by askrens

Beautiful ride leading out of Wayzata. Lovely homes and lake views. About mile 7 there was major construction and the trail was detoured about 0.25 miles. The western end is much flatter and rural.

Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail

Great trail—some construction

August, 2024 by askrens

Rode Mankato to Fairabault. Around mile 35 part of the trail had collapsed, but people were still getting through. Overall trail was in excellent shape, except for one area in the State Park and another just west of that. We were on road bikes and loved the trail.

Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail

Nice but bumpy

August, 2024 by chondlik

This is a beautiful trail through some nice foliage and neighborhoods. The trail was clearly marked, however, was pretty bumpy.

Dakota Rail Regional Trail

love this trail.

August, 2024 by fayeanhorn

We have just gotten into biking this summer so there are lots of trails we’d like to visit. But we keep coming back to Dakota Rail, it’s a short drive from where we live and it’s beautiful. Scenery varies from lakes, wetlands, woods and farmland. There are a couple of miles of really rough asphalt but worth it to us. We stopped to eat at Knuckleheads in Mayer and had a great burger for a very reasonable price. They do not have a bike rack though.

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