Find the top rated running trails in Minnesota Lake, 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.
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.
Beautiful views of the lake. Rode twice to get 10 miles!
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.
We started at Rose creek and went to Adams (first part of the trail from I90 to Rose Creek is right next to Hiway 56)the first couple of miles the weeds were hanging over the trail and weeds growing up in All the cracks it was not worth the drive to Austin. I wouldn’t recommend this trail until some major maintenance is done.
Paul N.
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.
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 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!
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.
What a great trail. We loved it. Ride it in July 2022. Temps were great and lake and trees make this trail amazing. It’s a must if your in the area. We from Texas and was in town for work and couldn’t miss the opportunity to ride this trail.
This trail is NOT closed from Waterville west. It is new pavement that was installed a year or 2 ago. There is a lot of shade but also some long stretches of open space. I usually ride to the huge, new railroad bridge half ways from Madison Lake to Mankato. There are a couple of places to buy a meal or snacks in Madison Lake & Elysian.
Another 5 miles & you're in Mankato. The "trailhead" there needs some work. A better spot to start is a large new park in downtown Mankato overlooking the MN river. From there you can continue west and connect up with 2 more trails--one is the Red Jacket the others are city trails.
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