Fun trail.

I chose to ride Elm Creek expecting a great ride. It was so beautiful. I TrueType enjoyed the nicely maintained paved paths thru woodlands, meadows, lakes, and low land areas. Would I go again? In a heart beat. Tom

We rode the full 70 miles from the southern end in Hinckley to the northern end in Duluth. We hit a perfect weather day with temperatures in the 60’s and low 70’s. In general the trail is slightly narrower than other rail trails we have ridden. The trail has many perpendicular cracks that can be big occasionally. That is more of an issue if you are riding a road bike with narrow (25cm or less) tires. If you are running on wider (lower pressure) tires it may not be an issue. Much of the hazards are marked with paint but a bridge within about 1 mile of the north end had a crack/dip hazard that could have been dangerous if we didn’t notice it. Most of the bridges had very smooth transitions which was nice. There are many street/driveway crossings which require you to slow down. In Moose Lake the trail ends abruptly and detours onto the road. It is not well marked on how to rejoin the trail which picks up about 1 mile down the road. We had to ask locals for directions to find our way. There are not many places along the trail to get a bite to eat. We were surprised to not see any wild life along the trail. All in all we enjoyed the trail but it is not as nice as some other rail trails we have ridden.

We rode the full 70 miles from the southern end in Hinckley to the northern end in Duluth. We hit a perfect weather day with temperatures in the 60’s and low 70’s. In general the trail is slightly narrower than other rail trails we have ridden. The trail has many perpendicular cracks that can be big occasionally. That is more of an issue if you are riding a road bike with narrow (25cm or less) tires. If you are running on wider (lower pressure) tires it may not be an issue. Much of the hazards are marked with paint but a bridge within about 1 mile of the north end had a crack/dip hazard that could have been dangerous if we didn’t notice it. Most of the bridges had very smooth transitions which was nice. There are many street/driveway crossings which require you to slow down. In Moose Lake the trail ends abruptly and detours onto the road. It is not well marked on how to rejoin the trail which picks up about 1 mile down the road. We had to ask locals for directions to find our way. There are not many places along the trail to get a bite to eat. We were surprised to not see any wild life along the trail. All in all we enjoyed the trail but it is not as nice as some other rail trails we have ridden.

Great trail for biking but watch for hidden driveways.

The whole family enjoyed this historic and scenic walk.

My young son and I biked this trail and it was a great ride.

It starts at the old Zephr train site and veers through the hills north of Stillwater.

The trail's incline is super deceptive. We biked about 5-6 miles out and thought we were going pretty slow, but we were slowly going up the hills in the area. On the way back it took us about half the time as we flew down the hills. We barely had to pedal most of it until we got back to the old train site.

During your ride/walk/run, there's plenty of spots to stop to take in the scenery as there's lots of creeks and foliage. The trail felt busy for a Sunday morning, but people are respective. This trail is definitely worth your time.

We rode from Bryn Mawr to M Falls and back. 28 miles. Stopped at Bread and Pickles for late lunch. It’s a really nice trail but the constant roots were so annoying. Ugh!

The 51m is a bit misleading.
I started at the Franklin Bridge east bank road north on the East River Rd through the University Of Minnesota on a Family Friendly Trail (FFT). When go under the Washington Ave Bridge the trail is blocked and actually disappears so you riding Road Without Lane (RWOL) but stay on the East River Rd and you will see a sign for the Dinkytown Greenway (DTG), left down the hill then right onto DTG which is FFT. Ride the DTG and take the 1st right turn up to 5th St SE and right again where you ride on Sidewalk back to 15th Ave. SE where you turn right. 15th Ave SE is Road With Barrier (RWB) even though the barrier are vertical rubber tubes it is better then nothing. The barrier goes away at Rollins and the remainder of 15th Ave. SE is Road With Lane (RWL) and ends at Como Ave. Turn right onto Como two blocks on a RWL turning Left onto 18th Ave. SE here is becomes RWB. This street becomes Stinson Blvd at Hennepin Ave becoming a FFT and continues this way unto New Brighton Blvd. From here and until you reach St. Anthony Parkway you can choose to ride narrow pedestrian sidewalks or RWOL. The trail should run down the center median since that median is too narrow for any other use. Essentially this is what can be used as the missing link trail to complete the Grand Rounds.
Once on St. Anthony Pkwy you return to a FFT. When the trail reaches Central Ave which is a dangerous intersection, made worst because bikers must switch from the northside of the Pkwy to the southside. Otherwise the FFT runs until it reaches 42nd St Bridge where there is construction of the trail to go under the bridge which likely will be done by end of summer but for now you must cross the street.
The 42nd St Bridge however is very narrow, side by side will be difficult and opposing bike and any pedestrian traffic makes it harder. Once on the westside but still on the bridge there is a ramp into the park below. This route may be chosen instead of trying to cross traffic on Lyndale. At the bottom of the ramp turn left make an "S" to next trail turn right then straight over the creek bridge with an immediate left turn stay left under I94 and Lyndale pass the falls and then there is a 20ft dirt trail getting back on the main bike way, FFT this is the Webber Pkwy segment. Another switch from the northside of the pkwy to the southside occurs at Fremont & 45th and ends at Humboldt at the Webber Library.
At Humboldt The Victory Memorial Parkway begins and stays a FFT. Following this route I am mentioning at the main monument celebrating the Veterans Of WW1 is the 10 mile mark, This entire segment is very straight and flat.
The trail connects with the Theodore Wirth Pkwy. At this point next to North Memorial Hospital there is correctly bridge construction going on.
If you are riding the trail in the direction I am noting, when you reach N 29th Ave, keep right go downhill this is the correct way. If you take what appears to be the obvious route along the Parkway you find out your wrong, Beware! Otherwise the FFT is obviously has no trouble just stay on trail. the Wirth Pkwy is Rolling and twisting segment one of the best around. When you reach the bridge over I394 you covered 15m.
When you reach the Cedar Lake Rd and Cedar Parkway split you much cross the street at the light which a very tight, narrow and heavily traveled intersection. You follow the parkway along Cedar Lake FFT is mostly flat section of the trail which takes you to Dean Parkway an FFT to Lake Calhoun. The crossing at Lake St can be dangerous, Take care when crossing.
The Lake Calhoun Trail is one way clockwise so once you cross you must turn left. This area is also rather flat until you reach William Berry Trail is short and rolling then you connect with the Lake Harriett Trail which is also one way clockwise so again you go left. This segment is also rather flat. When you reach the Minnehaha Parkway you have trailed 20.5 miles.
Once on the Minnehaha Trail you are briefly on a RWL on W. Minnehaha Parkway back into a FFT and stays that way throughout the Minnehaha segment which may be the most fund section curvy with hills passing can be difficult in this stretch, Beware at the Cedar Ave crossing! The Bike trail leaves the Parkway and follows the creek instead again this is a fun curvy stretch. If you stay on the Pkwy it is RWOL or narrow pedestrian sidewalks. The Creek trail returns to the Pkwy just before it reaches Minnehaha Park. There the FFT follows Godfrey Parkway and then continues on as the East Mississippi Rd Trail. When you reach the Midtown Green trail and RR Bridge you are 30m continue on and cross the river on Franklin Bridge and you gone 31miles.