Rochester, MN Cross Country Skiing Trails and Maps

340 Reviews

Looking for the best Cross Country Skiing trails around Rochester?

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

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Activities
Length
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11 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Cannon Valley Trail

20.9 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Douglas State Trail

12.5 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Prairie Farmer Recreational Trail

20 mi
State: IA
Asphalt

Root River State Trail

42.1 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Wapsi-Great Western Line Trail

27 mi
State: IA
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Blazing Star State Trail

6 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Chippewa River State Trail

30.4 mi
State: WI
Asphalt, Boardwalk, Cinder, Concrete, Gravel

Goodhue Pioneer State Trail

9.7 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Harmony-Preston Valley State Trail

18 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail

39.3 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Shooting Star State Trail

24.3 mi
State: MN
Asphalt
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
The Cannon Valley Trail, which became a National Recreation Trail in 2018, links the southeastern Minnesota communities of Red Wing, Welch, and Cannon Falls for 20.9 miles along the former route of...
MN 20.9 mi Asphalt
The Douglas State Trail occupies the railbed of the former Chicago Great Western Railway corridor between the cities of Rochester and Pine Island. Several of the concrete obelisk railroad mile markers...
MN 12.5 mi Asphalt
The Prairie Farmer Recreational Trail follows part of the former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad corridor, which traces its origins as far back as 1866. Its history lives on in...
IA 20 mi Asphalt
Along much of its route, the Root River State Trail follows the winding course of its namesake river for 42 miles through the Minnesota towns of Fountain, Lanesboro, Whalan, Peterson, Rushford, and...
MN 42.1 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
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 30.4-mile Chippewa River State Trail runs between Eau Claire and Durand, Wisconsin.  Snowmobiles are permitted between Porterville Road and Durand. NOTE: A State Trail Pass ($25 annually/$5...
WI 30.4 mi Asphalt, Boardwalk, Cinder, Concrete, Gravel
The Goodhue Pioneer State Trail is a work in progress as part of a planned 47-mile trail linking the cities of Red Wing, Goodhue, Zumbrota, Mazeppa, Bellechester, and Pine Island along an inactive...
MN 9.7 mi Asphalt
The Harmony–Preston Valley State Trail runs 18 miles on a north-south line between the town of Harmony and the Root River State Trail, which it meets between Lanesboro and Fountain. The paved trail is...
MN 18 mi Asphalt
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 39.3 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

Recent Trail Reviews

Chippewa River State Trail

Abandoned by State of WI

July, 2025 by tmccabe77

We rode this trail early July 2025 starting from Eau Claire with intentions to go south to Durand and back. The trail starts in Eau Claire and is great with mostly new pavement until you hit the city limits at which time the trail degrades rapidly with cracks, bumps, foot tall weeds/grass growing up through cracks, holes, roots, overgrown grass and weeds on each side of the trail so as to render it single wide, etc. We made it about halfway and turned around in disgust as this trail was not worth our time and aching lower back. Clearly biking and/or this trail, is not a priority for the state of Wisconsin and has consequently been abandoned. shame, it’s beautiful country.

Chippewa River State Trail

Rough

July, 2025 by jckholmes

We rode the trail south from Eau Claire about 10 miles. I'm sure at one time this was a nice trail, but it hasn't been maintained and it's very rough. Make sure your bike has shock absorbers! The trail in Eau Claire is much better.

Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail

Mankato to Waterville

July, 2025 by teeam62

Beautiful trail and very well kept. There were only a few patches of bumpy riding, otherwise the asphalt trail was in great condition. Lots of benches to rest at and there were facilities in the town areas. Would definitely recommend this trail!

Accordion

Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail

Faribault to Morristown

July, 2025 by teeam62

Trail in great condition until somewhere between Warsaw and Morristown. Big tree down across the path on Saturday after a storm. Beautiful tree canopies and many bench/picnic table pull-offs. Would have liked to see more facilities on the trail.

Harmony-Preston Valley State Trail

Beautiful scenery, MN fails to maintain

July, 2025 by tmccabe77

This trail would be an absolute gem for the state of Minnesota if they would get it together and maintain this trail which runs through the beautiful driftless area of southern Minnesota. The trail is hard on the bike and the body as it has a plethora of cracks, roots, bumps, holes and generally failing asphalt everywhere. The area it goes through is as beautiful as you’ll find however. What a shame. Next time we consider this trail, we’ll have to decide if we have enough ibuprofen first…..

Cannon Valley Trail

Spectacular Ride!

June, 2025 by jeanne.eggert

Just an awesome ride following the Cannon River nearly all the way. Spotted 11 deer (3 of them fawns), 2 swan, 1 eagle and a whole lot beauty along the way. We parked at the trailhead in Cannon Falls and rode short of Red Wing and back for a stunning 20 miles. Highly recommend!!!

Root River State Trail

Great Trail!

June, 2025 by rjbrown73

Rode round trip, including Rushford to Preston plus the spur to Fountain and back. Well maintained, beautiful trail with wonderful trail towns pleasantly spaced. I stayed in Lanesboro and would highly recommend it!

Shooting Star State Trail

Boring, Straight, and not well cared for.

June, 2025 by hreadfnp

We rode 1/2 way to LeRoy from Austin end. Just over 10miles. Parked our car at a gas station that’s there and took our electric scooters! Weather was beautiful and in the 80s but we were not too hot. The trail was boring and followed the road. Straight most of the time. Weeds are growing into the trail and the asphalt needs repair. Lots and lots of cracks! We had a good time but we won’t go again.

Cannon Valley Trail

dcjlynncarol

June, 2025 by dcj0220

Trail is in very bad shape, especially from red wing to Welch. Not sure where the wheel pass money is going. Definitely not worth paying for.

Chippewa River State Trail

Good trail

June, 2025 by dpate

I rode the length of this trail from Phoenix Park in Eau Claire to the endpoint in Durand and back in early June 2025. The trail was closed at Owen park but it was easy to get around it. Further down the trail there was a sign that about a mile or two of trail was to be closed from 6-9-25 to 7-2-25 which was after I was on it. At about 11 miles just north of Caryville the blacktop surface deteriorates and the trail becomes more adventurous. Just SW of Meridean the trail is closed for an impassable short flooded section. Traveling cyclist Facebook

Great River State Trail

Burned Bridge

May, 2025 by ggwbikemt

The Tank Creek bridge was burned on May 15, 2025. The bridge is closed and will need to be totally replaced. The bridge is at mile post 10 and is located halfway between Trempealeau and Lytle Road.

Prairie Farmer Recreational Trail

Definitely a few rough areas but overall a nice path. If you're coming from the Calmer side the path markings in Ridgeway are non existent (turn left, not right) so you might have some issues there. The markings are much better coming from Cresco

May, 2025 by jhicok_tl

Definitely a few rough areas but overall a nice path. If you're coming from the Calmer side the path markings in Ridgeway are non existent (turn left, not right) so you might have some issues there. The markings are much better coming from Cresco

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