Find the top rated running trails in Rochester, 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.
Needs better signs for the L 10 LOOP. had a great time with the dog.
The section from Madison Lake east to Elysian has now been re-paved & is very wide & smooth. Unfortunately, from Elysian to Waterville it's still the same old washboard . . . ruts, holes, cracks, weeds, etc. Rough ride!
It looks like they are planning to re-do this part but who knows when? So except for 6 miles this trail is pretty smooth sailing from Faribault to Mankato. Once in Mankato you can stretch it out on some local trails & the Red Jacket.
Aug 21,Road Preston to Houston, stopped for Italian in Rushford ($$). Setup tent at Harmony Trailhead,found American Legion open ( very nice staff and customers, well lit, marble bar top), county ampground level and great showerhouse $20 for spot, little unusual sign requested $ for shower i assume it was for people who don't camp. Aug 22, Great coffee shop breakfadt place on main st. Houston, we also stopped Rushford for more coffee on ride. Pie place closed tue/wed Whalen. Trail 80% canopy ride, wide and good condition. Actually road harmony to houston 55 miles 600' climb, return is 55 and 1200' climb.
I've ridden rail trails all over the country, and I would have to say that this one is at the top of my list. The riding is beautiful and peaceful along the entire trail, the surface is perfectly paved, the scenery is gorgeous, and the towns that you ride through are all "Norman Rockwell-esqe." The proximity to towns - all about 5 - 8 miles apart - are what really make this a special trail. You can get anything you want during your ride......an ice cold beer, a root beer float, a delicious breakfast/lunch/dinner, and if you decide you want to stay in a town you can book a room at one of the many beautiful inns. The other thing that puts this trail to the top are the people you will interact with on the trail and in the towns. "Minnesota Nice" is a popular catchphrase around here and it's more than just a catchy slogan. People around here are happy, generous, kind and helpful. Do yourself a favor and schedule a week-long vacation in the Root River Valley so you can enjoy this amazing network of bike paths.
great views, mostly shaded for warm sunny days, enjoyed being able to ride to old town Red Wing where there were multiple restaurant options for lunch.
We rode the western half of the trail on a humid and hot weekend but we were pleasantly surprised at the amount of shade and tree coverage. It cut the heat and also the headwinds from the west which made our ride very comfortable. This part of the trial is nicely paved, which makes it fast and flat. There are at least a half-dozen small bridges over farmland creeks and at one point, you come across a large bend in the Chippewa River which is beautiful. It intersects with the Red Cedar Trail, which is a nice detour to Menomonie, or you can continue east towards Eau Claire.
After 7 or so miles, the trail turns to crushed gravel, which is pretty easy to ride over, but they've patched the potholes with asphalt, which makes it bumpy. It's fairly maintained but could use a little more maintenance. We have hybrid bikes and made it just fine, and there were several riders with skinny road bikes and they seemed to be doing okay. It is a slight disappointment after the perfect grooming of the western part of the trail.
The trailhead out of Durand has a lot of parking, rest rooms with running water and a drinking fountain, so you can fill your water bottles. Durand has a few places to eat, there's not much along the trail.
We stopped in Meridean, a historic village with an intriguing history. There's a parking lot and porto-potti, but I didn't see any water fountains. Next time we'll start in Meridean and finish the trail to Eau Claire. It was a great trail for a summer's day - lush surroundings and tons of wildflowers.
This was an awesome ride. It was well groomed and you can tell that the people that maintain this trail care about it. We had a picnic at Ridgeway and rode to Calmar for ice cream. But it was closed. Thankfully the restroom was open.
If you have bikes on car rack - park your car at the Beer Stube Restaurant and bowling alley in Red Wing. Unload in parking lot and across the street you will find start of a Red Wing city asphalt trail that will take you to the Goodhue Trail. (Added bonus is that there will be a cold beer waiting for you upon your return at the Stube). The Goodhue state park trail meanders on asphalt path along hay creek. Lots of birds - watch during summmer for nesting Rose Breasted Groossbeak and Baltimore Oriole - among others. Trail abuts horse trail - lots of horse riders. Lots of bridges over creek to cross. Trails ends at campground - nice saloon there to whet your whistle or grab a bite to eat. Find it hard that anyone could give this trail less than five stars. Round trip mileage was 13 miles for the route above.
I began riding the Douglas Trail when my son, Shem, was 2 years. He's now 40!. Over the years, we must have ridden it, literally, thousands of miles. We liked beginning our rides from Pine Island. Shem and I also enjoyed "night riding" under the moonlight. The Douglas Trail is Heaven On Earth to me !!!!
We rode this trail as part two of two-ride weekend. We parked at a small, unmarked parking area off of 50th Ave near the junction of the Chippewa and Red Cedar Trails. We actually rode the 7 mile section between the junction and Durand on the first leg of our ride weekend. This section is maintained by Pepin County and is VERY nice. On this day, we headed east towards Meridian. The trail surface is somewhat paved, and most of the potholes looked to have been filled. This trail was very manageable for our mountain & hybrid bikes. However we did see various riders on bikes with skinny street tires and they seemed to manage just fine as well. The trail was more overgrown in places than I expected, and could maybe use a spray to keep the grass and ivy vines along the edge of the trail in check. Moss covering the trail along the bluffs between Meridian and Caryville lend the trail a beautiful and secluded feeling. The views of the Chippewa were breathtaking when you come out of the trees and suddenly there is this graceful winding river. Once we arrived at Caryville, the trail opened up into flat farm ground. At one point we were caught off guard by sounds from a PA system from no where, before we realized there is a drag strip a short distance off the trail east of Caryville. My husband and I rode to about the 7 mile marker on the west edge of Eau Claire, before turning around and riding back to our vehicle, a total of 38 miles round-trip. I will rate this trail a 4, but the trail scenery itself was worth the ride.
We rode this trail as part two of two-ride weekend. We parked at a small, unmarked parking area off of 50th Ave near the junction of the Chippewa and Red Cedar Trails. We actually rode the 7 mile section between the junction and Durand on the first leg of our ride weekend. This section is maintained by Pepin County and is VERY nice. On this day, we headed east towards Meridian. The trail surface is somewhat paved, and most of the potholes looked to have been filled. This trail was very manageable for our mountain & hybrid bikes. However we did see various riders on bikes with skinny street tires and they seemed to manage just fine as well. The trail was more overgrown in places than I expected, and could maybe use a spray to keep the grass and ivy vines along the edge of the trail in check. Moss covering the trail along the bluffs between Meridian and Caryville lend the trail a beautiful and secluded feeling. The views of the Chippewa were breathtaking when you come out of the trees and suddenly there is this graceful winding river. Once we arrived at Caryville, the trail opened up into flat farm ground. At one point we were caught off guard by sounds from a PA system from no where, before we realized there is a drag strip a short distance off the trail east of Caryville. My husband and I rode to about the 7 mile marker on the west edge of Eau Claire, before turning around and riding back to our vehicle, a total of 38 miles round-trip. I will rate this trail a 4, but the trail scenery itself was worth the ride.
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