Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in Saint Cloud, 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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Not a bad trail. Pleasantly paved with few bumps. Parked at the trailhead near Molly’s restaurant, rode to Mayer and back to the 6 mile marsh for a cooldown before rain hit. The standout was the chef owned restaurant adjacent to the trail and their outstanding crafted menu using fresh local ingredients. A pleasant surprise that makes bike touring such a joy. The area felt safe and family friendly.
I grew up in Plymouth with the Luce line behind my house. When I was little, I still remember the trains going by and in middle school we’d run down the tracks to the trestle on Gleason Lake and go fishing or jump off into the lake. I remember when they pulled the tracks up and turned it into this walking path. There were still gravel pits on the opposite side and now it’s all townhomes. This trail has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My office now sits on the trail on the other side of Parker’s lake. I live in southern Wright County, and I can access the loose line trail 9 miles to south. It’s a great trail. It’s quiet well maintained and it’s like walking through the woods.
We wanted a wilderness trail. The PB runs too close to Rte 371 for too many miles. It's a busy busy road and you hear traffic, see traffic and are exposed to traffic for many miles. We checked the trail map and just ended up riding out and back sections that were away from roads. The best was LaPorte to Guthrie. We also rode from Lake Bemidji State Park south which felt too urban and tried south from Walker cutting over to the Heartland trail down to Ackeley. There was a small portin outside Walker that was nice, but once again we turned back to Walker when the road traffic became oppresive. Lots of riders on most sections. We would not ride again.
We were looking for a long ride to experience woods, fields and nature. This trail had too many miles alongside roads with lots of traffic. So disheartening. Best to ride the sections out and back that do not parallel roads; those sections are spectacular but they are too few. Too many people. Too many cars. It felt suburban. The best section for us was Laporte to Guthrie.-Truly remote. Check the trail map before you go.
A fantastic trail from the St Cloud State campus all the way to and through Clearwater. Very smooth from St Cloud, a little rough on the way into Clearwater. Much longer than expected.
The trail is incomplete in several sections, and route you through some neighborhoods and along some busier roads. There is also a construction project by Coons Dam without a very good reroute available. (Summer 2026) but we look forward to writing her again.
The southern end is a bit rough; the middle is not marked very well; and the northern end for ollows the road. But it’s a great link to the Rush Creek Trail, has some beautiful views, and is shaded part of the way.
The trail runs along a fairly busy road and it can be a bit loud. Paved areas are in good shape and some older sidewalk is in lesser shape and a bit rough. Nice views of Buffalo Lake and the North Fork Crow River.
Elm Creek has always been a fun place for us to ride and it’s close to where we are. The trails are maintained nicely a lot of variance in wooded to prairie, rides by the water, there are small hills and curves. We don’t see deer a lot but they are out there. We’ve seen them a few times if we want to put on 20 miles that’s just about a loop around. There are many off ramps that will put you into Champlin and Anoka neighborhood trails as well. On the north end there’s a BMX track that seems pretty lengthy. We did a piece of it with our E bikes but it’s not really designed for that and especially not for 70-year-old people on E bikes, but it was an adventure if you add in the playground and the swimming area and the frisbee golf you can easily spend a day out there
We’re back! This is one of our faves … smooth and level trail thru the woods, beautiful neighborhoods and stunning lake views! We’ll be back again.
While a bit rougher than the southern half or the western part of the midland trail; the Paul Bunyan is a very good experience. I used Soulshine cycles In Walker to shuttle me and my luggage. They are a top notch service and I highly recommend them to you. While the pavement is a bit rougher in some locations it was not dangerous or distracting . My late September trip hit a weather window most people could die for. L
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