Find the top rated running trails in Saint Cloud, 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.
Mostly a flat trail from Elk River to Zimmerman. You can make it almost 20 miles if you bike from Elk River to the Smokehouse on Hwy 4 in Zimmerman. Take the outside routes in Woodlands Trails Park and keep going around the Elk River Golf course. Early mornings and later evenings you may see both turkey and deer along the routes. It's an enjoyable easy route and I'm looking forward to the expansion north.
I rode from Albany to West Union. I wish there were long trails like this where I live. Very well maintained and smooth. I hope to take the north leg to the covered bridge also.
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We started our ride at the coon Rapids dam and took it all the way up to Bunker Hills Park. It was one of the more interesting rides of our 1100 mile total so far. I like being close to the river, really pretty sights Lots of turns and slight hills, very easy to maneuver. Perfect first season ride with my buddy. I would recommend this trail to anybody and I’m gonna go on it a few more times at least. We will probably go in different seasons just to see the changing forest around us. Really nice trail. Good quality.
Best place to ride in the twin cities
I covered the Thompson Lake to Oddfellows Park in Hutch at the end of July on a bike. There is plenty of parking and shade at Cosmos County Park and a bathroom with running water. The trail starts as Cadillac gravel through trees and then pops out to a gravel parking lot next to grain bins and a business. At the 4 way stop, it’s an easy crossing of highway 7 and a Casey’s to load up on snacks and water. It isn’t well marked to pick the trail back up, make a left at Gemini Ave and you find the sign for the trail. This is where the fun begins in my opinion. It starts gravel, but turns to grass. At the time I rode, the grass had not been mowed, but was 100% rideable. Your mileage may vary depending on bike and fitness level. The grass section is about 8 miles and incredibly beautiful to be riding through sloughs and catching a glimpse of what this prairie once was. The trail turns back to gravel after Cedar Mills, then eventually pavement near Hutch. An easy access gas station with bathrooms and water refill and snacks is next to Oddfellows Park. Though the parks in this section have restrooms as well.
Continuing on the trail, you arrive in a campground that accommodates both RVs and tents next to the Crow Wing River. Plenty of shade, a beautiful view of the river, and each spot has a fire ring and a picnic table. You will get traffic noise, but the location and amenities are worth it. The city of Hutchinson has done an impressive job incorporating this trail as a city resource. I saw lots of walkers, runners, and young kids on bikes using the trail to navigate the area.
Continuing on to Silver Lake, the trail surface is paved, but gets a little more rough. There are areas where some of the cracks are large enough to grab a narrow tire, so mind the gap. The scenery on this September ride was beautiful. I made the side trip to the Crow Wing Winery, just to check out the gravel trail. This is also a worthy stop for yummy food and a glass of wine, with both indoor and outdoor seating. The trail to Silver Lake remains about the same with lots of sumac and trees to shade the trail.
I absolutely think this would make a wonderful and pretty easy bikepacking trip.
We rode bikes from a dirt parking area at 7111Co Rd 13 in Nisswa, MN right onto the Paul Bunyan trail. The trail is relatively smooth & very scenic with lakes & tree coverage beside the trail from Nisswa to Pequot Lakes but further north it gets very bumpy due to frost cracks. Nisswa has many fun shops & great places to eat so suggest this stop. Will do this trail to the south of Nisswa to Brainerd next summer.
Twice we've taken this trail for a Sunday outing from Woodland Park in Elk River to Zimmerman, enjoying a light lunch @ D's Smokehouse & then back. Can't wait for the continued expansion north.
The trail is a really nice trail to ride, nice scenery when you ride. However, once you get past Cedar Mills heading West towards Cosmos. That's when it changes grass is thick and makes hard to ride.
Enjoyed the mostly level, well maintained surface. Need some bathrooms or places to get water. Did a century ride one day, great trail but signage needs improvement. Around the Walker area very confusing. Trail around Lake Bimidji and into Bimidji state park was a beautiful ride. Stayed at the Comfort Inn in Bimidji, lakeview room. Awesome.
I rode the trail in 2 days, staying overnight in Walker. Would have been better to stay in Hackensack, as it was about 80 miles to Walker, with hills the last 7 miles. Soulshine Cycles in Hackensack provides shuttle service among other services. Brainard and Bemidgi have trails throughout the town (nice that they are bike-friendly) but usually are not marked, therefore easy to get "lost". Trail surface was a bit rough in places but nothing too serious. New paved spur at end of trail leads to Bemidgi State Park. Be sure to check out The Chocolate Ox in Nisswa.
Morrison County does a terrible job maintaining the trail. If you don’t remove fallen branches yourself, it won’t get done. During the last two summers, I have experienced most of the major trails in the state. I see all sorts of conditions, including smoothness of the trail to debris not removed. Lake Wobegon Trail, which is located mainly in Stearns County, is one of the best maintained trails in the state. The Root River Trail is also one of the best. I do not recommend the Soo Line Trail due to lack of maintenance.
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