Sauk Rapids, MN Birding Trails and Maps

212 Reviews

Looking for the best Birding trails around Sauk Rapids?

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

  • Relevance
  • Name
  • Length
  • Most Popular
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type
27 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Central Anoka County Regional Trail

18.3 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Concrete

Dairyland Trail

10 mi
State: MN
Crushed Stone, Gravel

Dakota Rail Regional Trail

28.8 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Elm Creek Park Reserve Trails

20 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Great Northern Trail

8.5 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Grass

Lake Independence Regional Trail

15.9 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Concrete

Lake Wobegon Trail

65.5 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Luce Line Trail

76.7 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Grass

Paul Bunyan State Trail

121.7 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Rum River Regional Trail

3 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

St. Cloud River Walk

0.6 mi
State: MN
Concrete

Glacial Lakes State Trail

29 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Lake Koronis Recreational Trail

20 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Medicine Lake Regional Trail

15.64 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Ox Cart Trail

2.2 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Rush Creek Regional Trail

9.64 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Soo Line Recreational Trail

10.5 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Beaver Islands Trail

11.4 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Mora Multi-Purpose Trail

5.48 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Soo Line Trail (Southern Route)

114.5 mi
State: MN
Ballast, Gravel
Accordion

Crystal Lake Regional Trail

4.3 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Eastern Star Trail

0.6 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Prairie Lane Trail

0.8 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Rocori Trail

3.2 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Scenic River Trail

3.3 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Wilderness Trail (MN)

1.3 mi
State: MN
Asphalt
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
The Central Anoka County Regional Trail runs through Anoka County in the suburbs of Minneapolis/Saint Paul. When completed, it will be 26 miles long. As of 2019, four sections have been built,...
MN 18.3 mi Asphalt, Concrete
Phase one of the development of central Minnesota’s Dairyland Trail was completed in April 2013, allowing trail users to hike, bike, or ride a horse for more than 6 miles between the small towns of...
MN 10 mi Crushed Stone, Gravel
Overview The nearly 29-mile Dakota Rail Regional Trail leaves off from its eastern end at the lakefront in downtown Wayzata, an idyllic suburb of Minneapolis. The paved rail trail carries trail...
MN 28.8 mi Asphalt
The Elm Creek Park Reserve is an outdoor lovers’ dream. At 4,900 acres, it’s the largest park in Hennepin County. The park provides enough amenities to keep people coming all year round. Cyclists...
MN 20 mi Asphalt
The Great Northern Trail offers a paved north-south route through the city of Elk River and into the city of Zimmerman on northwest outskirts of Minneapolis.  For 8.5 miles, the rail-trail winds...
MN 8.5 mi Asphalt, Grass
Beginning at the southern tip of the Crow-Hassan Park Reserve in Hanover, the Lake Independence Regional Trail spends most of its 15.9-mile span paralleling County Road 19, cutting a straight path...
MN 15.9 mi Asphalt, Concrete
As fans of public radio can tell you, this trail’s namesake is the fictional town of Lake Wobegon, made famous by author and radio personality Garrison Keillor of A Prairie Home Companion. Along the...
MN 65.5 mi Asphalt
Overview The Luce Line Trail leads between Minnesota's rural landscapes and urban Minneapolis, traveling through suburbs and wooded stretches, across wetlands, near lakes, through tallgrass prairie...
MN 76.7 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Grass
Overview The Paul Bunyan State Trail, which stretches 119 miles from Bemidji to Brainerd, is one of the longest rail-trails in the country. The multiuse, fully paved trail is mainly for...
MN 121.7 mi Asphalt
The Rum River Regional Trail in Anoka, the trail stretches near three miles, including two-short on-road segments. The trail begins in the Akin Riverside Park, at the intersection with the Mississippi...
MN 3 mi Asphalt
The St. Cloud River Walk, stretching just over a half mile, is nestled between the St. Cloud State University campus and the tree-lined western bank of the Mississippi River. For a longer trip, you...
MN 0.6 mi Concrete
The 22-mile original section of the paved Glacial Lakes State Trail follows the former right-of-way of the Burlington Northern Railroad between Willmar and about 1 mile west of Paynesville at...
MN 29 mi Asphalt
As you walk, bike or skate this smooth trail around Lake Koronis, you'll enjoy take in scenic views of water, farmland, and forests and Native American burial mounds. The trail rings around the lake...
MN 20 mi Asphalt
Medicine Lake Regional Trail offers a plethora of experiences along its nearly 16-mile length. Kicking off in the Elm Creek Park Reserve in the north, the trail cuts a swath through the Maple Grove...
MN 15.64 mi Asphalt
The Ox Cart Trail threads through four parks on the east bank of the Mississippi River, in the City of Sauk Rapids. The trail takes users on a journey through time as well as space, as it occupies the...
MN 2.2 mi Asphalt
Rush Creek Regional Trail stretches 9.6 miles across forests and farmland, offering a convenient connection to some of Hennepin County’s most interesting parks. The path is smooth, wide and mostly...
MN 9.64 mi Asphalt
The Soo Line Recreational Trail is a continuation of the Soo Line Trail (southern route) just north of Royalton, Minnesota. This 10-mile segment, however, does not permit motorized uses, unlike its...
MN 10.5 mi Asphalt
The Beaver Islands Trail follows the route of an inactive railway that was originally part of a charter railroad of the Minneapolis and Northwestern Railway Company. Built in 1882, the railroad line...
MN 11.4 mi Asphalt
This paved, multiuse trail stretches more than 5 miles around the northern edge of the City of Mora. The route mostly runs through fields and woodlands with the occasional stretch of trail passing...
MN 5.48 mi Asphalt
Overview Unlike the traditional rail trail, which are often most used by bikers, the Soo Line Trail (Southern Route) is primarily an ATV trail and is composed of a primarily rough dirt and gravel...
MN 114.5 mi Ballast, Gravel
Accordion
Crystal Lake Regional Trail connects two cities—Robbinsdale and Crystal—in the northwestern suburbs of Minneapolis. It also links to the Twin Lakes Regional Trail and the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway,...
MN 4.3 mi Asphalt
Eastern Star Trail is over a half-mile long and is located in a Sauk Rapids subdivision. The non-motorized trail sits between homes, allowing neighbors to explore the nearby wetlands as well as access...
MN 0.6 mi Asphalt
The Mississippi River Regional Trail in Anoka County stretches over 19 miles along the the east side of the river. The trail crosses the county from north to south, running through the communities of...
MN 19.2 mi Asphalt
Located in a residential subdivision of Sauk Rapids, the Prairie Lane Trail wraps around a set of pleasantly landscaped retention ponds. The trail is hard-surface and accessorized with lighting and...
MN 0.8 mi Asphalt
Minnesota’s Rocori Trail is named for the three small towns through which it runs (Richmond, Cold Spring and Rockville). From its western end in Richmond, the paved rail-trail heads east through Cold...
MN 3.2 mi Asphalt
The Scenic River Trail doesn't actually provide any scenic river views, as its name implies. It does however connect to the Beaver Island Trail and the St. Cloud River Bluffs Regional Park, which do....
MN 3.3 mi Asphalt
The Wilderness Trail is located along an active BNSF railway line in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. The trail connects users to the Bunker Hills Regional Park on the north side, while it meets the Sand Creek...
MN 1.3 mi Asphalt

Recent Trail Reviews

Dakota Rail Regional Trail

A great fall ride

October, 2024 by rmtrsws6g4

Rode this from Wayzata to Waconia and back. Well maintained, great views of a variety of environments (prairie, suburban, marsh, lake). I would recommend taking a side tour of the Six Mile Marsh Prairie Trail. Well worth the detour.

Dakota Rail Regional Trail

Rode for the first time from Wayzata to St. Bonifacious and back. One small detour but it was well marked. Low traffic and lovely views of the lakes and fields. Would recommend a bite to eat at the Bistro in St. Bonifacious.

October, 2024 by mankato

Rode for the first time from Wayzata to St. Bonifacious and back. One small detour but it was well marked. Low traffic and lovely views of the lakes and fields. Would recommend a bite to eat at the Bistro in St. Bonifacious.

Paul Bunyan State Trail

Watch out for rough spots

August, 2024 by askrens

We started in Bemidji with the intent to ride to Hackensack on road bikes. Hit a large bump just south of Laporte (going 18-19 mph). Ended up with a broken collar bone and fractured elbow in two places. Still a great trail.

Accordion

Mora Multi-Purpose Trail

great & bad

August, 2024 by kaelikraker

I rollerbladed the trail and parts of it were really bad, so I took neighborhood streets and parts of it were amazing and very well maintained. The views were really pretty. I would recommend it.

Dakota Rail Regional Trail

Great trail out of Wayzata

August, 2024 by askrens

Beautiful ride leading out of Wayzata. Lovely homes and lake views. About mile 7 there was major construction and the trail was detoured about 0.25 miles. The western end is much flatter and rural.

Lake Wobegon Trail

WOW

August, 2024 by mwskibike

We started at the west end of this trail where it connects to the Central Lakes Trail and rode east about 6 miles. Trail has recently been repaved, so it was SMOOTH!!! Wish we had not done the last 10 miles of bumpy Central Lakes as we were tired and it was middle of the day and quite warm. There is little shade at the west end of the trail and no water available, so bring plenty. The trail was recently repaved - the dirt has not been built up on the sides, so be careful you don't run off the edge - it will be a BUMP! Wish we had the energy to go farther!

Dakota Rail Regional Trail

love this trail.

August, 2024 by fayeanhorn

We have just gotten into biking this summer so there are lots of trails we’d like to visit. But we keep coming back to Dakota Rail, it’s a short drive from where we live and it’s beautiful. Scenery varies from lakes, wetlands, woods and farmland. There are a couple of miles of really rough asphalt but worth it to us. We stopped to eat at Knuckleheads in Mayer and had a great burger for a very reasonable price. They do not have a bike rack though.

Great Northern Trail

Good Trail

July, 2024 by kyjoe80

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.

Lake Wobegon Trail

Recommend!

July, 2024 by xgqrms2jbn

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.

Traveling cyclist
Facebook

Glacial Lakes State Trail

Nice ride

July, 2024 by xgqrms2jbn

I rode from Paynesville to Spicer. There were a few wide cracks you wouldn't want to get caught off guard but otherwise the trail is in good repair. The trail is closed just a bit past Hawick heading west but I was able to move over to the closed hwy 23 for a mile or so to detour back to the trail. Very nice summer's day ride. I would recommend riding this trail if you have the chance.

Traveling cyclist
Facebook

Elm Creek Park Reserve Trails

Best place to ride in the twin cities

October, 2023 by robertstelton

Best place to ride in the twin cities

Luce Line Trail

Thompson Lake (Cosmos) to Silver Lake

September, 2023 by bethanyrust

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.

Find Nearby City trails

Register for free!

Register for free with TrailLink today!

We're a non-profit all about helping you enjoy the outdoors
  • View over 40,000 miles of trail maps
  • Share your trail photos
  • Save your own favorite trails
  • Learn about new trails near you
  • Leave reviews for trails
  • Add new and edit existing trails

Get the Free TrailLink App

The trail is always better with TrailLink

Scan the QR code to get TrailLink on your phone

Explore by City

Explore by City

Explore by Activity

Explore by Activity

Log in to your account to:

  • View trail paths on the map
  • Save trails to your account
  • Add trails, edit descriptions
  • Share photos
  • Add reviews

Log in with Google

Log in with Apple

OR

Register for free!

Join TrailLink (a non-profit) to view more than 40,000 miles of trail maps and more!

Register with Google

Register with Apple

OR

Your account has been deleted.