Minnesota Cross Country Skiing Trails and Maps

1033 Reviews

Looking for the best Cross Country Skiing trails around Minnesota?

Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in Minnesota, 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.

City Trails and Maps in Minnesota

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Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type
54 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Battle Creek Regional Park Trail

2 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Big Rivers Regional Trail

6.08 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Blazing Star State Trail

6 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Bruce Vento Regional Trail

8.3 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Cannon Valley Trail

20.9 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Clear Lake Bike Trail System

5 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Dakota Rail Regional Trail

28.8 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Douglas State Trail

12.5 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Duluth Lakewalk

7 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Gandy Dancer Trail (Northern Section)

51 mi
State: MN, WI
Ballast, Dirt

Gitchi-Gami State Trail

33.5 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Great Northern Trail

8.5 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Grass

Greenway of Greater Grand Forks

21.1 mi
State: MN, ND
Asphalt

Heartland State Trail

49 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Kenilworth Trail

1.5 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Lake Wobegon Trail

65.8 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Longyear Lake Trail

1.8 mi
State: MN
Asphalt
Accordion

Luce Line Trail

76.7 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Grass

Mesabi Trail

155 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Gravel

Paul Bunyan State Trail

121.7 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Red Jacket Trail

6.3 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Rocori Trail

7.2 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Root River State Trail

42.1 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Swedish Immigrant Trail

10.3 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

West River Parkway Trail

8.9 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Concrete

Afton to Lakeland Trail

4 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Beaver Islands Trail

11.4 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Casey Jones State Trail

20.5 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Grass, Gravel

Glacial Lakes State Trail

29 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Goodhue Pioneer State Trail

9.7 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Harmony-Preston Valley State Trail

18 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Matthew Lourey State Trail (Willard Munger State Trail)

81.8 mi
State: MN
Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel

Minnehaha Trail

5 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail

19.91 mi
State: MN
Crushed Stone

Minnesota Valley State Trail

34.1 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Rainy Lake Trail

12.8 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

Soo Line Recreational Trail

10.5 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Blue Ox Trail (Voyageur Trail)

96.5 mi
State: MN
Ballast, Dirt

Bottineau Trail

3.2 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Soo Line Trail (Southern Route)

114.5 mi
State: MN
Ballast, Gravel

Western Waterfront Trail

3.4 mi
State: MN
Gravel

Minnesota River State Trail

12.3 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Dirt

Taconite State Trail

165 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Ballast, Dirt, Grass, Gravel

Alex Laveau Memorial Trail (Willard Munger State Trail)

8.7 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Dirt, Gravel

Soo Line Trail (Northern Route)

113 mi
State: MN
Ballast, Gravel

Arrowhead State Trail

135 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Ballast, Dirt, Grass, Gravel

Bear Island Lake Trail

21.7 mi
State: MN
Ballast

Iron Ore Trail

11.6 mi
State: MN
Ballast
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
This is a lovely, yet challenging course (200-ft elevation gain), heading eastbound from the Samuel H. Morgan Regional Trail on the western edge of Battlefield Creek Regional Park. The blacktop trail...
MN 2 mi Asphalt
The Big Rivers Regional Trail runs along the upper portion of what was originally a two-tiered section of railroad track built for one of the state’s oldest railroads, the Minnesota Central...
MN 6.08 mi Asphalt
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 Brown’s Creek State Trail, which opened in October 2014, is a 5.9-mile addition to Minnesota’s extensive Willard Munger State Trail system. The rail-trail stretches from the St. Croix riverfront...
MN 5.9 mi Asphalt
The Bruce Vento Regional Trail is named in honor of Bruce Frank Vento, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1977 until he died in 2000, representing Minnesota’s fourth congressional...
MN 8.3 mi Asphalt
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
Circling around the 652-acre lake on the eastern edge of Waseca, the Clear Lake Bike Trail System provides a fun recreational experience and a unique way to explore this pristine body of water. A very...
MN 5 mi Asphalt
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 users across...
MN 28.8 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 Duluth Lakewalk extends between Canal Park and S. 60th Avenue E. near University Park. The southern half of the trail follows the shore of Lake Superior quite closely from the south end to 26th...
MN 7 mi Asphalt
This 98-mile, "interstate" trail crosses into Minnesota and then back again into Wisconsin on its way from St. Croix Falls to its connection with the Saunders State Trail just south of Superior. In...
MN, WI 51 mi Ballast, Dirt
The Gateway State Trail is an 18.3-mile-long segment of the Willard Munger State Trail that offers an urban link to the countryside. The western end of this paved trail begins on the north end of...
MN 18.3 mi Asphalt
When completed, the Gitchi-Gami State Trail will traverse 88 paved miles between the cities of Two Harbors and Grand Marais on Lake Superior’s northern shore. Currently, the trail exists in five...
MN 33.5 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
Grand Forks, North Dakota, and East Grand Forks, Minnesota, host a network of paved paths along the Red River and Red Lake River that form the border between these two cities. At just more than 20...
MN, ND 21.1 mi Asphalt
The Heartland State Trail is one of many long-distance trails managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. When established in 1974, it became one of the first rail-trail conversions in...
MN 49 mi Asphalt
The Kenilworth Trail runs through dense forest along the eastern side of Minnesota's Cedar Lake. Occasionally, trail users can catch glimpses of some of the stately residences in the ritzy Minneapolis...
MN 1.5 mi Asphalt
As fans of public radio can tell you, the Lake Wobegon Trail’s namesake is the fictional town of Lake Wobegon, made famous by author and radio personality Garrison Keillor of A Prairie Home Companion....
MN 65.8 mi Asphalt
The Longyear Lake Trail encircles its namesake lake in the city of Chisholm, Minnesota. On the southeast side of the trail at 4th Avenue, trail users can connect directly with the 115-mile Mesabi...
MN 1.8 mi Asphalt
Largely constructed on a former rail corridor running north/south out of the city of Waseca, the Loon Lake Trail is a short but sweet trail that provides residents with off-road access to important...
MN 2.2 mi Asphalt
Accordion
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 remnants,...
MN 76.7 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Grass
Traversing the incredibly scenic Iron Range region of northern Minnesota, the Mesabi Trail is well on its way to becoming one of the longest rail-trails in the United States. When completed, the...
MN 155 mi Asphalt, Gravel
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 nonmotorized use;...
MN 121.7 mi Asphalt
The popular Red Jacket Trail, which runs south from Mankato, utilizes three converted railroad trestles, including the stunning Red Jacket Trestle, which is more than 80 feet high and 550 feet long...
MN 6.3 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
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 7.2 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 developing Swedish Immigrant Trail will one day span 22 miles from Taylors Falls on the banks of the St. Croix River to the central Minnesota town of Wyoming. The paved trail will run east-west...
MN 10.3 mi Asphalt
The West River Parkway Trail, also known as the Mississippi River Gorge Regional Trail, extends between Plymouth Avenue North opposite Boom Island and Ford Parkway in Minnehaha Regional Park, where...
MN 8.9 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Willard Munger State Trail is a collection of multiple-use trails that include the Willard Munger Trail (Hinckley–Duluth), Alex Laveau Memorial Trail (which intersect in Carlton), and the Matthew...
MN 71.4 mi Asphalt
The Afton to Lakeland Trail runs for 4 miles north to south from Lakeland to Afton, sandwiched between a highway and the St. Croix River. The flat, paved trail passes through Lakeland Shores, Lake St....
MN 4 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
Three separate segments make up the Casey Jones State Trail, which is one of the first state trails authorized by Minnesota state trail legislation in the 1960s. The rail-trail is named for the...
MN 20.5 mi Asphalt, Grass, Gravel
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
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
The Willard Munger State Trail is a collection of three multiple use trails roughly stretching between the towns of Hinckley and Duluth. The three trail segments include the Hinckley–Duluth, Alex...
MN 81.8 mi Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel
Minnehaha Trail connects two popular parks in the Twin Cities as it follows Minnehaha Creek through a corridor that is a mix of woodland and open areas. It is sometimes referred to as Minnehaha Creek...
MN 5 mi Asphalt
The Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail runs southwest from the Minneapolis suburb of Hopkins to Carver Bluffs Parkway and Carver Creek Circle. The trail is over 19 miles in length and occupies...
MN 19.91 mi Crushed Stone
Notice: Check Minnesota DNR for current conditions and potential closure information. The Minnesota Valley State Trail is used by cyclists, equestrians, hikers, snowmobilers, and cross-country...
MN 34.1 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The Rainy Lake Trail offers a scenic route of nearly 13 miles through Northern Minnesota woodlands, marshlands, and lakefront neighborhoods from International Falls to the stunning Voyageurs National...
MN 12.8 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
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 Blue Ox–Voyageur Trail is a multi-use trail that permits ATVs and snowmobiles. It also accommodates mountain bikers, hikers, and equestrians along the former railroad right-of-way between...
MN 96.5 mi Ballast, Dirt
The 3-mile-long Bottineau Trail runs through the small town of Red Lake Falls to a rural area to its north. The trail is named after Pierre Bottineau, a Minnesota frontiersman who died in the...
MN 3.2 mi Asphalt
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
Developed in 1988, the Western Waterfront Trail (WWT) offers direct access to the shoreline of the St. Louis River estuary in southwestern Duluth. The trail begins right across the street from the...
MN 3.4 mi Gravel
When complete, the Minnesota River State Trail will stretch from Big Stone Lake State Park north of Ortonville to Le Sueur, a distance of more than 175 miles. Currently, three disconnected segments of...
MN 12.3 mi Asphalt, Dirt
The Taconite State Trail runs for 165 miles between Grand Rapids and Ely, Minnesota, but only the first 6 miles in Grand Rapids are paved. Most of the trail is used in winter for snowmobiling and...
MN 165 mi Asphalt, Ballast, Dirt, Grass, Gravel
The Willard Munger State Trail is a collection of three multiple use trails roughly stretching between the towns of Hinckley and Duluth. The three trail segments include the Hinckley–Duluth, Alex...
MN 8.7 mi Asphalt, Dirt, Gravel
Unlike the traditional rail trail, which are often most used by bikers, the Soo Line Trail is primarily an ATV trail and is composed of a primarily rough dirt and gravel surface. The trail runs for...
MN 113 mi Ballast, Gravel
Arrowhead State Trail runs between the Taconite State Trail at Pike River Flowage near Peyla and to 3 miles south of International Falls (east of I-71 near Chapple). The trail is popular among...
MN 135 mi Asphalt, Ballast, Dirt, Grass, Gravel
Much of Bear Island Lake Trail passes through Bear Island Lake State Forest in Minnesota's northern reaches, near Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters Canoe Area. The lake itself is huge, with...
MN 21.7 mi Ballast
The Iron Trail follows an old railroad corridor for 15 miles between the towns of Tower and Embarrass in northern Minnesota's Boundary Waters region. The trail traverses a mix of boreal forest and...
MN 11.6 mi Ballast

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Recent Trail Reviews

Samuel H. Morgan Regional Trail

Rode the Sam Morgan Trail today (8/3/25) from the I35E Bridge east to downtown St.Paul. The trail reconstruction is now complete! Barriers are only up for wrapping up some loose ends. Beautiful wide new asphalt trail to Randolph St. Enjoy!

August, 2025 by rob.bikemn

Rode the Sam Morgan Trail today (8/3/25) from the I35E Bridge east to downtown St.Paul. The trail reconstruction is now complete! Barriers are only up for wrapping up some loose ends. Beautiful wide new asphalt trail to Randolph St. Enjoy!

Clear Lake Bike Trail System

Trail is unsafe in areas

July, 2025 by mcw4988_tl

The trail is an ok ride. Beautiful in some areas but somewhat dangerous; riding in a fair amount of busy traffic, pretty far away from views of the lakes; with no bike route paths. Glad we took the ride, but not sure we would ride it again.

Trout Brook Regional Trail

Trout brook

July, 2025 by plyman38

Went on the Troutbrook Trail today. … Not advised. There’s a picture of an overpass bridge under photos. When we psssed that there’s a homeless encampment. The only redeeming part of this trail was there were two squad cars parked at the end of it so I felt a little safer. Not a place to bring kids!!!

Accordion

Medicine Lake Regional Trail

some nice parts

July, 2025 by fayeanhorn

We rode from east Medicine Lake Park to Fish Lake Regional Park. Except for a few miles along a noisy 4 lane road it was a pretty trail. Parts of trail appeared to have been recently resurfaced. But other parts were very rough. I missed 1 turn off because of no signage, but was able to get back on track with Trail Link map.

Lake Koronis Recreational Trail

great trail

July, 2025 by john.kf0m

We rode part of it and found asphalt surface in good condition. A few places near town had some bumps but most of the surface was smooth. Trail was well marked with signs and where it crossed a road had signs to warn drivers. There were some walkers on the trail but at the time we rode it wasn’t crowded at all. I wish we had time to ride more of it. Most of the tail we were on was adjacent to streets but they were low traffic so it wasn’t noisy and was very pleasant riding conditions some spots had very nice view of the lake.

Paul Bunyan State Trail

Walker area notes

July, 2025 by jzonoak

We rode the Walker Loop, a great 22 mile loop that includes the Paul Bunyan, Shingobee and Heartland Trails. Some steep hills but not a problem on our e-bikes. The trail was in good condition. The next day we rode the Paul Bunyan north from Walker to LaPorte. The trail definitely had some rough spots, but it was all worth it when we happened to find a super cute coffee shop/lunch spot about a block off the trail. There are no signs so you won’t expect to see this little gem in this tiny little town. It’s called The Door. I was told the city would not allow them to put a sign along the trail!

Rocori Trail

This is the best part of the extended Glacial Lakes Trail

July, 2025 by jsherman665

The Rocori Trail begins just east of Richmond as an extension of the Glacial Lakes Trail that trailheads in Willmar, Mn. Rocori takes you up to Cold Spring and a beautiful park and bridge over a roaring river up to Rockville, Mn a small town where the trail dead ends as you can see the rusty old railroad tracks going off into the woods. That's the end of the trail, baby. BUT, as small as Rockville is there is a wonderful bar and eatery called Stoney's Garage. Makes finding the end of the trail a delight.

Dairyland Trail

This is pure Rail to Trail Biking

July, 2025 by jsherman665

Cuts through farmland MN from Elrosa MN to just south of New Munich MN where it stops, "bike purpose" dead, and goes the remainder to New Munich as a snowmobile trail. The crushed limestone is pretty nice, much better than bumpy asphalt on many trails. But. the trail is straight for the most part, no trees along the way, pure railroad scenery where the railroad could have cared less. Do it once, RT Elrosa to the terminus and back again is 20 miles. Wear sunscreen on a sunny day. Greenwald has a picnic table in the shade, and there's a bar up the street

Heart of the Lakes Trail

Great ride - Walker to Park Rapids

July, 2025 by jtwhiteoak

Trail was what we expected, pretty flat but it was an old rail bed and still in great shape. Started in Walker. Stopped to see Paul Bunyan in Akeley. Stopped in Nevis. It was so much fun, they were having their BBQ Fest, music and water show and we didn’t even know until we got there! Stopped in Dorset had great food at 218 Tavern. Continued to Park Rapids. Finished the day by driving to Itasca State Park, well worth the drive! Enjoy the trails!

Blazing Star State Trail

a little hilly just beautiful!

July, 2025 by hreadfnp

Lots of shade, beautiful landscape. Lots of turns, great views of Albert Lea Lake. Not crowded on a Sunday. A little hilly. Loved it so much. This is one of our favorites!!

Minnesota Valley State Trail

update to today trail

July, 2025 by phillip.haug

Accidentally gave 5 stars in earlier review. Trail very bad, no advance warning, whole length on sidewalk. Had to cross bridge over using #169 (thought I was going to die) Never again

Minnesota Valley State Trail

nightmare today

July, 2025 by phillip.haug

I suspect the trail may be good but no warning of all the flooded and shut trails. After 30 mile ride I hit this trail and it killed me riding on the sidewalk along the road AND having to cross over the #169 bridge!!! Friggin scary. I will not even try to do this trail again. Ended 50 miles safely but a better warning system would help.

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