Minnesota Cross Country Skiing Trails and Maps

912 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

  • Relevance
  • Name
  • Length
  • Most Popular
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

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

26.6 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

32.02 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

65.5 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Longyear Lake Trail

1.8 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Loon Lake Trail System

2.2 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Luce Line Trail

76.7 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Grass
Accordion

Mesabi Trail

135 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Gravel

Paul Bunyan State Trail

121.7 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Root River State Trail

42 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

Blazing Star State Trail

6 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

Minnehaha Trail

5 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail

19.91 mi
State: MN
Crushed Stone

Minnesota Valley State Trail

31 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Rainy Lake Trail

12.8 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Red Jacket Trail

6.3 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail

39 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Shooting Star State Trail

24.3 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Soo Line Recreational Trail

10.5 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Beaver Islands Trail

5.1 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Blue Ox Trail (Voyageur Trail)

96.5 mi
State: MN
Ballast, Dirt

Bottineau Trail

3.2 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Matthew Lourey State Trail (Willard Munger State Trail)

81.8 mi
State: MN
Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel

Soo Line Trail (Southern Route)

114.5 mi
State: MN
Ballast, Gravel

Western Waterfront Trail

3.4 mi
State: MN
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

Minnesota River State Trail

12.3 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Dirt

Rocori Trail

3.2 mi
State: MN
Asphalt

Taconite State Trail

165 mi
State: MN
Asphalt, Ballast, Dirt, Grass, Gravel
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
Overview 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...
MN 6.08 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
Overview 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...
MN 8.3 mi Asphalt
Overview 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...
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
Sections of the Dakota Rail Regional Trail, which extends westward from the Minneapolis suburbs situated along Lake Minnetonka, have been opening since June 2009. The trail occupies the former Dakota...
MN 26.6 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, several segments, totaling...
MN 32.02 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, 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
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
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
Accordion
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 135 mi Asphalt, Gravel
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
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 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
Overview 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...
MN 71.4 mi Asphalt
The Afton to Lakeland Trail links its namesake towns on the Minnesota side of the St. Croix River. The trail runs between Quinlan Avenue North/Eighth Street at Crocker Park in Lakeland and Pike Avenue...
MN 4 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
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
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
Overview 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...
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 31 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
Overview 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...
MN 6.3 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
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 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 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 5.1 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
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
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
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
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
Overview 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...
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
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
Minnesota’s Rocori Trail, named for the three small towns through which it will eventually run (Rockville, Cold Spring, and Richmond), currently has two disconnected segments open for use. The...
MN 3.2 mi Asphalt
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

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

Recent Trail Reviews

Cannon Valley Trail

Expensive trail

April, 2024 by hristo.yankov

$30 season pass or a $7 daily, with a "non-cash surcharge" if you try to pay online. The trail is nice, but the fee is getting out of hand.

Coon Creek Regional Trail

our first ride of 2024

March, 2024 by plyman38

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.

Empire Township Trail

not enough scenery

October, 2023 by ebecher220

I tried this one out because it’s close by but it wasn’t that fun. Too much pavement right on a major road, exhaust fumes etc. the parts with nice scenery between the two parks felt tiny

Accordion

Root River State Trail

Great family trail

October, 2023 by sabress82

This trail is awesome! We only went about 16 miles from Houston and then back, but it was very enjoyable. We plan to come back and do another section of trail with our kids.

Ayd Mill Road Trail

Nice, short below grade cut through

October, 2023 by rmtrsws6g4

A good short cut, removed from the traffic. Agree with the other review that it lacks connectivity to a larger trail plan.

Big Rivers Regional Trail

Nice overlooks, but lack of connectivity

October, 2023 by rmtrsws6g4

I took this trail on the tail end of a longer ride and enjoyed some of the views overlooking the Minnesota River. However, I was super disappointed with the lack of any continuation of bike dedicated lanes or paths at the Western end of the trail. It would be nice to have some easier way to get to trails further West without having to ride along the shoulder of a highway.

Root River State Trail

Can I give a SIX star??

October, 2023 by mrmikesch

Best and most favorite trail of the trails we rode in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin on this trip!! Rode 50 miles round-trip, Petersen to fountain. Trail is smooth asphalt. Gorgeous river views along the way. Last 5 miles are uphill to fountain, but a very fun dissent on the return! Second day, Peterson to Houston 36 miles r/t. First 5 miles to Rushford, smooth trail. The remaining 13 miles to Houston, trail has some sinkhole spots and the bridge transitions are rough. Still some river views. Each of the little towns along the trail has a couple restaurants, just call ahead to make sure they’re open during the week.

Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail

Fun gravel ride

October, 2023 by rmtrsws6g4

This has been on my to-do list for a while. Finally did it out-back from Hopkins and it didn’t disappoint. Great views and interesting scenery. The signage could be better around highway 62 and in Chaska, but it’s pretty good elsewhere. Looking forward to riding it again next year!

Grand Rounds Scenic Byway

Grand Round October7th

October, 2023 by pem30913

Delightful day touring 24 miles of Grand Round while visiting family. Friendly encounters with bikers with several places to stop, rest, and relax. The vistas of the Mississippi River balanced the clean and colorful trails.

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

Cannon Valley Trail

Good Trail

October, 2023 by kackman_11

My first time on this trail was today. Started seeing some nice fall colors on the trees. Beautiful scenic ride with cliffs, hills and valley. The overall trail was really nice. Nicely kept up and very smooth to ride on. Only down fall was that it was too narrow. Could use about another foot on each side

Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail

Scenic. Gradual elevation change. Smooth.

October, 2023 by l_kunz

Context: Rode trail end to end both directions on a m road bike w 700 X 23m tires. Past reviews seem accurate wrt beauty of surrounding landscape. Disregard older reviews re poor pavement conditions. The pavement is smooth end to end. An occasional weather crack (closer to Faribault) is typically marked. Would ride again on same bike any day.

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.