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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 Houston. The paved trail is mostly level, although a section just west of Houston (around Money Creek Woods) has some steep hills for about 0.5 miles.
Cross-country skiing is popular during winter, and the trail intersects with a system of groomed snowmobile trails. Every trailhead in the towns along the route has a bicycle tune-up station. Restrooms are at every official trailhead along the route, except in Whalan.
About the Route
Across the trail's entire route, trail users will have access to outstanding views of the tall limestone bluffs and the steep hills thickly wooded in maples and birch that rise above the river. Watch for wildlife, such as turkeys, deer, raccoons, and birds of prey. Trail users also may encounter rattlesnakes sunning themselves on rock outcrops or along the river bottom and trail. Rattlesnakes are a protected state species and should be left alone.
The towns along the route provide many amenities, including bed-and-breakfasts, campgrounds, restaurants, museums, outfitters, and interesting shops and historical buildings. The trail is built on an old railroad right-of-way that followed the river, linking rural communities throughout this alluring tourism region of southeastern Minnesota.
Connections
Just east of the Isinours Station Campground, the Root River State Trail links with the Harmony-Preston Valley State Trail.
The Root River State Trail runs between 402 Co Rd 8 (Fountain) and Houston Nature Center, 215 W Plum St (Houston), with parking available at both ends.
Parking is also available at:
See TrailLink Map for all parking options and detailed directions.
Really enjoyed the trail. Did the entire ride, east to west. Trail was in very good shape.
Rode from Houston to Fountain on Saturday 8/3/2024 as part of a one way ride that started in Houston Mn and ended at Niagara Cave, so I combo'd the Root River State Trail w/ the Harmony-Preston State Trail and a little open road riding at the end to total just over 70 miles.
I love that from Houston to Fountain to Preston, this route was tree covered for like 80% of the time I'd estimate. That was really nice. I had a very low humidity day for my ride, but it was a 0 cloud day, so the sun would cook you. But you are very much isolated from it here.
I was dropped off at Houston, Mn trailhead at 8am. The first part of the trail out of Houston, has a bit of packed dirt and sand in areas on top of the asphalt, through Rushford. Other than that, this trail is pristine up to Fountain. You just have to watch out for the occasional rough bridge transition and that's about it, hardly any holes or cracks or anything. (few bumps and cracks from the split down to Preston, a very small section) I only saw 3 people Houston through Rushford over those many miles. Then hundreds of ppl on the trail from Rushford to past Lanesboro, but it never ever felt crowded at all. Just a consistent 10-25ppl per mile. Then, Probably only a dozen or so ppl both directions from the split to Fountain and back to the split (very sparse over those 6 miles up and 6 miles back). One tree down in that segment to Fountain, but no big deal, just dismount and carry over.
My first stop was in Lanesboro (Rushford was closed when I passed it just after 9am), and the restrooms there right off the trail are air conditioned and super nice, with many bike racks and water fountain, and shade. Second stop in Fountain, after a fairly slow 6 mile climb up to Fountain. Restroom there and water fountain as well. Coasted back down towards Preston and stopped there. Also, nice restroom and water bottle filling station inside. Benches w/ shade.
Highly recommend from Rushford on to Fountain. Skip the Rushford to Houston section if you don't want to get your bike dirty/dusty. :)
Only did about 11 miles round trip from Houston. Very rural and scenic with river views, hills, fields and heavy tree overgrowth. I would love to do the entire journey. That is for next time!!!
I rode the section between Rushford and Whalen and it was a great ride. Lots of canopy on a very hot and humid day. You could see that the trail had been cleaned up. Unfortunately, just after we rode it, a flash flood warning was issued so, I don’t know if there was any damage. I would definitely ride it again. The previous two reviewers who rode it in June 2024 gave the trail a 1 & 2 stars just because the trail wasn’t cleaned up were too harsh. Give the volunteers and crew a chance to clean things up.
This trail needs significant attention to clean up all the debris on the pavement . Low branches and old pavement make this trail marginal at best. Use some of Minnesota tax money to cleanup or have locals that benefit from trail clean up all the debris
Lots of debris from Lanesboro to Fountain. Don’t know if this is normal but the trail needs maintenance. Saw several people with flat tires from all the debris on trail.
We've been on this trail several times and it's consistently great. This time, we started at the trailhead in Lanesboro, biked west and up to Fountain, turned around for a nice mostly-downhill ride, stopped back in Lanesboro for lunch at Pedal Pushers, then onward east toward Rushford. Trail in great shape except for a felled tree from a storm the night before. But easy enough to pick up the bike and carry it over the tree. Aroma Pies in Whalen is a must-do; both coconut cream and banana cream are highly recommended! A nice treat for our 40-mile bike ride that day. So much of this trail curves along the Root River, which makes for beautiful riding.
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.
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.
The trail is a super ride, lots of nice scenery and a very fast track. However was sorely disappointed that the pie shop in Whalan is only open weekends after labor day. That was to be the highlight of the ride!
I spent the month of August riding rail trails around the state, and this was the most scenic and best maintained trail I encountered. Lanesboro is a great little town to stop for lunch or ice cream, and would be a good choice for your riding "headquarters". Camping available at Lanesboro and other points along the trail.
Did about 40 miles out, then turned and came back. Have been on a dozen trails in the area, and this is the best trail so far. Very well maintained. A few steep hills for a little challenge
We are a 63 year old couple. We stayed Geneva Hideway in Peterson. Good, inexpensive place to stay. Rode Peterson to Lanesboro and back. Then we rode Peterson to Houston and back. Very smooth trail with a variety of birds and butterflies. Plenty of shade trees. Second time we have ridden this trail. Plan on doing it again.
My husband & I took a really great scenic roundtrip ride between Peterson & Whalen, MN. We saw lovely sections of the Root River, cliffs, & autumn colored trees. What was an extra treat, was a wonderful homemade pie shop (also serves's lunch) right on the bike path as we entered Whalen! We have e-bikes, but we only used the pedal assist on the longer inclines; they weren't very steep in this segment. The path was in good condition; the fallen walnuts posed the only hazards. We traveled to get to the trail & stayed in Houston, MN at the trailhead & visited the International Owl museum. Next time we get there, we'll take in an additional segment of this trail.
We rode from Whalan to Peterson and then we turned around and rode to Lanesboro and finally back to Whalan - a total of 27 miles. We rented bikes at the Cedar Valley Resort, which were reasonably priced and great quality. The trail was beautiful - very rural with good views of the river, prairie, and bluffs. The surface was smooth, shaded, and clear of debris. Most of it was flat with a few hills. We saw songbirds, turkeys, and goats. The towns provide a nice break with a chance to stop, walk around, and get something to eat.
Staying at the Eagle Cliff resort and hopped on the trail in Whalan. Made it to just past Rushford and turned around. The trail from there on to Houston seemed scattered with debris from a storm perhaps. Lots of down tree branches made a little hard to ride so we turned around. All in all a wonderful scenic trail with many stops along the way.
Trail full of debris and downed trees after yesterday's storms. Can't ride on either direction (unless willing to carry your bike over the roadblocks?) Will try Lanesboro's trailhead tomorrow.
We rode from the trail head in Houston at Trailhead Park (which has a fantastic bathroom and even a shower which came in handy after a super sweaty ride) to Rushford Village. A round trip of 30 miles. The trail has a few potholes closer to the park which can easily be avoided. It’s paved the entire way and I would say it’s ~ 75% canopied paved trail. My only complaint was that the transitions on and off the bridges is rough with a capital R! Lift off your seat if you are biking!
Tried to ride from Whalen to Preston this evening. There is a large tree across the trail west of Lanesboro, about a half mile west of Grist Rd. Otherwise, trail is just about as beautiful as it can be. Shaded, river views, and pie in Whalen!
One of the best trails in the state
Spent the day riding this trail. Really enjoyed myself. Will make it back in early fall to see the color change.
Great trail, a must if in the area.
I went from Fountain to Houston on Monday. Left my car in the lot and pedaled to Houston. Wow, what a beautiful trail! Having been on many trails I rate this in the top for sure! Heading east from Fountain is a breeze as it is almost 9 miles of downhill. More challenging at the end of 42 miles heading east on the return. The hills west of Houston are fun too.
I stayed at the Sawmill Inn in Houston (super comfy!!!!) and return biked Tues am.
Highly recommend this trail!
This review is for the three segments of the Root River Trail that we cycled. We began each ride from Sylvan City Park in Lanesboro. The rides were out-and-back on hybrid, non e-bikes. We were quite surprised at how many people now have e-bikes! Overall, highly recommend the trail. For theatre lovers, try to catch a play at the Commonweal Theatre in Lanesboro. I was surprised at the quality of the plays produced in such a small town.
Lanesboro to Whalan (+3 miles beyond Whalan): This segment of the trail is very popular since the trail went into the small village of Whalan which is famous for its pie shop (open only on the weekends now). The trail surface was excellent and the trail was flat. The trail is mostly shaded and runs parallel to the river at some points. There are a couple of dirt rural road crossings. Besides the pie shop, there is a recently renovated train depot in Whalan that has snacks, water, soda, etc and WiFi. The biggest complaint I had about this segment and all the segments we rode was the low overhanging tree branches. Good thing we wore helmets and sunglasses to avoid getting brushed or poked in the eye with branches. Total roundtrip about 17 miles.
Lanesboro to Fountain: This segment of the trail surface was also excellent. Except for the starting and ending points of Lanesboro and Fountain, there are no amenities on the trail. About 5 miles before reaching Fountain, the trail begins a mild uphill grade into Fountain making for a great 5 mile downhill on the way back. The trail is mostly shaded. Total roundtrip about 20 miles.
Lanesboro to Preston: The trail surface on this segment of the trail was the worse of the three. The trail was bumpy. There were tree roots on the trail, holes, and ruts. As with the other segments, the trail was mostly shaded and ended at the trailhead parking lot just outside of downtown Preston. Preston has some amenities like a brewery, sandwich shop and grocery store. This section would be very nice if the trail surface was fixed. Total roundtrip about 20 miles.
We rode this trail late October and sadly missed most of the color, but the trail did not disappoint. My favorite part is from Peterson to Preston. There was very little traffic, few cross streets, mostly flat, and lots of beautiful views. The section going down to Preston was a little rougher than the Root River trail, but probably our favorite section for views. If you want a delicious meal, eat at Old Village Hall in Lanesboro. It was a little expensive, but some of the best food I've ever had!
The pavement is in great condition, bridges are smooth. Check ahead for business hours if you are visiting on a weekday and want lunch on the trail. We stayed at the Stone Mill Inn in Lanesboro and they have a bike shed available, I recommend them.
We went yesterday and honestly one of the best trails I’ve ever been on. Beautiful and easy to ride. Love, love, loved it!!!
If you’re trying to enjoy some beautiful views and grab a buzz absolutely flying down the Trail, give it a go.
The best trail by far that i have done so far. For the most part it is well kept. I started in Fountain and biked to Houston which is the end of the 42 mile-ish trail and then biked back for about a 7 hour ride total. This is a very welcoming trail for all levels. Lansboro is just a fabulous little town that is a must to visit. Always hopping on the weekends!! There is just enough towns and places to stop to refuel on the route. Will definately to this again.
This is by far the nicest trail in Minnesota and maybe the best ever in the Midwest. It is all paved, sometimes flat, sometimes hilly. The town of Lanesboro and other towns that the trail passes through are a real delight. The towns are very welcoming to bikers. If you wish to stay in Lanesboro make sure you make reservations well ahead of time. The trail is so popular and well-liked that you will probably never find a place to stay at the last minute.
Stayed in Lanesboro to ride the trail as it was somewhat located in the middle of the trail.Many options in accommodations and restaurants but do plan ahead as weekends are quite busy.Road west to Foutaine which is a steady climb with a quick return and the next day road east which provides stops in several trail town.Surface is very well maintained and our cyclocross bikes worked quite well.A pie stop in Whalen is a must and scenery along the river does not disappoint.Even got a nice look at a bald eagle seeking a fish lunch while sitting on a sand bar in the river.Nicely equipped bike rental shop in Lanesboro with very pleasant owner.
Aug 21,Road Preston to Houston, stopped for Italian in Rushford ($$). Setup tent at Harmony Trailhead,found American Legion open ( very nice staff and customers, well lit, marble bar top), county ampground level and great showerhouse $20 for spot, little unusual sign requested $ for shower i assume it was for people who don't camp. Aug 22, Great coffee shop breakfadt place on main st. Houston, we also stopped Rushford for more coffee on ride. Pie place closed tue/wed Whalen. Trail 80% canopy ride, wide and good condition. Actually road harmony to houston 55 miles 600' climb, return is 55 and 1200' climb.
I've ridden rail trails all over the country, and I would have to say that this one is at the top of my list. The riding is beautiful and peaceful along the entire trail, the surface is perfectly paved, the scenery is gorgeous, and the towns that you ride through are all "Norman Rockwell-esqe." The proximity to towns - all about 5 - 8 miles apart - are what really make this a special trail. You can get anything you want during your ride......an ice cold beer, a root beer float, a delicious breakfast/lunch/dinner, and if you decide you want to stay in a town you can book a room at one of the many beautiful inns. The other thing that puts this trail to the top are the people you will interact with on the trail and in the towns. "Minnesota Nice" is a popular catchphrase around here and it's more than just a catchy slogan. People around here are happy, generous, kind and helpful. Do yourself a favor and schedule a week-long vacation in the Root River Valley so you can enjoy this amazing network of bike paths.
Went from Rushford to Whalen and the trail was in great shape. It was the first time I was on a trail in Minnesota. Great first impression. Will try other half after Whalen and the harmony trail next.
We live in the Preston area and moved here due to my husband's love of flyfishing. The Root River trail runs along the Root, but also along Camp Creek by Preston. It's lovely to walk or bike these trails, but those of you who like to fish can find some fairly good access to the streams as well!
Scheduled closure until 9/2/16to repair/resurface.much needed repairs will make this trail awesome!
Rode this trail 7/16. Beautifully smooth and scenic from Preston to Peterson. Rough trail to Rushford. Had a great burger at Shawnee's in Rushford. Nice bike stop in Lanesboro with bathrooms, water,air-this area is busier during the weekend so expect a bit more company in this area. There are several legs in this trail, all well marked. Just an exceptional trail.
A buddy and I rode this trail last weekend round trip starting out at Houston with the turnaround at Fountain. I was impressed with the overall quality of the surface, signage along the way and the scenery. This area of Minnesota is surprising hilly and the last 7 miles into Fountain was a tough climb (guessing a 600ft climb) with about 35 miles already peddled. After some food and beverage at the bent wrench bar/restuarant in Fountain we turned around and heading back down the to Lanesboro. I was surpised at the how steep the climb up to Fountian really was. this trail is an absolute gem with its varied topography and near pristine trail condition. It was well worth the drive from chicago. Highly recommend this trail. One of the most enjoyable trails I've ridden.
Made a special trip just to ride this trail after research and reading reviews. We were not disappointed in the least. We dropped a vehicle in Whalan and rode from Fountain east approximately 16.5 easy miles. This was the best part of our plan as the first 5 miles were downhill! We literally had to lightly pedal only twice over that span. The scenery couldn't be more beautiful. Rolling farmland, forest, and bluffs add to the frequent river views. The trail is extremely well maintained with picnic benches every mile and log shelters. The bicycle epicenter was in the quaint, lovely town of Lanesboro. Plenty of shops, cafes, and bars to satisfy every taste. Strangely though, this town seems to have a "fly issue". The stockyards are just two blocks from the center of town, so there seems to be an overabundance of flies in every place we stopped. I wonder if it was the time of year, or a constant irritation. Regardless, we thoroughly enjoyed this trip and plan to return next year.
Attention Road Bikers...Highway 16 from La Crescent west offers little traffic, wide shoulders, smooth pavement, and lovely rolling terrain!
We rode this trail from Houston to Fountain including the spur that goes from Lanesboro to Pearson. The trail was incredible as it follows the Root River for a majority. The scenic bluffs, rock cuts, Farming country and corn fields along the river were the driving force for us to complete our century ride that day. The trail passes through many towns that offer food, beverages and historic old buildings. All though the trail is scenic through out we were partial to the portion between Houston and Rushford. The bridges were long over the Root River and offered great views of the bluffs from the bridges. The trail does have a couple of challenges though. The trail is 100% paved asphalt and is in good condition between Houston and Petersen and great condition from Petersen to Fountain. The trail does seem to go uphill going west from Houston to Fountain. Even though railroad grade with a west headwind it took additional time. There is a challenging hill about 4 miles west of Houston going west and a even more challenging hill just east of Fountain. That was a steep five mile incline. All though manageable it was a accomplishment for us to climb that beast. We had a quick lunch and a couple of beers at a bar and grill in fountain. Then it was the return trip to round us out at 101.18 miles for the day. This trail was a gem and is highly recommended.
Rode this trail with a couple of friends from Missouri late Sept 2014. We rode round trip from Houston to Peterson on the first day and liked it so much we came back and rode from Lanesboro the second day. Trail is in great shape with the exception of one section, which is a little rough, but it will be fixed I'm sure. Trail is very well maintained. New surface going East out of Lanesboro. Very nice. Fall colors were in full swing. Beautiful!! Folks just the drive out to Lanesboro is worth it. The road winds its way along on side of the river next to the bluffs, which were in full fall color, and the trail winds its way through the trees on the opposite side of the river. Beautiful! We even saw a Bald Eagle right in the middle of the road! I highly recommend this trail!
Note on places to stay: There are a number of B&B's in Lanesboro and around Whalen that I know of. I would think other towns along the trail as well.
We stayed in Sparta WI about 60-90 min away. See my post on the Elroy - Sparta trail.
I spent 3 days / 2 nights riding every foot of the trail and visiting the towns it touches. The trail follows a lot of river, it meanders, it has shade, portions of it that don't follow river meander thru fields with great views, the towns along the trail all embrace the trail with nice conveniences... I don't know what else to say. I had a great time. Very impressed.
It is a good work out I usually ride from Houston to Peterson. Many times I have seen deer, always lots of birds and the occasional snake. This part of the trail is not so busy as the Whalen and Lanesboro area which is nice and peaceful, makes it a pleasant experience. Bring plenty of water as it is nearly 13 miles to Rushford and hilly about 3 miles out of Houston. The visitor's center is always clean with showers :) with a very interesting nature center. Of all the trails in this area this is my favorite!
My wife and I have only been riding about three years. We are older, and usually ride about 20 miles at a time for exercise and recreation. We rode both the Root River and the Harmony/Preston Valley Trails in their entirety on three days during the last week of September, and we loved it. The trails are well maintained and traverse a scenic rural area. Most of the people we encountered were about our age, (it was not a time to meet folks with kids in school,) and were friendly and willing to engage in conversation.
We stayed in Lanesboro, and rode up to Fountain and back on day #1 (22.5 miles). What I haven't seen publicized anywhere, and what made it possible for us to ride the entire trail, was the opportunity to hire the shuttle service from the Little River General Store in Lanesboro, (it's a bike and canoe shop). On day #2 they took us to Harmony, (to coast down those steep hills at the first part of the trail) and we rode back to Lanesboro, another 22.5 miles. On day #3 we rode the scenic 32 miles to the trail's terminus in Houston, where the Little River owner was waiting to give us a ride back to our B&B.
This was the first time we planned a trip around bicycling. It was the first time we even took our bikes with us on a trip. After the positive experience we had with the Root River and Harmony/Preston Valley Trails, I think it is going to become a routine for us. We are already talking about where to ride next. I would recommend these trails and their scenery to everyone. I wish they were closer than the 450 miles we drove from the St. Louis area, so we could enjoy them more often.
My husband and I have been going to this area at least once every summer since 1998. We usually camp at the Old Barn Resort outside of Preston with our three boys these days. From the campground it's a short trip into Lanesboro and beyond. Nice easy trail to ride with children, although on weekends later in the day it can be quite busy on stretches. We like to leave early in the morning and have breakfast in Lanesboro when we visit. For a more challenging ride you can head towards Preston and on to Harmony. Both are beautiful rides and we always enjoy our time in the towns. Plenty of restaurants, B&B's and campgrounds to fit a variety of tastes, especially for the small towns around the trail. A good summer outing.
Rode from Lanesboro to Rushford weekend of Oct. 16, 2010. Some of the trees were past peek but it was still beautiful. Trail was in great condition. Pretty flat. Trees most of the way. Plenty of amenities along the route. Most of the campgrounds around the area are pretty nice. We stayed at Eagle Cliff it was really pretty settled between two cliffs next to the river. No problem getting to the trail from there.
In Lanesboro the only real good eats were at Root on the River. Also ate at Chat and Chew, Peddle Pushers and it wasn't anything to get excited about. The Aroma Pie Shop in Whalen is excellent and a great reward for a long ride. When you get to Rushford I would suggest riding west into town to eat. Once you cross the bridge to the south is the Feed Mill Cafe, a great historic building that was recently renovated into a sandwich shop. Serves soup and sandwiches and desserts. If you have ATT phone service you will get NO signal in this area.
Rode this trail two days ago from Rushford to Lanesboro. That was the longest stretch that was rideable due to heavy rains that cause many washouts. The Mississippi was about one foot over flood stage at nearby LaCrosse. One part of the trail was waist deep under water. The trail surface was pretty good but a couple of sinkholes under the trail have left small but growing holes. They need to address those holes and the others not quite through to the surface yet. At one point the trail was washed out for about 50 feet in three inches of deep mud. I got lucky and was able to stay on my bike only because someone drove through it with a car or pickup clearing a tire path for me to stay in. If you ride this trail be sure to go to Aroma Pies in Whalen. Their pie is homemade and wonderful. It is right on the trail. The folks in charge of this trail did get warnings online right away about the washouts so I knew about them but decided to ride since I was in the area. The damage is not severe so it should be easy to clean at least what I saw of it. But they better get at all those sinkholes. The white paint marking them was helpful but not a fix.
This past summer we spent a couple of days in Lanesboro and biked both directions from Lanesboro. This trail is one of the most scenic I have visited. The communities along the trail have several businesses that cater to cyclists and other trail users. Lots of good places to eat and rest along the way. Several bed and breakfasts in and around Lanesboro make it a great place to stay. The Root River is also great for kayaking, with rentals right in Lanesboro.
I have family that lives near Lanesboro and I look forward to riding the Root River Trail when we visit. The trail is very flat, has some remnants of the old days. Going south to Fountain, there are some challenging climbs, but it is worth it to visit the largest sinkhole in the United States(just outside Fountain.
We rode this again in June '09, this time camping with our pop-up trailer at "Hwy 250 Campground". the campground is right on the trail & very close to Lanesboro, so it's very convenient. the absentee owner isn't around much & there is no office to register at. it is totally disorganized. he didn't even collect our money, so we left ours with the neighboring camper. our picnic table was very wobbly & unstable. the bathrooms are marginal but o.k. if it does get noisy or you have any other problem, I doubt whether you'll be able to get any help from mgmt. cell phones don't work well here, so good luck. next time we'll try another campground. BTW, there were NO mosquitos bothering us only noisy neighbors. Try to avoid Fri & Sat nights.
As far as the trail goes, it's very scenic with it's rolling hills, bluffs, flat stretches, bridges, creeks, cute small towns, etc. There are hills on the last 6 miles of both ends; I got off easy as my wife rode only part of the trail, then became my SAG support as she checked out the antique shops & gardens. so I mostly rode the trail one-way, rather than out & back.
If you get a chance, buy some bakery goods from the Amish (at farmers markets or their bakery near Preston); they are heavenly and these people are so nice & humble. I'd rather interact this way than going on an "Amish Tour". There's lots to do besides biking, too. This is one of the best trails in the state & probably the nation; highly recommended.
I Rode this trail in June of 2008, and you couldn't have asked for a nicer day. This trail is asphalt with fairly flat terrain the full 42 miles, and intersects with the Harmony-Preston Trail at a point the locals call the junction. The town of Preston is approximately 5 miles from the junction where the two trails meet. If you bike to the North of the junction approximately 6 miles you'll go up a steep hill to the town of Fountain. It takes allot of leg strength to make it to the top, but you can virtually coast the whole distance back making your effort worthwhile.. The best place to stay the night would probably be a Bed & Breakfast in Lanesboro, but if your looking for something a little more economical there's the Trail End motel in Preston with it's attached snack and gift shop. Lanesboro is a quaint historic town worth exploring, and for a quick break, stop at the Picnic Basket Sandwich Shop right next to the trail. There's a fenced in terrace with tables to enjoy your lunch outdoors on a warm sunny afternoon. Just down from the Picnic Basket is the local bike shop where you can have repairs done, or if your so inclined, you can rent the most unusual bikes there like the four wheeler with the canopy top that holds six. As you head south along the trail another 5 miles you'll enter the village of Whalen where stopping at the "Worlds Famous Pies" shop is a must to sample a slice from one of there homemade pies and a cold glass of lemonade, or coffee if you desire, to wash it down with. If you decided to bypass the pie shop, and are looking for an excellent eatery, you'll find Judy's Cafe in Peterson approximately 9 miles South of whalen, and a block west of the trail before you enter the downtown area.
This trail has something for everyone with it's scenic views of the Root River, wooden plank bridges, Crossing an historic railroad trestle as you depart Lanesborro, and passing between the limestone bluffs on a hot day is just a little something extra to enjoy . Be careful if you decide to step off the trail to go exploring. I came across a rattlesnake sunning it's self on the edge of the trail. I found this trail to be the most scenic from the junction to Peterson. A few miles before Rushford the trail opens up into grasslands with very little shade, and to close to the highway for my taste.
Dennis Adam,
Sheboygan, WI
Intrepid bikers can ride from end-point to end-point, but that reportedly involves significant hill work. For an easier trip and the full tourist experience, rent a room in Lanesboro and ride in a different direction each day. The middle parts of the trails around Lanesboro are rolling and pretty, but not terribly challenging. We rode from Lanesboro to Preston and back the first day (21 miles round trip) and the other direction the second day (no particular destination). It's a beautiful trail, paved all the way and mostly in good shape. The trail is quiet, largely shaded and very attractive as it wends its way across scenic bridges and along the river.
Lanesboro is a delightful town that has embraced the tourist trade while still holding on to its own small town identity. You can't throw a stone without hitting a beautiful, historic Bed and Breakfast. The main street is always hopping with restaurants, beer gardens, live music and theater even on a Sunday evening. Preston, by contrast, is pretty dull. There is just one sandwich shop (which wasn't open on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon!). However, there is a biker pit stop at the trail head with parking, rest rooms and snacks for sale.
The main drawback to this trail is its popularity. Try to go on a week day during high season, especially if you hope to get a last-minute reservation in a B&B. The Lanesboro website is highly recommended; best site I've ever seen for locating available lodging.
" 26 Aug 06, after some heavy rain I was introduced to this trail.
In spite of the rain the trail was excellent.
"
"Our neighborhood bike group spent the 4th holiday in Preston and on the trail. We had a great time and the trail was in excellent shape. We rode the trail from Preston to Whalen, Fountain and harmoney. The section to Harmony had several trees down on the trail but was still passable.
Besides the trail we also enjoyed shopping in the towns. We had excellent meals in Preston and Lansboro.
The biggest distraction was the highway construction around Preston."
"We rode this trail again in August, with 8-year-old Nathaniel, traveling up to 52.5 miles in a day. Lance Armstrong watch out? In addition to repeating the nice section between Houston and Whalan as a one-day round trip this time, we also rode the round trip from Whalan to Fountain. It involved a 500+ foot gradual climb (at 4% grade) that began several miles beyond Lanesboro. Most of the climb is shaded, which was very welcome. Nathaniel kept toying with us on the climb - passing us, dropping back, and passing us again. I averaged 8-9 mph while pulling 4-year-old Jennifer in the bike cart. Nathaniel had no problem passing us at 16 mph.
After the climb, we were determined to find ice cream in Fountain, so we explored and found it. Go across the parking lot, cross the main road, and take the side street to the next block and turn left. Go down a few blocks and the Village Square is on your left, with nice ice cream. Also, just before Fountain are two sink holes with explanatory signs about the geology. The kids loved it.
If you have time, the first few miles of the Harmony-Preston Valley Trail are very pretty, with cliffs on one side and the river on the other. Past that, it's mostly farmland, some woods, and a heck of a steep, stepwise climb - a guaranteed workout.
-Tom Baughman; Algonquin, IL"
This trail has been extended 11 miles from Rushford to Houston. It's a gorgeous ride with a beautiful trailhead and nature center in Houston.
"We ride this trail often because it offers so many possibilities. It has many scenic spots, variety in terrain, and connections to other fine trails. Lanesboro is a great place to base in--lots of accommodations, quaint historic sights, and good eating. We typically spend several days biking out along this trail or its connecting links, returning to Lanesboro each night. We have also panniered the full length of the trail, but if you don't tent, this takes some planning with advanced reservations (not a lot of accommodations on the east end)."
"This is a very nice trail, which we did in late August 2001. Much of the trail has shade, with only some hot stretches (most notably, the few miles east of Houston and the few miles east of Rushford). The wooded sides of the deep valley are beautiful, with some limestone cliffs. We passed through many wooded areas, and had many views of the Root River, with wooded bluffs in the background. The asphalt is in good condition, particularly the new stretch between Houston and Rushford. Road crossings are few and far between, a welcome difference from bike paths in the Chicago area. Most of the trail is away from the busy road and very peaceful. The trail was not crowded. Most of the towns along the way have great ice cream shops, with the shop by the path in Rushford giving the most generous serving size. If you have kids, a park about 1 mi. north of the path in Rushford has a nice playground. You can ride the sidewalk on the western side of busy Rt. 43 and cross when you get to the park (right across a bridge with a sidewalk only on the western side). Going from Houston to Rushford, just before the ""steep section,"" the trail appears turn right onto a road, but the ""road"" is really the bike path. On the way back, the left turn onto the path is unmarked, so keep your eyes open. Some signs both ways would help at this spot. The ""steep"" section gains about 120 ft. in about 1/4 mi. In this section we (with our 6-yr-old on his mountain bike and me pulling our 2-yr-old in a bike cart) did about 6-8 mph uphill and a fun 19-23 mph downhill. Other than this steep section and the 4% grade west of Lanesboro, the trail is mostly level, with little ups and downs. Of the campgrounds on the trail map, we saw only the one at Lanesboro, which was at a nearby city park to the south. The tent sites are by a lake, probably not good for toddlers. The others must be off-trail. We stayed at Beaver Creek Valley State Park to the south, which has nice tent-only campsites. Unbridged stream crossings may make this a problem in the spring, as the road to the campsites may not be passable. On the Root River Trail, our 6-yr-old did up to 30 mile trips in a day, averaging about 10 mph - he commonly goes that far - Lance Armstrong watch out?
Tom Baughman
Algonquin, IL"
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