Bike rides in Minnesota

Explore 9 rail-trail, greenway and park ride options in Minnesota, with route lengths, surfaces, access notes and starting locations. These are selected recreational outings, not an exhaustive trail inventory. Read each guide’s scope and access cautions before choosing a ride.

9 ride guides · alphabetical order

• Browns Creek State Trail — Laurel Street East: short bicycle return

  Stillwater

  Up to 2 miles return · Out-and-back

  Paved former railway main path; not parallel natural horse tread

  Follow the signed main path west on the signed paved Browns Creek State Trail from its eastern end. Turn after 1 outward mile or before the first public-road crossing, work barrier, uncertain continuation or uncomfortable transition, whichever comes first; retrace. Walk any initial lot or access-drive interface. Do not use a road or private-property detour.

• Camp Ripley/Veterans State Trail — Mill Park return

  Little Falls

  1.5 mi · Out-and-back

  Paved state-trail sidepath; riverbank and private paths excluded.

  Begin at Mill Park and take a short ride south along the western Camp Ripley/Veterans State Trail beside Lindbergh Drive. Turn back before the County Road 127 junction, identified as 10th Street Southwest on the owner’s map. The same paved path brings you back to Mill Park.

• Douglas State Trail — City Park: short bicycle return

  Pine Island

  Up to 4 miles return · Out-and-back

  Paved bicycle treadway

  Follow the signed main path south toward Douglas / Rochester. Turn after 2 outward miles or before the first public-road crossing, work barrier, uncertain continuation or uncomfortable transition, whichever comes first; retrace. Walk any initial lot or access-drive interface. Do not use a road or private-property detour.

• Great River Ridge — Plainview short return: short bicycle return

  Plainview

  Up to 2 miles return · Out-and-back

  Paved bicycle rail-trail; parallel natural horse/snowmobile tread excluded

  Follow the signed main path south on the paved main toward Elgin. Turn after 1 outward mile or before the first public-road crossing, work barrier, uncertain continuation or uncomfortable transition, whichever comes first; retrace. Walk any initial lot or access-drive interface. Do not use a road or private-property detour.

• Heartland — Heartland County Park: short bicycle return

  Park Rapids

  Up to 4 miles return · Out-and-back

  Paved main rail-trail

  Follow the signed main path east toward Dorset. Turn after 2 outward miles or before the first public-road crossing, work barrier, uncertain continuation or uncomfortable transition, whichever comes first; retrace. Walk any initial lot or access-drive interface. Do not use a road or private-property detour.

• Minneapolis Chain of Lakes: Bde Maka Ska bicycle loop

  Minneapolis

  About 3.19 miles · Loop

  Paved designated bicycle path

  Join the designated bicycle path and follow its posted one-way arrows around Bde Maka Ska back to the pavilion. Keep off the separate pedestrian-only path and vehicle parkway. Do not reverse direction to shorten the loop.

• Paul Bunyan — Excelsior Road head: short bicycle return

  Baxter

  Up to 4 miles return · Out-and-back

  Paved main rail-trail

  Follow the signed main path north toward Merrifield. Turn after 2 outward miles or before the first public-road crossing, work barrier, uncertain continuation or uncomfortable transition, whichever comes first; retrace. Walk any initial lot or access-drive interface. Do not use a road or private-property detour.

• Root River — Bass Pond head: short bicycle return

  Lanesboro

  Up to 4 miles return · Out-and-back

  Paved main rail-trail

  Follow the signed main path west toward Fountain. Turn after 2 outward miles or before the first public-road crossing, work barrier, uncertain continuation or uncomfortable transition, whichever comes first; retrace. Walk any initial lot or access-drive interface. Do not use a road or private-property detour.

• Rydell Refuge — Golden Pond bicycle loop: short bicycle return

  Erskine

  About 1.5 miles per lap · Loop

  Paved Golden Pond loop with boardwalk sections; separate Sundew Bog walking spur excluded

  Walk from visitor contact station parking to the signed Golden Pond loop. Follow one complete main loop back to the station, walking any access-drive interface. Stay off Sundew Bog walking-only spur and other loop junctions. Turn back where permitted before a barrier or slick boardwalk; do not use service roads to bypass closures.