Best Bike Trails In Minnesota
Trail biking invites trail blazing and also a test of endurance. Trail bikers have varying skill levels and preferences. Triathletes enjoy the hurdles. Others are merely content to bike along a beautiful wooded path. If you're inclined to be more of the latter, a less strenuous terrain might be for you when taking the high road. Most of the trails described here are considered easy or moderate. Again, depending on your trail bike experience, they can seem smooth or rugged.
Lonesome Lake Trail
Ely Chamber Of Commerce
1600 E. Sheridan St.
Ely, MN 55731
(218) 365-6123
www.ely.org
Additional contact information:
Superior National Forest
8901 Grand Ave. Place
Duluth, MN 55808
(218) 626-4300
Both Minnesota and New Hampshire have a Lonesome Lake Trail. But it's the trail in Ely, MN where you want to take your bike. Few trail guides feature Lonesome Lake Trail in Minnesota. Nor is it found on the City Of Ely website. But this trail is a short distance away from the Madden Lake Trail. And there is a map that gives driving directions from Twin Cities. Used mostly for mountain biking, the bike trail is open from June until October. For mountain biking, Lonesome Lake Trail is pretty easy. Getting there takes some research if you haven't been to Lonesome Lake before. But once you've found this quiet spot, the trip doesn't seem so mysterious anymore.
Soo Line West
Holdingford City Hall
420 Main St.
Holdingford, MN 56340
(320) 746-2966
www.holdingfordmn.us
Ever been to Holdingford? Curious and adventuresome bikers have for the purpose of riding along Soo Line West. A flat,13-mile trail good for road and mountain biking, Soo Line West is open from April through November. Bikers of all skill levels have toured the Soo Line. It's a fascinating wilderness rail trail that connects to the trail of Lake Wobegon. The lake itself is fictional but the trail is for real.
Elm Creek Park Reserve
12400 James Deane Parkway
Maple Grove, MN 55369
(763) 694-7894
www.threeriversparks.org
The park reserve has miles of hiking and biking trails. Bikers often share trails with hikers and their dogs. The bike paths for casual cyclists range from easy to moderate. Hardy cyclists who want to flex triathlon skills go for mountain bike racing. If you feel you have the endurance and fortitude, you might want to try a Menacing 40 mountain bike race. Speed, stamina and skill are put to the test when battling 40 miles of the best single track trails around Twin Cities.
Related: Best Bike Trails In The Twin Cities
Theodore Wirth Regional Park
2117 West River Rd.
Minneapolis, MN 55411
(612) 230-6400
www.minneapolisparks.org
Theodore Wirth Regional Park is a short distance pedal from downtown Minneapolis. The off-road cycling areas are the Back 40 Loop, South Loop and Glenwood Spur. The Back 40 Loop has proximity to the picturesque and historic Luce Line Trail, also a popular urban hiking trail for people and their pets. Bike or hike here or walk your dog. Avid off-road cycling volunteers monitor and maintain the park's bike trails. The park also has a mountain biking trail for the cyclist who dares to ride over rugged mountain terrain. The city recently approved mountain biking in the park.
Afton State Park
6959 Peller Ave., South
Hastings, MN 55033
(651) 436-5391
www.dnr.state.mn.us
Why does Afton State Park come up time and again as a main attraction? The reason is, Afton State Park has just about everything: camping (or near glamping) and lodging, basic creature comfort amenities, recreational areas, and trails for hiking and horseback riding. Off-road biking is permitted but the mountain bike trails at Afton Alps have been closed. Afton State Park is a lovely park wilderness. Biking around here is for cyclists born to be mild.
Linda Cameron has written home design, home improvement and lifestyle articles for The Boston Globe and City Shopper Magazine. She has related interests in the building industry, travel, real estate and financing. She is a contributor to Examiner, House Spot, Techsling and Behance, covering topics on career, people, businesses, education and technology.
