Explore the best rated trails in Rochester, MN. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Batchelder Trail and John Wellner Memorial Trail. With more than 62 trails covering 382 miles you’re bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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Offering a pleasant path along the southern side of Cascade Lake, the Cascade Lake Trail allows cyclists and pedestrians to explore the grounds around the lakeshore and Cascade Lake Park, home to a...
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...
The 30.4-mile Chippewa River State Trail kicks off at the confluence of the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers in downtown Eau Claire’s Phoenix Park, where visitors can access a walking labyrinth,...
The Foster-Arend Trail helps connect residents in northern Rochester with the rest of the city's network of trails and bike paths, and leads into Foster-Arend Park, a popular local park that offers...
Running through the Meadow Park neighborhood in southern Rochester, the Meadow Park Bike Path provides a convenient connection for residents of the nearby neighborhoods to reach popular local parks...
The Great River Ridge State Trail runs for 13 miles between County Road 9 just north of Eyota and Third Street Southwest just north of Wabasha Street in the town of Plainview, which serves as the...
The Essex Park Trail is a short, paved trail that connects neighborhoods in northern Rochester with the verdant grounds of Essex Park, home to playgrounds and plenty of open recreation space. The...
The Southern Woods Trail is a short, paved trail that runs through a pretty section of suburban southern Rochester. The trail starts in the north where the 48th Street Bike Path crosses over Willow...
A short offshoot of the longer Zumbro North Trail, the Elton Hills Run Trail provides a quick and convenient connection to the neighborhoods to the west of the river, as well as the small local park...
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The great thing about Rochester's extensive trail system is that it gives you the best of both words: not only are the trails great for recreation out in nature, they are also convenient for commuters...
One of Rochester's many suburban sidepath trails, the Overland Drive Trail runs along a roadside near the northern limits of the city. Passing over rolling hills and through the edges of residential...
The Ridge View Manor Trail is a short trail that branches off from the Douglas State Trail, connecting the popular recreation pathway with growing suburban developments in northwestern Rochester. The...
The Lincolnshire Trail is an asphalt pathway that shoots off from the longer Douglas State Trail, providing a short spur that gives cyclists and pedestrians access to the Lincolnshire-Arbor Glen...
The Douglas-Cascade Trail extends 2 miles southeast towards downtown Rochester from the southern terminus of the Douglas State Trail. The paved trail, a portion of which follows the former Chicago...
Although short, the River Bend Trail provides access to a recreational gem, the River Bend Nature Center, a 750-acre park with woodlands, prairie, rivers, and ponds. Along the way, the paved trail...
Paralleling South Broadway and 16th Street in the heart of Rochester, the Graham Park Trail provides a nice alternative to the busy roadways for cyclists and pedestrians, leading trail users along a...
The Valleyhigh Road Bike Path is a paved asphalt sidepath trail that provides a short connection between several paths in Rochester's system of multi-use trails. The western end marks the beginning of...
Rochester, Minnesota is home to a whole host of excellent multi-use pathways and trails, giving cyclists and pedestrians ample opportunity to explore the outdoors and get in plenty of safe recreation...
Although only stretching a half mile, the paved Red Wing Riverfront Trail, which opened in 2016, offers an important connection between two parks along the Mississippi River in the charming community...
The Bandel Road Path is an asphalt sidepath that runs primarily in a utility corridor along the side of Bandel Road in northern Rochester. The pathway provides an alternative option for cyclists to...
On the northwestern edge of Rochester, the 50th Avenue Bike Path runs across over two miles of rolling hills, an asphalt sidepath trail that follows the west side of the road as it passes through open...
The East 55th Street Path is an asphalt sidepath that runs along the side of 55th Street through a suburban stretch of northern Rochester, providing a key connection in the area's bike and pedestrian...
Offering a pleasant path along the southern side of Cascade Lake, the Cascade Lake Trail allows cyclists and pedestrians to explore the grounds around the lakeshore and Cascade Lake Park, home to a...
The Foster-Arend Trail helps connect residents in northern Rochester with the rest of the city's network of trails and bike paths, and leads into Foster-Arend Park, a popular local park that offers...
The Prairie Farmer Recreational Trail follows part of the former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad corridor, which traces its origins as far back as 1866. Its history lives on in...
Spanning over three miles along the side of Highway 52 as it runs through Rochester, the North Frontage Trail provides a space for cyclists and pedestrians alongside all the nearby automotive traffic....
The Batchelder Trail is a local walking and biking path in Faribault, Minnesota, a city south of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro. The asphalt trail starts on Park Avenue and winds behind a residential...
A short neighborhood trail that runs through Summit Pointe Park in northwest Rochester, the Summit Pointe Trail provides a great outlet for cyclists and pedestrians to get some exercise and outdoor...
The Great River Ridge State Trail runs for 13 miles between County Road 9 just north of Eyota and Third Street Southwest just north of Wabasha Street in the town of Plainview, which serves as the...
The 30.4-mile Chippewa River State Trail kicks off at the confluence of the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers in downtown Eau Claire’s Phoenix Park, where visitors can access a walking labyrinth,...
The Southern Woods Trail is a short, paved trail that runs through a pretty section of suburban southern Rochester. The trail starts in the north where the 48th Street Bike Path crosses over Willow...
The Straight River Trail forms a backwards L as it runs north-south through Faribault and then curves west. The paved trail begins at the Cannon River Reservoir, then travels through woodlands in Two...
Running through the Meadow Park neighborhood in southern Rochester, the Meadow Park Bike Path provides a convenient connection for residents of the nearby neighborhoods to reach popular local parks...
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...
The Ridge View Manor Trail is a short trail that branches off from the Douglas State Trail, connecting the popular recreation pathway with growing suburban developments in northwestern Rochester. The...
Closure notice: Beginning Tuesday, May 26, a 6 mile portion of the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail will be closed for reconstruction. The portion of trail affected by this closure is from 5th St. NW...
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...
Rochester, Minnesota is home to a whole host of excellent multi-use pathways and trails, giving cyclists and pedestrians ample opportunity to explore the outdoors and get in plenty of safe recreation...
The Bear Creek Cutoff Trail serves as a short connector trail, allowing cyclists and pedestrians access to and from the southern end of the Bear Creek Trail. The asphalt pathway spans from 11th Avenue...
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...
This multiuse trail is named in honor of a man who worked to make sure Rochester residents had safe places to walk and cycle. John Wellner was the city's infrastructure manager for 18 years, during...
Spanning over three miles along the side of Highway 52 as it runs through Rochester, the North Frontage Trail provides a space for cyclists and pedestrians alongside all the nearby automotive traffic....
Connecting neighborhoods and trails in southern Rochester with the important Cascade Creek Trail corridor, the South Frontage Bike Path serves a key role in the off-road transportation network,...
Running alongside Marion Road in southern Rochester, the Marion Road Bike Path provides an asphalt sidepath trail for cyclists and pedestrians to use - together with the Bear Creek Trail and the...
Located within the wooded acres of Quarry Hill Park, a popular recreation destination in Rochester, the Quarry Hill Family Trail is a flat, paved multi-use trail that serves as a connection in the...
The great thing about Rochester's extensive trail system is that it gives you the best of both words: not only are the trails great for recreation out in nature, they are also convenient for commuters...
Covering a residential section of northwestern Rochester, the West 55th Street Path helps connect neighborhood residents with the rest of Rochester's expansive trail network, including the lovely and...
Faribault is a city about half an hour south of Minneapolis-St. Paul, and the eastern endpoint of one of Minnesota's 40-mile Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail. In addition to the regional trails, the...
Named in the memory of Arianna Celeste Macnamara, a 7-year old girl who was tragically killed when she was struck by a car while crossing a nearby intersection, the Arianna Celeste Macnamara Memorial...
A short sidepath trail that runs through a neighborhood in the southern reaches of Rochester, the Hart Farms Trail offers a pleasant asphalt path for local residents. Sharing the roadside with a row...
The Lincolnshire Trail is an asphalt pathway that shoots off from the longer Douglas State Trail, providing a short spur that gives cyclists and pedestrians access to the Lincolnshire-Arbor Glen...
The East Circle Drive Bike Path is an asphalt sidepath in northern Rochester that helps provide a connection between the John Wellner Memorial Trail and the Zumbro North Trail, two key components of...
The Valleyhigh Road Bike Path is a paved asphalt sidepath trail that provides a short connection between several paths in Rochester's system of multi-use trails. The western end marks the beginning of...
The Cannon Valley Trail, which became a National Recreation Trail in 2018, links the southeastern Minnesota communities of Red Wing, Welch, and Cannon Falls along the former route of the Chicago Great...
Offering a pleasant path along the southern side of Cascade Lake, the Cascade Lake Trail allows cyclists and pedestrians to explore the grounds around the lakeshore and Cascade Lake Park, home to a...
The Badger Hills Bike Path is a suburban sidepath trail that travels along the side of 41st Street and Badger Hills Drive in northern Rochester. While not much to look at, this asphalt pathway...
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...
A neighborhood offshoot of the longer Zumbro South Trail, the Mayowood Bike Path is an asphalt sidepath trail that parallels Mayowood Road in southern Rochester. The trail is relatively flat, running...
The Great River Ridge State Trail runs for 13 miles between County Road 9 just north of Eyota and Third Street Southwest just north of Wabasha Street in the town of Plainview, which serves as the...
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...
Drove to Lake Louise Sate Park on Monday May 16, 2022 and rode the short section of the trail located within the park boundaries. Also rode south out of the park to the trailhead in Leroy and back to the park. The ride to Leroy and back was especially beautiful as we were surrounded on both sides by seas of blooming Virginia Bluebells. Just before getting to Leroy the trail crosses a river on a trestle bridge and from there, we saw a goose nesting on a little island below. Just before that point we encountered two wild turkeys crossing the trail. Within Lake Louise State park while riding through a grassy prairie area, we saw Turkey Vultures kettling, a Bobolink and an Indigo Bunting. Lovely time of year to be riding in this area.
Grade the trail! This review serves as a guide so that you know what condition the trail is in before you go. Here is the code:
A – Excellent condition, new or like-new.
B – Very good condition, not new, but still a great trail.
C – Fair condition, starting to see a fair amount of ruts, bumps or heaves.
D – Poor condition, lots of ruts, bumps or heaves.
F – Very poor condition, would not recommend riding this trail at all.
From Leroy to Taopi = D/F – in need of lots of repairs. From Taopi to Rose Creek = B. I have not ridden the section from Rose Creek to Nicolville, but would assume it is fairly new like the section from Taopi to Rose Creek.
Overall rating of 3 stars because of the bad section.
This is a fun trail to ride but is in serious need for some maintenance. It had been several years since we had done this ride and I was surprised at how much it had deteriorated. The restaurants in Harmony were non-existent but we found a Kwik Trip which served some food to go.
This is the best trail in the Rochester area- only occasionally have to cross a lightly used road. Great natural surroundings with no close parallel highway. Path is pretty straight and level, and at 12 miles in length it’s the longest in the area. I Highly recommend it
We started in Durand and rode north about 10 miles. We were disappointed that we didn’t see the river at all for 7.5 miles and then we were beside it for a mile at most. So that end of the trail is a ways from the river, FYI, but it’s still very pretty. The trail is very smooth asphalt for the first six miles, right up to the junction with the Red Cedar Trail. After that is was rideable but more bumpy. If you do this section, do yourself a favor and take the ten minutes to ride up the Red Cedar Trail about a quarter mile and check out the great trestle ridge that spans the Chippewa River.
We parked at the trail lot on Rte 35 In Trempealeau, then rode north to the end (about 10 miles). Trail is ok and some nice scenery, but pretty average overall. We then turned south and rode back the 10 miles, then continued on about 15-20 miles past our parking spot. Wow, this is the way to go. No roads to cross for miles and miles; just gorgeous scenery all around. Riding thru estuaries with bald Eagles and other wildlife. Wonderful lookout points from maybe 12-15 short and tall bridges. Just a very nice, level and smooth trail. We ended our day at the Historic Trempealeau Hotel and Restaurant. Wow, sunset over the Mississippi River, great food and a live band playing outside. Just a perfect day
Spent the day riding this trail. Really enjoyed myself. Will make it back in early fall to see the color change.
Great evening ride after 7 hours in the car. Riding a Trek Domane w/ 33x700 tires, Susan riding Trek Checkpoint. Yes the trail could use a little work, especially the bridge approaches. Still felt smoother than portions of I-90. The curves and short hills were a delight. We ride in the mountains of eastern Washington where our typical ride involves 2500-3000 vertical feet of climbing, so not really hills.
This trail wonders through tree tunnels, bridges over train tracks, grassy fields full of wildflowers and spotted several groups of deer. Many places along the route however have bad cracks and yes I worried about my spokes as did the 2014 reviewer. Was surprised to see the 2017 review said it was newly paved. Beautiful ride just watch the road.
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