Seven Rail Trails a Short Drive From the Twin Cities for Fall Color Rides

The Fall colors are starting to show and what a better way to see them than on a bicycle.  Minnesota and Western Wisconsin have numerous rail trails within a two hour drive of the Twin Cities that will show you some of the best nature has to offer.  In this post I will list some of the favorites I've ridden, in no particular order, that I found well worth the drive. 

Stower Seven Lakes State Trail

The Stower Seven Lakes State Trail is a 14 mile crushed limestone trail that like the name says, brings riders past seven scenic lakes.  There are plenty of fall colors to see along the way as you pass through woods, wetlands and prairies on this former railroad corridor.  Travelling from Dresser to Amery, this trail also goes through the towns of Nye, Wanderoos and Deronda.  Parking is available near the trail in Amery and on city streets in Wanderoos and Dresser.  There is also parking at Lotus Lake Park in Dresser just 1/3 of a mile down the road from the trail.  

Cyclists age 16 or older need a Wisconsin State Trail Pass while using the trail.  Trail passes can be purchased at self-registration stations in Nye and Amery.  Trail passes are $5 per person a day and $25 per person annually.  A Stower Seven Lakes State Trail map is available online to download and print.

Red Cedar State Trail

The Red Cedar State Trail is a favorite of mine for its scenic beauty as it passes through the Dunnville Barrens Wildlife Area, Lower Chippewa State Natural Area and along the Red Cedar River Valley.  This 14.5 mile crushed limestone former railroad grade travels from Menomonie to the junction of the Chippewa River State Trail just southwest of  Dunnville as it passes through Irvington and Downsville.  Parking is available at the northern trailhead in Menomonie, Irvington, Downsville and at the southern end of the Chippewa River State Trail trailhead in Durand.

Cyclists age 16 or older need a Wisconsin State Trail Pass while using the trail.  Trail passes can be purchased at self-registration stations at the Menomonie depot trailhead, Downsville and in Durand at the trailhead of the Chippewa River State Trail (which leads 7 miles northeast to the trail junction of the Red Cedar State Trail).  Trail passes are $5 per person a day and $25 per person annually.  A Red Cedar State Trail map is available online to download and print.

Cannon Valley Trail 

The Cannon Valley Trail has long been a favorite of cyclists to take in the Fall colors of the Cannon River Valley.  This paved former Chicago Great Western Railroad line will take cyclists 19.7 miles along the south side of the Cannon River past prairies, scenic overlooks, hardwood forests and wetlands between Cannon Falls and Red Wing.  Parking is available on either end of the trail at Red Wing and Cannon Falls as well as the middle of the trail in Welch.  A Wheel Pass is required for any cyclist age 18 and over for $5 a day or $25 for the season.  Wheel Passes can be purchase at self-pay boxes at entry point kiosks in Cannon Falls, Welch and Red Wing, online or at participating business vendors.  A Cannon Valley Trail map is available online to download and print.  There is also an interactive map of the trail online.

Douglas State Trail 

Head south down Highway 52 to Pine Island for a Fall color ride along the Douglas State Trail.  This 12.5 mile paved trail built on a former railroad grade takes cyclists through some amazing rural scenery including the woods and pastures of this agriculturally rich area between Pine Island and Rochester.  Parking is available at the trailheads in Pine Island, Douglas and Rochester.  A Douglas State Trail map is available online to download and print.

Gandy Dancer State Trail-Southern Segment

Take the short trip across the border to St. Croix Falls, WI to view the Fall colors of the Southern Segment of the Gandy Dancer Trail.  This crushed limestone trail takes cyclists 47 miles from St. Croix Falls to Danbury through the towns of Centuria, Milltown, Luck, Frederic, Lewis, Siren and Webster.  The rural scenery and woods along the way make this trail a great choice to take in the Fall colors.  At the end of the trail in Danbury you will find a 520-foot trestle that crosses the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway into Minnesota providing fantastic views of the river valley.  Parking is available in St. Croix Falls, Centuria, Milltown, Frederic, Siren, Webster and Danbury.

Cyclists age 16 or older need a Wisconsin State Trail Pass while using the trail.  Trail passes can be purchased at numerous locations along the trail.  For a complete list of the designated trail pass vendors, visit the Friends of Gandy Dancer State Trail website. Trail passes are $5 per person a day and $25 per person annually.  A Gandy Dancer State Trail-Southern Segment map is available online to download and print.

Chippewa River State Trail

 

The Chippewa River State Trail is part of a group of trails that makes up the Chippewa Valley Trail System which also includes the Red Cedar State Trail and the Old Abe State Trail.  This asphalt/asphalt emulsion trail stretches 30 miles along the Chippewa River from Durand to Eau Claire passing through the towns of Meridean and Caryville and the Dunnville Wildlife Area near the confluence of the Red Cedar and Chippewa Rivers.  The changing habitat includes river bottoms, woods, prairies, bluffs and wetlands making it a great choice to the see the Fall colors by bicycle.  Parking is available at Tarrant Park in Durand, Meridean, Caryville and at Phoenix Park in downtown Eau Claire.

Cyclists age 16 or older need a Wisconsin State Trail Pass while using the trail.  Trail passes can be purchased at a self-registration box in Durand and Eau Claire.  Trail passes are $5 per person a day and $25 per person annually.  A Chippewa River State Trail map is available online to download and print.

Willard Munger State Trail 

Take the short trip north to Hinckley and ride the 70 mile Hinckley-Duluth segment of the Willard Munger State Trail.  This completely paved former railroad route will take cyclists through the cities of Willow River, Moose Lake, Barnum and Carlton on the way to Duluth.  Riders will also experience great Fall colors scenery in the General C.C. Andrews State Forest near Willow River and Jay Cooke State Park near Carlton.  Parking is available at numerous locations along the trail.  A Willard Munger State Trail map is available online to download and print.

Five Twin Cities Trails to Beat the Heat

The dog days of summer can get pretty hot and steamy in Minnesota but that doesn't have to mean an uncomfortable ride.  The Twin Cities area has quite a few trail systems that run through the cool shade of the woods that I frequent during hot days.  Below I will share some of my favorites to ride to beat the heat.

Brown's Creek State Trail

The Brown's Creek State Trail is a 5.9 mile long rail trail that runs from Grant to Stillwater through a canopy of trees that keeps riders cool on a hot day.  Trail users will parallel Brown's Creek for about two miles and the St. Croix River for another mile as they make their way along this scenic trail.  For those looking to get in some extra mileage, the trail connects to the Gateway State Trail, local trail systems and the newly opened 4.7 mile St. Croix River Crossing Loop Trail.  Parking for the Brown's Creek State Trail can be found in Downtown Stillwater, the Brown's Creek Nature Preserve and under the Gateway State Trail bridge in Grant.

Dakota Rail Regional Trail

The Dakota Rail Trail has been a long time favorite of mine for its scenic ride through woods and along lakes and wetlands.  This 14.84 mile paved trail connects Wayzata with Lake Waconia and extends another 12.5 miles (Carver County segment) to the county line just west of New Germany.  A frequent stop along the trail for me is Cathy Mackenthun's Meats & Deli in St. Bonifacius for a quick lunch and to stock up on some of their award winning smoked meats, bratwurst and jerkey.  Parking is available at numerous locations along the trail making it easy to pick the round trip distance you would like to ride.

Mendota Trail

When I want to get in some dirt riding through the cool of the woods, the Minnesota River Bottoms' Mendota Trail in Fort Snelling State Park is my "go-to" spot.  This trail travels 6 miles along the Minnesota River's south bank from underneath the 77 Bridge in Eagan to the Sibley House Historic Site in Mendota. With connectors like the 494 Bridge, Mendota Bridge, Big Rivers Regional Trail and Minnesota River Greenway, different mileage route options for a multi-surface ride are quite numerous.  Parking can be found in Mendota and underneath the 77 Bridge in Eagan.

Gateway State Trail

The 18 mile Gateway State Trail takes cyclists northeast from St. Paul to Pine Point Park just outside of Stillwater.  With plenty of connections including the Bruce Vento Regional Trail and Brown's Creek State Trail and numerous parking locations along the trail, varying routes can be planned for the mileage you would like to do.  The scenery changes from urban to rural as riders pass lakes, woods and wetlands on the way towards Stillwater.  With plenty of trees along the trail this is one ride that will help you stay cool on those hot summer days.

Lake Minnetonka LRT Regional Trail

The Lake Minnetonka LRT Regional Trail has been a longtime favorite of mine for its scenery as well as shade on hot days.  This 15.92 mile aggregate trail stretches between Hopkins and Carver Park Reserve in Victoria as it passes by Lake Minnetonka and through numerous communities along the way.  Make sure to stop in Excelsior for a pint at Excelsior Brewing or Sebastian Joe's Ice Cream at Tommy's Tonka Trolley on the waterfront.  For those that like a little longer ride, take a trip around Lake Minnetonka by traveling through Carver Park Reserve to St. Bonifacius and jumping onto the Dakota Rail Trail on your way to Wayzata and back to Hopkins.  Parking can be found at numerous locations along the trail but I tend to start near the Depot Coffee House in Hopkins at the junction of the Cedar Lake Trail and the Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail.

True North Basecamp is the Place to Stay for Mountain Biking Cuyuna

True North Basecamp is the place to go when visiting the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails for some "shred the red" fun.  It even made Outside Magazine's 26 Best Trips to Take Right Now.  Located just blocks from downtown Crosby it gives you the feel of being out in the wilderness with the comfort of being close to town and is only about a 2+ hour drive from the Twin Cities.

Located on Armour Mine Pit #2 Lake, the rustic lakefront cabins provide great views to help you unwind after a day of riding the trails.  Each of the 6 cabins have heat and a fire ring outside for a campfire on those chilly evenings and air conditioning for the hot days.  They sleep up to five people and have wi-fi access and USB charging ports for electronic devices.

If camping is more your style, True North Basecamp also has 23 scenic campsites and 3 camper sites for pop-ups and pull-behind trailers.

Campsite amenities include a fire ring, picnic table, on-property wi-fi access and drinking water.  Each of the three camping areas has vault toilets and it's a short walk to the shower house.

True North Basecamp has the simple things needed to make your stay comfortable but you will need to bring your bedding/sleeping bag, pillow and towels for your stay whether you camp or rent one of the lakeside cabins.  If you plan on doing some cooking during your stay you will want to bring a cooler with ice to keep your food cold, a crockpot for cooking/reheating prepared meals, a campstove to cook on or cook over the open fire of the provided fire pit with cooking grate.

One of my favorite amenities of True North Basecamp is the on-site access to 30+ miles of Minnesota's best mountain biking in the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area and the Cuyuna Lakes State Trail is just across the lake.

When I'm ready to hit the mountain bike trails all I have to do is cross the little bridge over Serpent Creek near the cabins and I can access the Cuyuna Lakes State Trail which will take me to the trails in the Mahnomen Unit or I can jump on the Dragline trail to the Portsmouth and Yawkey Unit trails.  The nice thing about being trail connected is I can easily ride back to the "Basecamp" for some lunch or a cold one and then get right back to riding.

After a day of riding in the Summer heat one of the first things you're going to want to do when you get back to the Basecamp is get out of your sweaty cycling clothes and take a shower.  The shower house which is located right behind the lakefront cabins has what you need to get feeling refreshed.  After a shower with conditioned water and a change of clothes you're ready to relax back at your campsite or cabin.

True North Basecamp has special weekday rates that can save you a bunch of cash.  Rent one of the lakefront cabins Sunday through Thursday for only $69 a night, Friday and Saturday nights are just $125 a night.  Camping is even more thrifty Sunday through Thursday for only $19 a night and $29 a night on Fridays and Saturdays.  Check in time is at 4:00pm and check out is at noon.

To book your stay visit the True North Basecamp website for Cabin and Camping reservations.  For updates and more information visit the True North Basecamp Facebook Page, Twitter Page or send them a message on their contact page.

Getting To The Great Minnesota Get Together By Bike

Avoid traffic congestion and the high cost of parking at the Great Minnesota Get Together by riding your bike.  The Minnesota State Fair has free secure and monitored bike parking at three locations.  The bike corrals are located at the Como-Snelling Gate (#6),  Hoyt-Snelling Gate (#2) and Randall-Buford Gate (#17).  They remain open daily from 6 a.m. to midnight.  Click here to download a printable color map of the Minnesota State Fair.

Image Credit: Minnesota State Fair

For State Fair goers that may have a longer commute, they can park and lock their bikes at one of several Park & Ride lots and take the bus for free to and from the fair.  These Park & Ride locations include:

•  Roseville Area High School East of Hamline on Co. Rd. B2.  Not available Tuesday, August 30th or Thursday, September 1st.
•  MN Dept. of Education East of Target, north of Co. Rd. B. (Pascal St. & Commerce St.). 
•  U of M Minneapolis Campus (Not available Thursday, September 1st).  Various surface lots near TCF Bank Stadium along 6th Street SE and 8th Street SE open at 8 a.m. daily. 4th Street Ramp opens 4 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. weekends & Labor Day.
•  Bandana Square North side of Energy Park Drive, east of Snelling Avenue (Weekends and Labor Day only).

Park Free, Ride Free bus rides are available from 8 a.m. to midnight and buses leave approximately every 20 minutes.  For a map of the Park Free, Ride Free locations, click here.

For Nice Ride MN subscribers, there is a Nice Ride Station located near the MN State Fair.  The U of M St. Paul Student Center Station is on Buford Ave. and is a short walk to Gate 16 by the Transit Hub.  Use the new Nice Ride Bike Share app for station locations, bike/dock availability and to rent/unlock bikes.

Image Credit:  Ochen K. from Bike Racks - Minnesota State Fair on Vimeo

There are several resources available to plan out your bike route to the fair.   BikeEverywhere has a Bike to the State Fair map that shows on-road, bike path next to road and bicycle corridor trail routes leading to the fair.  Please note that Lot 3 on this map has been moved from Commonwealth Ave. and West Dan Patch Ave. to the Randall-Buford Gate (#17).  Bike Walk Move has a downloadable Bicycling & Walking Como Avenue map that shows off-street bike paths and recommended on-street bike routes leading to the State Fairgrounds.  Cyclopath is a great tool for route planning.  Simply enter the beginning and ending addresses and it will find a bike route that matches the way you ride.

Google Maps using Bicycling Directions is also another great way to plan your ride to the Great Minnesota Get Together.  Enter the starting and ending points on your PC or by using the Google Maps app on your smartphone and you will be given several route choices. When using your computer you can even choose to send the route to your Google connected smartphone.  The Google Maps app even has an option to enable voice guided turn-by-turn directions so you can keep your eyes on the road.

Don't get stuck in traffic or pay the $13 State Fair parking fee.  By biking to the fair or using the Park Free, Ride Free bus service you can save yourself some money, enjoy the ride and arrive close to an entrance gate.

PLEASE NOTE that neither the fair bike corrals nor the Park & Ride lots provide for secure storage of bike helmets.

Summer Getaway to True North Basecamp

Image Credit: Dan Jurek

Since opening last Fall, True North Basecamp has become the place to go when visiting the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails for some "shred the red" fun.  They offer cyclists a great place to stay just blocks from downtown Crosby and they are "trail-connected" to the World Class mountain biking that the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area has become known for.  Whether you like a little comfort or choose to rough-it, True North Basecamp has the accommodations for you.

Image Credit: Dan Jurek

I'm not much of a camper, so when I visit Cuyuna I like to stay in one of True North's rustic lakefront cabins.  They offer me and my friends a comfortable place to settle in or to just take a break from riding.  Being trail-connected I can ride for a few hours and head back to the cabin to cool off in the air conditioning, grab a cold one and a bite to eat.  For those chilly evenings the cabins have heat and a fire ring outside for a campfire.  Each of their six cabins has a wonderful view of the Armour Mine Pit #2 Lake, one full and three twin beds, Wifi access to stay connected, USB charging ports for electronics and is right next door to the shower house.

Image Credit: Dan Jurek

For those that prefer to camp, there are 33 wooded campsites each with a fire ring and picnic table.  In addition to tent camping, True North Basecamp does allow pop-up and teardrop campers but they do not have hook ups or pull through sites.  Vault toilets are located throughout the campsite area and it's a short walk to the shower house.

Image Credit: Dan Jurek

After a day of riding in the Summer heat one of the first things you're going to want to do when you get back to the Basecamp is get out of your sweaty cycling clothes and take a shower.  The shower house which is located right behind the lakefront cabins has what you need to get feeling refreshed.  After a shower with conditioned water and a change of clothes you're ready to relax back at your campsite or cabin.

True North Basecamp has the simple things needed to make your stay comfortable but you will need to bring your bedding/sleeping bag, pillow and towels for your stay whether you camp or rent one of the lakeside cabins.  If you plan on doing some cooking during your stay you will want to bring a cooler with ice to keep your food cold, a crockpot for cooking/reheating prepared meals, a campstove to cook on or cook over the open fire of the provided fire pit.

For those that would rather have someone else do the cooking, Crosby is just a couple of blocks away with restaurants and bars that serve up food.  If you would rather stay in, Louie's Bucket of Bones now delivers to True North Basecamp.

Image Credit: Dan Jurek

Access to 30+ miles of Minnesota's best mountain biking is right on the premises and the Cuyuna Lakes State Trail is just across the lake.  If you want to cool off after a day out on the trails, there is a sandy swimming beach on the shores of the Armour Mine Pit #2 lake.  Another new addition this Summer is that pets are now allowed, so bring your trail dog with for the trip.

If you are in need of a bike rental during your stay, Cycle Path and Paddle in Crosby delivers bike rentals to True North Basecamp.  Rates for a hardtail mountain bike are $35/half day or $45/full day.  Fat bikes, road bikes, canoes/kayaks and paddle boards are also available for rent.  Delivery schedule information is available on their website or call 218-545-4545 for more information.

Image Credit: Dan Jurek

True North Basecamp has special weekday rates that can save you a bunch of cash.  Rent one of the lakefront cabins Sunday through Thursday for only $69 a night, Friday and Saturday nights are just $125 a night.  Camping is even more thrifty Sunday through Thursday for only $19 a night and $29 a night on Fridays and Saturdays.  Check in time is at 4:00pm and check out is at noon.

For a list of frequently ask questions about True North Basecamp visit the FAQ page.  To book your stay visit the True North Basecamp Booking page for Cabin and Camping reservations.  For updates and more information visit the True North Basecamp Facebook Page, Twitter Page or send them a message on their contact page.

Mn DOT Releases County Level Bicycle Maps

At the request of many cyclists, the Minnesota Department of Transportation has just released the first county level bicycle maps.  These 125 PDF maps can be printed on 8.5x11 or 11x17 paper to take with you to navigate during a ride or help you plan for one.  While most counties are contained on one map, larger counties have been split into several map sheets.

Information on these maps will help you determine which roads are paved or gravel, which have shoulders greater or less than 4 feet, the amount of traffic volume and also includes Federal, State and Regional bicycle trails.

For those of us that enjoy riding gravel, these maps will help us to better plan out rides throughout the state in areas we may be unfamiliar with.  For road cyclists, planning rides on roads with lower traffic and wider shoulders are now possible by using the information contained in the map's legend.

When planning out rides, I would recommend using these county level maps as a base guide while plotting your course with websites like RideWithGPS, MapMyRide, Strava or others that implement Google Maps.  Then you can navigate using one of the above mentioned cycling smartphone apps or a gps device and leave the paper map at home.  Use the Google Maps satellite mode to verify paved or gravel roads and those with narrow or wide shoulders.

Mn Dot admits that because this is their first effort to show this data on a county scale that there will be some gaps in the information contained in these maps.  They welcome your comments to help improve these maps in future versions.  Your feedback or recommendations can be emailed to  bicyclemap.dot@state.mn.us.

Resources for Planning a Minnesota Summer Biking Vacation

Summer is just around the corner and now is the time to start planning your Summer biking vacation(s).  With so many biking destinations around our great state you may want to get more information to help you decide where to go and where to stay.  There are so many resources available at your fingertips that planning your trip has become easier than ever.  Cities and regions around Minnesota are competing for your travel dollars this summer and they have made it easy to find more information about their destinations to attract you.

Minnesota has a lot to offer cyclists whether your discipline is road cycling, mountain biking, gravel, trail or bikepacking.  A great place to start is the Explore Minnesota website.  There is a lot of information here to help you plan the kind of rides you would like to take.  It contains an array of brochures that you can download, view online or have mailed to you.  Quite a few free regional brochures are listed for all areas of the state that can also be selected for mailing.  Go to the Explore Minnesota Travel Guides page to access these brochures.  There are also planning tools beyond just the website, Explore Minnesota Tourism staffs a travel information center with travel counselors that will help you with customized information (by phone, mail or e-mail) for planning your trip.

The 2015-16 Pedal MN Minnesota Biking Guide is another great place to start.  This free publication is available to view online, download or have mailed to you.  It is full of information on paved trails, on-road touring and mountain biking around the state.  It also contains links to trail maps, events and biking destination areas.  Another useful source of Minnesota cycling information is the Pedal Minnesota website that is filled with upcoming events, places to ride, trail information and trip planning resources.

If you have a destination in mind for your trip, try heading to the tourism or visitor's bureau website for that area or city.  Sites like Visit Duluth, Iron Range Tourism, Cuyuna Lake Chamber of Commerce and Root River Trail Towns are full of information that will help you find lodging, dining, attractions, events and area trails.  You may also visit my MN Tourism Resources page for a huge listing of online resources throughout the state.

The Minnesota DNR website contains all sorts of information on biking including State Trails, State Parks & Recreation Areas, State Forests, camping/lodging and other biking opportunities.  If you're looking to get off the beaten path, do some bikepacking or ride somewhere with great scenery, the DNR website is a great choice to get you started.

Summer is right around the corner, so use the wealth of information available on the Internet to make planning your next biking trip a breeze.  For easy to find trail maps and trail information for the Twin Cities Area, Southern MN, Central MN and Northern MN, don't forget about MN Bike Trail Navigator.  I have already done the research to find the links so you don't have to.

Facebook Group Brings Minnesota Fatbikers Together for Group Rides

Last Saturday night I came up with an idea that would help bring those that love to ride fatbikes together for group rides of their own.  I figured creating a Facebook group would be the easiest way to get the word out to a lot of people in short amount of time because riding fatbikes is more fun when done with others.  Thus, the MN Fatbike Group Rides Facebook group was formed.  I posted it at around 11pm that night and by noon the next day there were over 100 members.  The group continues to grow and rides are being posted.  If you like riding with the well-endowed tire crowd then I invite you to become a member of the group and post rides of your own or join in on those posted by others.

 Group Description

I created this group to make it easy for my fatbike friends and their friends to get together by posting their own group rides.  Minnesota has a lot of fatbikers with riding schedules that may not include the weekends.  This is a place where they can organize their own rides with friends and new acquaintances any day of the week.  My work schedule keeps me from joining in on Saturday group rides but I'm available on Sundays and Mondays.  Others of you may have other availabilities, that's why I created this group.  Are you looking for some Tuesday afternoon ride partners at Murphy or Thursday night ride companions at Elm Creek?  This group is designed to get fatbikers together for rides that fit their schedules.  I miss out on so many fatbike group rides because of my work schedule that I wanted to create a Facebook group that was open to the public and would allow other members, not just those with weekends off to connect and ride together.  Invite your friends and let's ride fatbikes together this Winter.

Already there have been rides and pictures posted and activity in the group is bound to increase as more members join and snow begins to fall.  Although many members may be from the Twin Cities Metro Area, I encourage those in Greater Minnesota to join as well.  My goal for this Facebook group is to see group rides from all over the state being posted on a regular basis.  Become a group member today and tell your fatbike friends about the MN Fatbike Group Rides Facebook group.

Best Times and Places For Fall Color Rides With Help From the MN DNR

Image Credit: MN DNR

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year for bicycling and the Minnesota DNR has several tools available to help you experience the color changes throughout the state.  The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Fall Color Map has now gone live and will be updated by State Park and State Recreation Area (SRA's) staff by noon every Thursday.  With the wet Spring Minnesota has had and a good growing season during the Summer, trees are very healthy and a magnificent color display is expected throughout the state now through mid-October. 

To coincide your bike rides with the peak color changes using your smartphone or tablet, the MN DNR also has a Fall Colors Mobile version that is integrated with Google Maps.  It will display a map for typical peak colors around the state and provide a list view or  map view of State Park and SRA's with percentage of color change.  Click on any listing for more details on where to go, what you'll see and other things of interest.  Each listing also has links to events, a map view and the corresponding MN DNR webpage.

Minnesota has 24 State Trails with scenic views to check out the fall colors.  Whether you prefer to ride on paved, aggregate or natural surface trail, there are many miles to explore.  Visit the Minnesota State Trails Start Up Guide to pick a trail that is right for you.

I published a four part series of posts entitled "Favorite Trails for Fall Color Rides" two years ago that list some of my favorite places to ride during the Fall.  These are some really fun trails with great scenery.  They can be read at the following links:  Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.  Give them a try, they will not disappoint.

Image Credit:  MN DNR

If adventure riding or forest roads are a little more your style the Minnesota DNR has a page with information about biking in Minnesota State Forests.  There are over 2000 miles of forest roads and thousands of logging trails to explore.  See my post Explore Minnesota's State Forests by Mountain Bike With Resources From the MN DNR.

Fall is a wonderful time of year for biking and with a little help from the MN DNR you can find out where and when to go for a great riding experience.