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 63 trails covering 385 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.
Quite rough but still enjoyed the ride. 3 restaurants open on Harmony now. We rode from Lanesboro to Harmony. They really need to put some work into this trail.
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.
Wisconsin Bike Trip Report - Cycle Seven Rails to Trails in Five Days: In August 2022, our group of 11 went on a self-guided partially supported bike ride covering seven Rails to Trails in Central Wisconsin near La Crosse, Sparta and Eau Claire. Turned out to be an amazing trip with great weather, except the last day during which it rained. Great variety of environments and trails, including some short bridges and long tunnels, shaded woodlands and bright prairie. Attached is a pdf detailing the logistics and planning we carried out to make the trip happen. TrailLink.com has great description of each individual trail. Over five days of riding we covered:
1. Elroy-Sparta State Trail
2. Great River State Trail
3. La Crosse River State Trail
4. 400 State Trail
5. Red Cedar State Trail
6. Chippewa River State Trail
7. Old Abe Trail
For a 5 page pdf summary document of our trip with maps and logistics, see: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mk5DYWU-LirXlXT9_B3R6ZbDn4Iautr_/view?usp=sharing
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.
Needs a complete overlay and it would be great.
The trail from Cannon to Welch is OK, but the trail from Red Wing to Welch is quite cracked and bumpy. Needs a complete overlay and it would be awesome.
Great trail but needs repair, mowing needs to be done more to keep weeds off trail , northern end better maintained Rochester to rail bridge need work
Only 4 stars due to the surface not being what we expected due to the app saying it is asphalt.
We started from our hotel on Mondovi Road and Short Road heading south. At this point we were 3 miles in from the trails start. At our 8 mile mark (11 miles from the start of the trail) the surface changed from clean asphalt to what is more like a "rail trail", with crushed black stone, only it was over the asphalt. There were low weeds in the center of the trail, with points where there was only a small path to ride along each edge of the trail. It is mostly wooded and relatively low grade. We went as far as the trailhead on 730th street. 31.88 miles round trip.
The next day we started at the 730th street trailhead where there is an outhouse and a picnic table. We went as far as Durand where the trail ended at a trailhead. The last 6.5 miles (as per signage) is maintained by a different county and was in excellent condition with smooth asphalt. 23.31 round trip.
The total one way of this trip is closer to 30.5 miles. Approximately 17 miles is fairly good asphalt, and 13 miles with crushed black stone, more consistent with a rail 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.
this trail is really great too ride on to see overgrown weeds and horses. there is not much for greenery unlike Canyon Valley Trail. there is a nice bar at the end and it completed my 26. 4 mile ride on my bike
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