Minnesota Trails

The woodlands of north-central Minnesota have a mythical appeal. Legendary lumberjacks loom large around here. The forests are full of wildlife. It's the "Land of 10,000 Lakes," that look like ink spills on a map. 

Tucked away among the timbers is the long-striding Paul Bunyan State Trail, which rolls 112 miles from Lake Bemidji State Park on the northern end to Crow Wing State Park.

By Kirsti Marohn-Kmarohn: St Cloud Times

The Lake Wobegon Regional Trail already covers 62 miles of Stearns County, giving bicyclists, walkers and snowmobilers a traffic-free route from Osakis to St. Joseph.

But there’s a critical missing piece, a 7-mile stretch from St. Joseph to the St. Cloud metro area, that will run along an active rail line. Stearns County parks director Chuck Wocken would love to see this section completed.

We have known this for a long time and now it is official.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has obtained the exclusive right and option to purchase the former Minnesota Zephyr railroad line. The department intends to convert the line to a 6.5-mile recreational trail that would connect downtown Stillwater to the Gateway State Trail.

The riverside trail, linking the Mill Towns Trail to downtown Northfield, was dedicated to Maggie Lee, who cut the purple ribbon officially opening the trail.  

The gold finches have turned yellow, the buds on the trees are turning to leaves and a paving machine has laid new asphalt on a major portion of the Paul Bunyan Trail between Guthrie to Walker.

The Whitewater Country Loop Trail

Friends of the Jackson County Trails

Interview by Linda Picone