Must-Do Bike Rides in 2026
Road, trail, or gravel—whatever you ride, 2026 is packed with adventure! Check out our list of must-do bike rides in Minnesota and beyond, and start marking your calendars for a year full of unforgettable cycling experiences.
Pedal Fergus Falls photo
Lake Alice 100
Fergus Falls, MN
May 9, 2026
No, you don’t have to ride 100 miles, but, if you do, 87 laps around the lake will get you there. It’s always held the Saturday before Mother’s Day and always free. website
Tour de Tulips photo
Orange City Tulip Festival Tour de Tulips
Orange City, Iowa
May 16, 2026
This supported ride is just the beginning of the fun at Orange City’s Tulip Festival, a celebration bursting with color, culture, and Dutch pride. When you’re done pedaling, join in the festivities of this nationally recognized event, where over 100,000 visitors gather each year to experience one of the Midwest’s most charming traditions. website
Med City Meander
Rochester, MN
May 23, 2026
Join the friendly crew from BikeMN’s We Bike Rochester Chapter for a celebration of the city’s amazing trail network that winds through parks, rivers, and neighborhoods in Minnesota’s third-largest city. website
Tour de Loop
Luverne, MN
June 4, 2026
Enjoy a leisurely spring loop around Luverne, register for fun prize drawings, and gather for a sweet treat afterward! Stay for the weekend and dive into Luverne’s lively Buffalo Days, featuring a classic car show, parade, craft fair, and tons of family-friendly fun. website
Tour de Pepin
Lake City, MN
June 6, 2026
Experience one of the Midwest’s most unique and beloved cycling tours, the Tour de Pepin! Choose your route and explore the captivating terrain and historic river towns surrounding beautiful Lake Pepin. website
Tour of Lakes
Crosby, MN
June 6, 2026
This ride promises an abundance of beautiful scenery, fresh air and terrific rest stops. The Tour of Lakes is a one day recreational, not for-profit bicycle tour hosted by the Paul Bunyan Cyclists Bicycle Club. website
Caramel Roll Ride
Albany, MN
June 13, 2026
The Spring Bike Fling
Walker, MN
June 13, 2026
Hop on the Paul Bunyan Trail from Walker to Hackensack and pedal through the stunning forests and lake country of Paul Bunyan’s own backyard. website
Pedals For Pollinators
Holdingford, MN
August 8, 2026
Art in Motion, a Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund (BBHF) habitat site along the Lake Wobegon Trail is hosting this new ride. Participants may choose 21, 32, or 56 miles with a caramel roll breakfast, a post-ride gathering, and a silent auction. website
Tour of Minnesota photo
The Tour of Minnesota
Mankato, Faribault, Albert Lea, MN
June 13-19, 2026
Celebrating over 50 years of adventure, this iconic Minnesota ride continues to inspire cyclists with its mix of scenic roads, rolling trails, and lasting camaraderie. website
South Dakota Fish, Game and Parks photo
Mickelson Summer Trail Trek
Custer, SD
June 19-21, 2026
Discover the heart of the Black Hills on the Mickelson Trail, pedaling through valleys, tunnels, and historic mining towns on this 119-mile bucket list adventure. website
Loop the Lake Ride
Bemidji, MN
June 20, 2026
Take a fun bike cruise around Lake Bemidji with the whole family and experience the charm of the first city on the Mississippi from the seat of your bike. Enjoy beautiful lakeside views, community spirit, and plenty of family-friendly activities. website
Swiss Cheese and Spotted Cows Bicycle Tour
Sauk City, WI
June 26-July 1, 2026
Great Scott Classic Bike Ride
Prior Lake, MN
July 4, 2026
Savor the sights and sounds of rural Scott County on this welcoming ride hosted by the Great Scott Cycling Club. Choose from 25- or 50-mile routes, enjoy SAG support and rest stops, and cap off the day with a delicious post-ride lunch. website
Bluenose Gopher 50
Granite Falls, MN
July 11, 2026
WI Bike Fed photo
Ride Across WI
Eau Claire, WI
July 11, 2026
Riders from across the country come together to tackle epic distances, cruise through breathtaking countryside, and discover the hospitality of small-town USA. website
Jerry Hass photo
Tour of Saints
Saint Joseph, MN
July 19, 2026
It’s not a race. It’s a heavenly little ride. From cities across Minnesota and neighboring states, each year 1,000 or more cyclists gather in St. Joseph to wind their way along quiet byways and rolling hills of central Minnesota. Distances: 18, 35, 50 miles. website
Scenic Shore Bike Tour photo
Scenic Shore Bike Tour
Mequon, Manitowoc, Sturgeon Bay, WI
July 25-26, 2026
The Scenic Shore Bike Tour delivers two days and 150 miles of pure cycling joy along the sparkling shoreline of Lake Michigan. With full support and over 1,500 enthusiastic riders, it’s a weekend that blends challenge, beauty, and community. website
Minnesota Trails Magazine photo
Tour de Bun Bicycle Classic
Montgomery, MN
July 25, 2026
Pedal through the heart of Minnesota Czech Country in scenic Le Sueur County, where refreshment stops, quiet rural roads, and two adventurous gravel routes make for an unforgettable day on the bike. website
CaNDak
Velva, ND
August 1-8, 2026
This ride carries on the tradition of the CANDISK ride of North Dakota, with daily routes ranging from 35 to 70 miles and a century option. This is a multi-day tour through North Dakota with terrain varying from flat fields to steep hills. website
Great River Energy Mesabi Trail Tour
Embarrass, MN
August 1, 2026
While you pedal, fully supported, along one of Minnesota’s premiere paved bicycle trails you’ll encounter historic and scenic points of interest and enjoy food and music at rest stops. In 2026, the ride will travel between Embarrass and McKinley, with multiple ride options. website
Tour de Tonka
Minnetonka, MN
August 1, 2026
The Tour de Tonka is a Minnesota classic. Roll through the Lake Minnetonka area and its surrounding communities on your choice of routes, there’s a perfect distance for every rider. website
Duluth Trails Fest
Duluth, MN
August 7-9, 2026
Pedals For Pollinators
Holdingford, MN
August 8, 2026
Art in Motion, a Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund (BBHF) habitat site along the Lake Wobegon Trail is hosting this new ride. Participants may choose 21, 32, or 56 miles with a caramel roll breakfast, a post-ride gathering, and a silent auction. website
Jeff Nelson photo
Bridge the Valley Bike Rally
Stillwater, MN
August 9, 2026
Join the Stillwater Sunrise Rotary Club on an epic trip through the hills and valleys around Stillwater, MN. Part of the Rivers, Lakes, Fields Ride Series, including the Northfield Rotary Bike Tour. Ride both for extra swag and prize drawings. website
BAM (Bicycling Around Minnesota)
Detroit Lakes, MN
August 13-16, 2026
BAM riders enjoy rolling over paved, low-traffic roads and bikeways in Minnesota. They take care of all the details, and you just enjoy the ride. website
Gitchi-Gami North Shore Ride
Gooseberry Falls State Park
August 15, 2026
Enjoy a supported, recreational ride on the Gitchi-Gami State Trail along Lake Superior’s spectacular North Shore. Get up close to breathtaking shoreline views, listen to the rhythm of rushing waterfalls, and wind your way through beautiful state parks. website
BikeMN photo
Rock’n’Roll the Lakes
Albert Lea, MN
August 15, 2026
Albert Lea knows how to rock! Riders can choose from one of three different routes of SAG-supported, “rolling” fun around town. All three courses hug picturesque lake shores and offer a variety of beautiful southern Minnesota scenery. website
Camden Cruise
Marshall, MN
August 22, 2026
Part of the Sounds of Summer celebration, this free ride travels the scenic Camden Trail into nearby Camden State Park. Rest stops along the way keep you fed, and the first 50 riders receive a free water bottle. website
Jesse Steed photo
Northfield Rotary Bike Tour
Northfield, MN
September 12, 2026
There’s a route for everyone: Road, gravel or family. Part of the Rivers, Lakes, Fields Ride Series, including Bridge the Valley Bike Rally. Ride both for extra swag and prize drawings. website
RideMN1 photo
RideMN1
Fargo, ND to Duluth, MN
September 13-19, 2026
Join RideMN1 on their inspiring ride across Minnesota to raise awareness about cancer. This year’s route visits Fargo, Detroit Lakes, Itasca State Park, Federal Dam, Crosslake, Cromwell, and Duluth, with optional pre-ride camping and dinner to kick off the journey. website
Saint Paul Classic photo
Saint Paul Classic Bike Tour
Saint Paul, MN
September 13, 2026
As always, Classic riders enjoy the scenic and historic Grand Round in Saint Paul. Enjoy a delightful tour of five regional parks, plus a jaunt over the Mississippi River over to lovely Lilydale Park. Live music at every rest stop! website
South Dakota Fish, Game and Parks photo
Mickelson Trail Trek
Custer, SD
September 18-20, 2026
Discover the heart of the Black Hills on the Mickelson Trail, pedaling through valleys, tunnels, and historic mining towns on this 119-mile bucket list adventure. website
Kirsten Faurie photo
Mora Bike Tour
Mora, MN
September 19, 2026
Join the annual Mora Bike Tour, starting and finishing at the Vasaloppet Nordic Center. With two beautiful rural routes, well-stocked rest stops, and mobile repair support, it’s a perfect blend of Minnesota charm and cycling spirit. website
Ride the Ridges
Winona, MN
September 19, 2026
Ride the Ridges takes cyclists through some of the most scenic areas in southeastern Minnesota, from lush valleys along winding streams to bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. Every route features well-stocked rest stops with local delicacies to keep you fueled and happy. website
Rosewood Gramble
Thief River Falls, MN
September 19, 2026
Join Bike Thief River Falls on this ramble on gravel (Gramble) and see rural Pennington and Marshall Counties. You’ll ride the former beach ridges of Glacial Lake Agassiz, minimum maintenance roads and a bit of trail. website
Kato Bike Fall Fest
Mankato, MN
September 26-27, 2026
The Kato Bike Fall Fest is a weekend-long celebration highlighting the vibrant bike culture of the greater Mankato area. Expect spectacular routes, tasty treats, and plenty of fun surrounded by the serenity of a southern Minnesota autumn. website
Mama Law photo
Wheelin’ To Wall
Wall, SD
September 26, 2026
Experience the magic of Badlands National Park and its striking rock formations during this two-day cycling celebration. Both road and gravel routes are available on this fully supported ride through one of America’s most dramatic landscapes. website
Dirt Bag photo
Dirt Bag Gravel Grinder
Clearwater, MN
October 3, 2026
Jane Ma photo
Twin Cities Bike Tour
Minneapolis, MN
October 10, 2026
Celebrate the trails and communities that power Minnesota’s cycling culture. With support vehicles, mechanics, and rest stops along the way, all you need to do is ride, smile, and soak up the scenery. website
Lanesboro Area Chamber photo
The Filthy Fifty
Lanesboro, MN
October 10, 2026
Pedal through rolling Bluff Country roads and vibrant autumn hues in Lanesboro’s iconic gravel ride where challenge meets community spirit. With miles of scenic terrain and a lively race day atmosphere, it’s a fall biking tradition you won’t want to miss. website
Keep up with the latest MN Trails news and events in our newsletter
About me
I’m Jan, the publisher of Minnesota Trails Magazine. I’m looking for that one trail, the next ride, a new discovery and other reasons to never sit still in Minnesota.
More stories:
Our Mission
To inspire you to explore the Outdoors by telling the story of Minnesota’s parks and trails and the people who love them.