Central Minnesota Mountain Bike Trails
There’s great mountain biking in the heart of Minnesota. From the purpose-built red dirt flow trails of the Cuyuna Lakes, to the granite outcroppings of Quarry Park in St. Cloud, the center of the state has a great variety of trails to explore.
Alexandria
Beginner to expert gravity flow trail singletrack with 200′ elevation change.
The top overlooks the entire park and the city of Alexandria and has a prairie landscape.
Dock jumps, drops and a rock garden can be found on the more technical, expert sections on the west side of the trail system. The eastern part is more of a cross-country ride with long straightaways and sweeping turns. There are bathrooms, beach access and a playground. The paved Central Lakes Trail skirts the park and provides access by bike.
Cuyuna, Crosby, Ironton
Cuyuna Lakes State Recreation Area: about 70 miles
An IMBA Silver Level Ride Center. Clearly marked, one-way singletrack trails from easy beginner to hardcore expert with stunning views from the top of overburden piles left from the area’s mining days. Deep mine lakes offer refreshment after a hard ride and invite you to dive in or take the kayak out for a paddle. The town of Cuyuna also has a pump track. Lots of trails are groomed for fat biking in the winter, including the paved Cuyuna Lakes State Trail, which runs through the heart of the system and connects many of the mountain bike trail clusters. Coming in 2022: A new 7.5-mile adaptive trail that accommodates hand cycles.
Read: A Cuyuna Christmas
Three Generations of Mountain Biking
New Mountain Bike Trails at Cuyuna
Elk River
Hillside Park: 6 miles
Mostly advanced to expert trail that is either climbing or descending for the entire course. Good skills practice. Groomed for fat bikes in the winter.
Map
Fergus Falls
Ferber Park: 2.2 miles
A mix of rolling hills and flat terrain in wooded and grassy areas with less difficult to more challenging trails. Trails were developed by volunteers with help from the City of Fergus Falls and continue to be improved. Look for additional trails in the future.
Map
Glenwood
Barsness Park: 7 miles
Beginner to intermediate single track with two challenging climbs to panoramic views of Lake Minnewaska near downtown Glenwood. This system packs in a lot of rollers, berms and fun, flowy sections including some rock obstacles.
Read: New Mountain Bike Trails in Glenwood, MN
Map
Trail building in process with a view of Lake Minnewaska.
Hutchinson
Stahl’s Lake Park: 3 miles
Moderate terrain with some small hills, a balance beam and seesaw.
Map
Kensington
Kensington Rune Stone Park: 7.5 miles
Beginner to intermediate, dedicated singletrack. The park has a visitor center with bathrooms. Gromed for fatbikes in the winter.
More Info
McGregor
Savanna Portage State Park: 10 miles
Mixture of grass and dirt doubletrack. The trail offers varied topography in its several loops with a challenging climb up the Continental Divide with an awesome view as a reward.
Map
Milaca
Milaca City Trails: 14 miles
Located near the Rum River, this system offers a variety of trail options for riders of all skill levels. Most of the trails are singletrack and go through a mix of woods, hills and fields. Trails are groomed for skiing and fatbiking in the winter.
Map/Info
A bridge across the Rum River connects Milaca’s Recreation Park to the mountain bike trail system.
Pillager
Pillsbury State Forest: 27 miles
Mixture of gravel logging roads, grass and dirt. The trail winds and twists through forest and past lakes with rolling terrain. All trails are multi-use, some include horseback riding.
Map
Logging road at Pillsbury State Forest.
Some areas can be wet after rainfall or during snowmelt.
Pine River
Cut Lake Trail: 10 miles
Wide, grassy trails through the forest around Deer and Cut Lakes, ranging from beginner to intermediate. Great solitude and backcountry riding. Groomed only for skiing in the winter.
Saint Cloud
Jail Trail: 7.5 miles
Beginner to intermediate with advanced options. Singletrack trail runs through dense woods with sections along the fence of the Minnesota Correctional Facility. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.
Info
River Bluffs Regional Park: 3 miles
Beginner singletrack loop near the Mississippi River. Groomed for fatbikes in the winter.
Info
Sartell
Sauk River Regional Park: 2 miles
A great beginner trail for a quick round or running laps in an 80-acre park on the Sauk River. One technical line runs along a berm. Rock gardens in the woods add to the fun. Skills area coming in 2023.
Spicer
Prairie Woods ELC: 4 miles
Easy singletrack trails at the Environmental Learning Center start at the parking lot and wind through a mix of open prairie and deciduous woods. The Oak Savannah Trail has a seesaw; other trails have short sections of boardwalk and bridges.
Wadena
Black’s Grove: 8 miles
Beginner to advanced scenic trails that wind through a wooded setting and along Oak Creek. Groomed for fat biking and skiing in the winter.
Waite Park
Quarry Park: 2.2 miles
Intermediate: Doubletrack with a mixture of gravel, dirt and grass around some granite outcroppings. Runs through a heavily wooded area with a few fairly technical sections where you bike over billion-year old bedrock. This park has separate trails for walking, skiing and fat biking in the winter.
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