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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
Lake Brophy County Park: 6.5 miles

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.

Map

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

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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

Barsness Park Mountain Biking

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
Kensington Rune Stone Park Mountain Biking

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
Milaca Mountain Biking Milaca Mountain Biking

Milaca Mountain Biking

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.
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Pillsbury State Forest Mountain Biking

Logging road at Pillsbury State Forest.

Pillsbury State Forest Mountain Biking

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.

Map

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
Jail Trail Mountain Biking   


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. 

Info

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.

Map
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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.
Map

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Brainerd is in the heart of Minnesota's Lake Country
Alexandria, MN is home to miles of bike trails, paved and dirt!
Experience Minnesota's North Shore splendor in beautiful Cook County
The Scenic Shore 150 Bike Tour is a two-day, 150-mile, fully supported cycling event that is open to riders of all ages and abilities.
Hutchinson MN: Home of the Luce Line State Trail
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