Root River State Trail and Harmony-Preston State Trail (collectively called the Blufflands State Trail) are a paved multi-use
rail trail
A rail trail or railway walk is a shared-use path on a Right of way#Rail right of way, railway right of way. Rail trails are typically constructed after a railway has been abandoned and the track has been removed but may also share the rail corr ...
system in the
driftless area
The Driftless Area, also known as Bluff Country and the Paleozoic Plateau, is a topographic and cultural region in the Midwestern United States that comprises southwestern Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, and the extreme ...
of southeast
Minnesota
Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...
. The trail system consists of two main segments, the Root River segment, and Harmony-Preston Valley segment. The trails are used mainly for bicycling, hiking, and inline skating in the summer, and for cross country skiing in the winter. Much of the trail, especially the Root River segment, is built along a former Milwaukee Road (
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (CMStP&P), better known as the Milwaukee Road , was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the United States from 1847 until 1986.
The company experienced financi ...
) railbed following the contours of the
Root River valley. The trail was originally paved in the 1980s, and repaved by June 2008.
History
The Root River State Trail was initially authorized by the Minnesota State Legislature in 1971. The state of Minnesota bought 49 miles of abandoned rail bed in 1981 for $975,000. The Root River State Trail was built on of this acquisition. Development of the trail started in 1985 and was completed in 1988 with the $2M in state bonds. The trail was extended from Rushford to Houston in 1998. In 2011, a plan was developed in the legislature to extend the trail to
Hokah, Miller's Corner, and
La Crescent.
See also
*
Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway
*
List of rivers of Minnesota
Minnesota has 6,564 natural rivers and streams that cumulatively flow for . The Mississippi River begins its journey from its headwaters at Lake Itasca and crosses the Iowa border downstream. It is joined by the Minnesota River at Fort Snel ...
Root River segment
in length, the trail runs predominantly east/west, following the meanders of the
Root River for much of the distance. Because most of this trail segment was constructed on an abandoned rail grade, most of the inclines and curves are quite gradual. The trail end points are at the intersection of County Highway 8 and Maple Street in Fountain and West Plum Street in Houston.
[Trails from Rails: area businesses catering to trail users, listed by town]
/ref>
The trail intersects six towns along the way:
* - Fountain, Minnesota
Fountain is a city in Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 410 at the 2010 census. Fountain is the western terminus of the Root River segment of the Root River State Trail. Local attractions include the Fillmore Count ...
(western terminus of trail segment), elevation:
* - junction with Harmony-Preston Valley segment
* - Lanesboro, Minnesota
Lanesboro is a city in Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 754 at the 2010 census. It was named after F. A. Lane, an early landowner.
The South Branch of the Root River flows through it, with a waterfall dam across ...
, elevation:
* - Whalan, Minnesota, elevation:
* - Peterson, Minnesota
Peterson is a city in Fillmore County, Minnesota, Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 199 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census.
History
In the year 1853, Peter Peterson Haslerud purchased and platted the villa ...
, elevation:
* - Rushford, Minnesota
Rushford is a city in Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,860 at the 2020 census.
History
The first pioneers pole-boated up the Root River to the junction of Rush Creek, peering through 10-foot tall grasses to see ...
, elevation:
* - Houston, Minnesota
Houston ( ) is a city in Houston County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 997 at the 2020 census.
History
The community was named after Sam Houston, first president of the Republic of Texas.
In 1852, William McSpadden platted th ...
(eastern terminus of trail segment), elevation:
Harmony-Preston Valley segment
in length, the trail runs predominantly north–south. The trail follows the Root River only from the junction to Preston. South of Preston, the trail is no longer built on a former rail grade, causing the inclines to be steeper in areas. Nearing Harmony, the trail begins to form sharp right angles as it cuts between existing farm fields and properties. The trail endpoints are the Root River State Trail junction northeast of Preston and the Harmony Visitor Center in Harmony.Preston, Minnesota
Preston is a city in and the county seat of Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,325 at the 2010 census. The Root River runs through it, and Mystery Cave State Park is nearby. It bills itself as "America's Trout C ...
, elevation:
* - Harmony, Minnesota
Harmony is a city in Fillmore County, Minnesota, Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,020 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. The town bills itself as the "Biggest Little Town in Southern Minnesota" and f ...
(southern terminus of trail segment), elevation:
References
{{Minnesota hiking trails
Rail trails in Minnesota
Protected areas of Fillmore County, Minnesota
Protected areas of Houston County, Minnesota
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad