Minnesota Valley State Trail is a 27-mile (43 km), multi-use trail in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area that runs parallel to the

Minnesota River The Minnesota River () is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 332 miles (534 km) long, in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It drains a watershed of in Minnesota and about in South Dakota and Iowa. It rises in southwestern ...

from the cities of Belle Plaine to Shakopee. A 10-mile (16 km) segment of the trail from Chaska to Shakopee is paved. Allowable trail uses include hiking, biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. First established in 1969, and never fully completed, the trail is undergoing a 13.5 mile (22 km) extension in 2019 and 2020.

Route

Minnesota Valley State Trail weaves in and out of floodplain areas and forests, with dense oak forests, oak savannas, wetlands, and lakes as the most common features. The portion of the trail through the Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area has many floodplains. Low-lying areas on the trail, especially close to the banks of the Minnesota River, are prone to periodic flooding. The trail has a total elevation gain of 1,288 feet (393 m) over its lengthy course, but it is relatively flat with elevation ranging from 713 feet (218 m) to 800 feet (242 m) above sea level. Some maps and trail users imprecisely refer to the Minnesota Valley State Trail as the “State Corridor Trail.” In Minnesota, a state trail corridor refers to a network of interconnected, long-distance trails providing cross-jurisdictional linkage. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources manages some state corridor trails and segments, while other trails/segments may be entirely managed by local governments but still included in a statewide inventory. Minnesota Valley State Trail is one example of a state corridor trail.

History

The Minnesota River valley has been a vital, but overlooked natural area, especially as it approaches confluence with the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...

near Fort Snelling State Park. In 1969, the

Minnesota Legislature The Minnesota Legislature is the bicameral legislature of the U.S. state of Minnesota consisting of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Senators are elected from 67 single-member districts. In order to account for decenn ...

established a state trail system in the

valley from the city of Le Sueur to Fort Snelling State Park. By 2019, only the 27-mile segment from Belle Plaine to Shakopee had been developed, including a natural surface trail from Belle Plaine to Chaska, and a paved trail from Chaska to Shakopee. The

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, or Minnesota DNR, is the agency of the U.S. state of Minnesota charged with conserving and managing the state's natural resources. The agency maintains areas such as state parks, state forests, rec ...

is responsible for maintaining the trail, though segments of it pass through areas under state, local, and federal jurisdiction. Future expansion of the trail is desired by the department should additional resources be available. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources began the construction of the new trail segment through the city of Bloomington in 2019. The 13.5 mile (22 km) extension pushes the northern end of the trail up from the Bloomington Ferry Bridge to the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, which lies within the

Mississippi National River and Recreation Area The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is a and protected corridor along the Mississippi River through Minneapolis–Saint Paul in the U.S. state of Minnesota, from the cities of Dayton and Ramsey to just downstream of Hastings. Th ...

. After the extension is complete, trail users will be able to connect to the

Big Rivers Regional Trail Big Rivers Regional Trail is a paved rail trail that overlooks the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers along the northern edge of Dakota County, Minnesota, United States. It runs between the cities of Eagan and Lilydale. The tra ...

at the wildlife refuge. Portions of the trail extension are slated to be paved, which generated some local controversy, especially from

mountain biking Mountain biking (MTB) is a sport of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, usually using specially designed mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes but incorporate features designed to enhance durability ...

enthusiasts.

References

External links

Map and Guide: Minnesota Valley Recreation Area

Minnesota Valley State Trail, Bloomington Segment Proposed Trail Alignment
{{Mississippi National River and Recreation Area Mississippi National River and Recreation Area Regional parks in Minnesota Hiking trails in Minnesota National Recreation Trails in Minnesota Minnesota state trails Minnesota River Protected areas of Hennepin County, Minnesota Protected areas of Scott County, Minnesota Protected areas of Carver County, Minnesota Protected areas of Dakota County, Minnesota 1960s establishments in Minnesota Protected areas established in the 1960s

Route

History

See also

References

External links