The Minnesota River Route follows the Minnesota River’s final 50 miles from Belle Plaine, MN, to its confluence with the Mississippi River in the heart of the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN). This route is mostly unpaved single- and double-track trail, with less than 15 miles of paved multi-use path.
Situated within the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area, highlights of the trail include scenic river and wetland views, with ample opportunities to spot wildlife along the trail. Deer, beaver, owls, wild turkey, cranes and other waterfowl are the most commonly sighted; however, foxes, river otters, coyotes, and mountain lions may occasionally be sighted as well.
This route combines the Minnesota Valley State Trail, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge (aka River Bottoms) trail system, the Mendota Trail, and part of the Big Rivers Regional Trail to accompany the Minnesota River along the final leg of its journey. As the river winds its way in and out of civilization, you’ll find yourself passing small downtown areas, historic establishments, and even Minnesota’s Valley Fair amusement park.
Flooding is common along the route, so we recommend checking for trail conditions before making an attempt. Due to a trail washout 1.5 miles north/east of Scott County Road 9, there is currently a reroute through back roads and the Louisville Swamp area that adds 5 miles onto this route.
Starting point: Hooper Bowler Hillstrom House, located within Court Square Park, 405 N Chestnut St, Belle Plaine, MN 56011
Ending point: Overlook at the Confluence of the Rivers, 1111 Sibley Memorial Hwy, St Paul, MN 55118
Minnesota Valley State Trail: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_trails/minnesota_valley/index.html
Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=sra00304#homepage
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/minnesota-valley
Mendota Trail: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/minnesota/mendota-trail
Big Rivers Regional Trail: https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/parks/parksTrails/BigRivers
