Bicycle Trails in Minneapolis St. Paul

Bicycling is a popular pasttime in Minneapolis-St. Paul. On any given day, approximately 10,000 bicyclists can be found on the city streets. While this number does rise in the summer months, a few brave members can be seen even in the frigid months of January and December,

Thanks to the efforts of the city and state governments and various bicycling clubs, the Twin Cities currently boasts over 80 miles of trails devoted to bicyclists, roller-bladers, and other rider-powered wheeled vehicles. By far, the most popular of these trails is the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway, a 50-mile route that circles around the city of Minneapolis and parts of St. Paul. And scenic it is!

Maneuvering down the trails, you'll pass numerous lakes, the Mississippi River, the downtown riverfront, and Theodore Wirth Park. My one complaint about this particular trail is the unclear entrance to the Lake of the Isles section. While trying to travel the entire length of the route one day, I became confused and ended up at the Midtown Greenway.

The Midtown Greenway begins near the Uptown area on the western border of the city and ends near the Mississippi River on the border of St. Paul. The trail is popular with commuters but activity diminishes at night. This may be due to the design of the path. Through parts of the trail, you dip below street level and walls on each side of the path rise up and enclose you.

This can lead to a creepy feeling at night, similar to being in an out-of-the-way downtown alley. However, the Public Works Department supervises this particular route and has provided an extra bit of security not typically seen on bicycling trails in Minneapolis. The area is well-lit and security booths occur approximately every half-mile. Should you find yourself in the horrific position of needing help, push the button on one of these booths and emergency services will be notified.

If you're looking to get into a more rural environment, visit the 18-mile Gateway State Trail. This route begins near Phalen Park in St. Paul and extends to Stillwater, MN and the western border of Wisconsin. Even through the urban sections, a canopy of trees covers the rider, giving it a rural feel.

There are many, many other trails in the Twin Cities area from the 2-mile route through Veterans Park in Richfield, MN to the 40-mile Minnetonka Loop in the western suburbs. Any of the numerous bicycle shops in the area can provide you with more suggestions.