Crews completed the major grading on the Dakota Rail Regional Trail in 2018, and lowered the
bridge over Otter Creek into place, east of Lester Prairie.
TRAIL
A lot of work was done on the Dakota
Regional Trail in 2018, which connects Lester
Prairie to Carver and Hennepin counties.
Paving of the trail is scheduled to be completed
this year.
Where: The trail is a former railroad corridor
extending 44 miles from Hutchinson to Wayzata.
In September 2015, a 1.3-mile segment west
of the Carver/McLeod county line opened to
allow users to enter Lester Prairie.
Features: Near Lester Prairie, the trail features
a packed and leveled gravel surface. Paving
of the trail through Lester Prairie to McLeod
County Rd. 1 is scheduled to be completed
this year, along with sign installation and turf
establishment.
No motorized vehicles are allowed except
snowmobiles, which can be used west of
McLeod County Road 9. Snowmobiles are
not permitted on the trail anywhere in Carver
County.
A bridge was installed on the trail last year. The
original grant application called for concrete
culverts to replace the preious bridge. This was
later changed to a prefabricated metal bridge.
The bridge deck on the previous bridge was on
loan from the Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources, and has been returned to the DNR.
The bridge is required to be able to support
emergency vehicles, since the trail provides
the only access. McLeod County is responsible
for maintaining the bridge.