Biking Central Lakes Trail Aerial Bridge - Photo provided by , Explore Alexandria , Kvidt Creative
Many Trails to Explore Up North
North minnesota
EXPLORE
BY CYNTHIA PARSONS , CONTRIBUTING WRITER
There are so many pristine trails and fun sports activities to participate in during the four seasons of Minnesota . Where do you start on your next outdoor adventure ?
Hiking and Biking We begin with hiking and biking . According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources ( DNR ), there are over 1,300 miles of state trails in Minnesota .
Some state trails are a good choice for people with physical disabilities because most trail surfaces are paved asphalt and are 8 to 12 feet wide . These trails have been built on abandoned railroad track surfaces ( rail-trails ), with a slope of only four percent .
“ The Central Lakes State Trail is a huge asset for the area ,” said James Feist , Executive Director of Explore Alexandria Tourism ( Explorealex . com ). “ The Central Lakes State
Trail starts at the Fergus Falls trailhead on Highway 210 and meanders 55 paved miles across Central Minnesota through rolling hills , forest , farmland and prairie to Osakis .” From Osakis , you can pick up the Lake Wobegon Trail with its many smalltown churches for another 65 paved miles of pedaling to St . Cloud . Both trails were built on the rail corridor formerly owned by the Burlington Northern Railroad Company .
The Lake Wobegon Trail goes north nine miles to Holdingford , home of Minnesota ’ s longest covered bridge , and connects to the paved 10-mile Soo Line Trail that goes through Bowlus , crosses the Mississippi River at Blanchard Dam , and ends at a trailhead on Highway 10 north of Royalton .
A future trail connection to the Paul Bunyan Trail is currently in the planning stages .
Stretching 120 miles through lake country between Bemidji and Brainerd , the Paul
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