2025-12-15 07:32:30
Find a range of biking experiences, from scenic trails on former railroads and forested paths to urban routes and world-class mountain bike trails.
One of the world’s only gold-level International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) ride centers, the Duluth Traverse is a 40-mile network of mountain bike trails. Take your ride to another level on Spirit Mountain, a downhill mountain bike park with amazing views of Lake Superior and the St. Louis River. With 24 trails ranging from easy to expert, bikers of all ages can enjoy.
Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails is one of 15 IMBA Silver Level Ride Centers in the world. Located at the site of a former iron ore mine, Cuyuna lets beginners and pros alike ride 70+ miles of trails with an impressive variety of terrain and experiences. There’s year-round riding with detailed guidelines by season.
Pedal at your own pace along the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, one of the country’s best urban trails. This 51-mile loop connects the downtown Minneapolis waterfront, Mississippi River, Minnehaha Falls and Chain of Lakes. Take a break at one of the many parks, playgrounds, gardens and lakes along the way.
Within the Twin Cities, you can bike to restaurants, breweries, parks and other attractions with convenient shared bike, e-bike and scooter services such as Lime, Veo and Spin.
Minnesota is home to 4,000+ miles of paved bike trails. The North Star Route, also known as U.S. Bicycle Route 41, covers 315 miles from St. Paul to the Canadian border with roughly half the trail hugging the North Shore of Lake Superior. Winding through two national parks units and connecting to nine state parks, nearly half the route is on state and regional trails. USBR41 also passes through two nationally recognized bicycle-friendly communities, Duluth and Grand Marais.
Located largely on road shoulders, the Mississippi River Trail (USBR45) includes segments of scenic state, regional and local trails. It winds through pine forests, soaring river bluffs and many natural and cultural highlights in major cities.
At 115 miles, Paul Bunyan State Trail is the longest of Minnesota’s state trails and the longest continuously paved rail trail in the country. It stretches from Crow Wing State Park to Lake Bemidji State Park.
Take in outstanding views of the towering limestone bluffs on Root River State Trail. Constructed on an abandoned railroad, this trail meanders 42 miles from Fountain to Houston along the Root River.
Designed for off-road biking in snow, fat biking is popular across the state in the winter. Forest scenery and city skyline views provide the backdrop to some of the region’s best single track for fat bikes.
One of the top parks for fat biking is Theodore Wirth Park in the Twin Cities. Find everything from beginner-friendly paths to extreme routes, including a Mountain Bike Skills Area to help improve your technique. Check out Trail 45 North, an intermediate trail that crosses directly over the 45th parallel. You can even rent fat tire bikes (and other outdoor equipment) at The Trailhead, an outdoor recreation facility located within the park.
Head to the woods west of Duluth to experience the epic scenery of Mission Creek. Feast on 20 miles of twisty single track for a fun, fast-flowing ride loaded with features like rollers, berms and bridges. As you ride, take in the stunning views of the St. Louis River Valley and Jay Cooke State Park.
In southern Minnesota, the Bronk Unit Plowline Trail at Richard J. Dorer State Forest runs along the ridge between Stockton Valley and the Mississippi River for 6.5 miles. The north and south loop trails rise and fall with the ridge, soaring 500 feet over the valleys and creating amazing scenic overlooks.
Scan or visit ExploreMinnesota.com/biking to discover more about biking in Minnesota.
Gravel Bike Rides & Races
Gravel biking strikes the perfect balance between road biking and mountain biking. Take the experience to another level by entering a gravel bike race. USA Cycling’s Gravel National Championship will be hosted in La Crescent, Minnesota in 2026! Here are some races and rides where you can get in on the action.
©Explore Minnesota. View All Articles.
Biking
https://digital.milespartnership.com/article/Biking/5067888/856372/article.html