Minnesota Valley State Trail

Scenery: ★★★★☆

Upkeep: ★★☆☆☆

Traffic: ★★★★★

Trail Length: 9.5 miles paved/17.6 miles unpaved Difficulty: Easy (Other than two or three steep hills, this trail is very level)

The other day, the weather was finally nice enough to get out on my bike. After checking my tire pressure (thank goodness I did – both tires were right around 12 PSI) I sped down a big hill to the entrance of the Minnesota Valley State Trail. This trail, save for some slightly sketchy stretches, offers beautiful views of the Minnesota river and surrounding forests and countryside.

If you start the trail in Shakopee, as I have been accustomed to do, you will have to go past an unsightly trailer park and make your way around a large concrete slab before entering the forest. Take note of the creepy, abandoned playground on your right – but fear not, the trail can only get better from here. You will cross a bridge over a small stream, then the trail meanders through a swampy section of the woods. Shortly you will arrive on the outskirts of a much more friendly park. Pedestrians like to use the trail here, so be prepared to shout, “ON YOUR LEFT!” a number of times.

The pedestrians thin out quickly as you duck back into the forest, descending a steep hill toward the river bank. There’s a small section of forest between the trail and the river where it is common to spot a group of young guys putzing around, setting up a (possibly illegal) campsite or fishing lazily.

The trail hugs the river bank for a bit, then veers back into a pretty section of forest. On your left, you will pass the mysterious ruins of the Shakopee Brewery, built in 1854. Both picturesque and eerie, remnants of the old limestone buildings tangle with the vines and moss of the riverbank forest. The ruins are privately owned, and the signage makes it very clear that absolutely no trespassing is allowed. So, the only way to view this historic site is via the secluded bike trail. I’m guessing many of the locals don’t even know these ruins exist. Unusually, many times when I have biked past the old brewery, loud big-band jazz music can be heard emanating from the site.

You will pass through a gorgeous tunnel of trees that is green and magical in the summertime, then the woods open up to reveal vast fields and distant ponds. It is quite lovely. The trail continues on toward Chaska, through similar swampy, green forests. At the end of the paved part of the trail, you cross a large bridge over the river, which offers some beautiful vantage points. From here, you could keep pedaling all the way to Belle Plaine on an earthen trail, or you could stop for ice cream in quaint downtown Chaska. All in all, I recommend this bike trail because of its natural beauty and solitude. Each time I use the trail, I only pass a handful of other cyclists. The trail is in need of some maintenance, though – watch out for potholes, rough sections, mud, and fallen branches.

For information on another great Minnesota trail, check out my post on the Cannon Valley Trail.