The Cannon Valley Trail follows the Cannon River from Cannon Falls
to Red Wing for a total of over 19 miles. The 9½ mile section between
Cannon Falls and Welch runs close to a cliff for much of its length. On
the
outskirts of Cannon Falls, the trail runs high on the cliff and gives a
great view of the river far below. This short stretch is lined
with a
wooden
barrier. The eastern half is flatter and more suitable for
children. It also
seems more remote, as there are very few crossroads
encountered. The
entire trail is heavily wooded except for short sections
of cropland, wetlands, or pasture. There are canoe rentals in both
Cannon Falls and
Welch, as this is a favorite canoeing and tubing river.
The little village of
Welch actually lies about ¼ mile north of Welch
Station(an old railroad
station & rest area along the trail). There is a
115 foot descent between
Cannon Falls and Red Wing. The asphalt
surfacing was completed in
1992. This trail runs through some of the
most scenic areas of southeast
Minnesota, so it's easy to see why this
trail is popular.
|
|
