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Paul Bunyan State Trail |
(Minnesota) |
Heartland State Trail |
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When completed, the Paul Bunyan State Trail will be
over 100 miles long and run from Crow Wing State
Park to Lake Bemidji State Park. The trail is
generally level and is wheelchair accessible with
the exception of the 9 mile segment through the
Chippewa National Forest. This segment has many
rolling hills with grades reaching 8 %. Currently, a
total of 80 miles of the trail is paved. There are
73 finished miles from Baxter to north of Walker,
and an additional 7 miles running south from Lake
Bemidji State Park. The remaining 28 mile section is
undeveloped with variable surface material ranging
from the original railroad ballast to sand.
The trail runs through some of Minnesota's prime
resort country. Gift stores, antique shops,
restaurants, coffee shops, and bike stands are
everywhere along the path. Bikes and in-line skates
can be rented at most of the towns. There is also a
bike-in campground just south of Pine River on
state forest land. It is accessible only from the
trail and has four campsites. Each pair of sites
shares a pit toilet, fire ring and picnic
table. When the entire trail is finished, it
will run through 15 towns, cross nine rivers and
streams, and run along the shorelines of 21 lakes.
When completed, the Paul Bunyan State Trail will
also connect with the Blue Ox Trail forming one of
the longest rail-to-trail conversions in North
America, for a total distance of 210 miles.
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Paul Bunyan Trail Information:
DNR Information
Center
(metro area & outside MN) |
651/296-6157
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toll free) |
888/646-6367 |
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The Heartland State Trail was one of the first
rails-to-trails projects in the country. The total
length from Park Rapids to Cass Lake is 47 miles.
The trail is located entirely on a level abandoned
railroad grade, except for a four mile segment north
of Walker which is on sharply rolling terrain. The
27 mile segment between Park Rapids and Walker has a
second grassy pathway for horseback riding and
snowmobiling. This trail is very scenic as it passes
through wetlands, lakes, rolling hills and forest.
The forest changes from hardwoods to pines as you
head north. South of Cass Lake, there is an
old trestle bridge which used to turned to allow
steamboats through in a bygone era.
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Heartland Trail Information:
DNR
Info Center
(metro area & outside Mn) |
651/296-6157
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toll free) |
888/646-6367 |
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Paul Bunyan
Trail |
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Jeff
Russ
Cliff
Twin
Cities Cedar Falls Twin Cities |
Pequot
Lakes Trailhead
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Pioneer
Village in Nisswa
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Colin
Gina Tim
from Woodstock Illinois |
Molly
Lake - 4 mi south of Nisswa
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Family
outing north of Hackensack
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Heartland
Trail |
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| 3
family outing by Nevis |
Downtown
Dorset |
Taken
from trail between Dorset-Nevis |
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