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Root River State Trail

Rail-trail in Minnesota · OpenStreetMap relation

Length
42.3 mi 68.0 km1
On former railbed
34.1 mi 81%
Surface
Paved1
Last checked
Oct 12, 2026

Root River State Trail and Harmony-Preston State Trail are a 60-mile (97 km) paved multi-use rail trail system in the driftless area of southeast Minnesota. The trail system consists of two main segments, the Root River segment, and Harmony-Preston Valley segment. The trails are used mainly for bicycling, hiking, and inline skating in the summer, and for cross country skiing in the winter. Much of the trail, especially the Root River segment, is built along a former Milwaukee Road railbed following the contours of the Root River valley. The trail was originally paved in the 1980s, and repaved by June 2008.

From Wikipedia2 (CC BY-SA). Help improve the article and it improves here.

  • Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway - Recreational Trail in Lanesboro - NARA - 7719205.jpg Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway - Recreational Trail in Lanesboro - NARA - 7719205.jpg
    Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
  • Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway - Root River State Trail Biking Path - NARA - 7719171.jpg Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway - Root River State Trail Biking Path - NARA - 7719171.jpg
    Photo: S. Clyde · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
  • Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway - Root River State Trail Sign - NARA - 7719170.jpg Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway - Root River State Trail Sign - NARA - 7719170.jpg
    Photo: S. Clyde · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
  • Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway - Rushford Depot and Museum - NARA - 7719210.jpg Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway - Rushford Depot and Museum - NARA - 7719210.jpg
    Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
  • Root River State Trail Bridge in Lanesboro, MN.jpg Root River State Trail Bridge in Lanesboro, MN.jpg
    Photo: Lanesboro Arts · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
  • Root River Trail near Lanesboro.jpg Root River Trail near Lanesboro.jpg
    Photo: Kstoerz (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

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Sources

  1. OpenStreetMap relation 3061519, OpenStreetMap contributors · Map data · ODbL · checked Oct 12, 2026
  2. “Root River State Trail”, Wikipedia · Encyclopedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · checked Oct 12, 2026
  3. Wikidata Q4930684, Wikidata · Knowledge base · CC0 · checked Oct 12, 2026

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