The beautiful town of Rochester, MN has often been rated one of the country’s best cities for quality of life. The town and its surroundings offer a wonderful variety of urban and natural scenery to explore, with 85 miles of interconnecting biking trails. Whatever your level of experience, you’ll find plenty of excellent bike paths in Rochester.
6 Great Bike Paths and Trails Near Rochester, MN
Kutzky and Cooke Trail
For a cycle through some of the prettiest areas of town, this popular route takes you through two scenic parks and the peaceful Cooke Park Design District. It’s an easy ride, ideal for families, with many places to stop en route for a picnic or coffee. In Kutzky Park, you’ll follow the bank of Cascade Creek for a while, providing a nice breathe of nature in the heart of town.
Gamehaven Trail
For mountain bikers seeking more of a challenge, this well-developed, rolling, singletrack path takes you through hilly woodland beside Gamehaven Reservoir. The trail has a pleasant flow to it, with many short climbs and a couple of steep ones, plus a series of fun switchbacks. The highest point of the path rewards you with benches to rest on and a fine overlook of the reservoir.
Douglas Trail
For families with slightly older children, this 12-mile path overlays an abandoned railway grade, taking you through gorgeous rural scenery. You’ll cycle through a landscape of rolling fields and pristine meadows, and also densely forested areas rich with birds and wildlife. It’s an easy-going, flat route, with places to stop and eat in the pleasant little town of Douglas.
Silver Lake Loop
This convenient 1.9 mile-trail takes you around the shores of a glistening lake. You’ll see many birds as you ride, including gaggles of honking geese, and you’ll also pass over a handful of picturesque bridges. It’s another family-friendly ride, right in town, with an abundance of places to stop by the water.
Eastwood Trail
Another favorite of local mountain bikers is the Eastwood Trail to the east of town. It’s a rough, winding singletrack route through groves of hardwood, pine, and tunnels of buckthorn. There are moderate climbs and descents along the way, with optional obstacles, and a few thrilling clusters of tight turns.
Downtown Tour Trail
If you’re new to Rochester, why not take this 3-mile path which brings you past many of the city’s best cultural sights, including the Rochester Art Center. Most of the route is along the grassy banks of the Zumbro River. It’s a perfect path for younger children who might want to stop for frequent breaks by the water.
Cascade Lake Loop
For a brisk ride out in the fresh open air, with scents of the lake and birdsong all around, head to beautiful Cascade Lake for the 2.4-mile cycle around its shores. You’ll pass swathes of wildflowers, benches for resting, and interlinking trails that take you off into the hills, for those who feel like a longer ride.
Whichever of the above cycling routes you choose for the day, follow it up with a visit to Rochester Mazda, a local one-stop shop for all your vehicle purchasing, servicing, and financing needs.
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