Last updated on June 22nd, 2019
The Dakota Rail Trail runs from Wayzata to Saint Bonifacius, winding through the Lake Minnetonka area for over 13 miles.
I am expecting to see a lot of scenes like this:
However, most of the section we bike through is heavily wooded (and shady) . . .
. . . or runs along homes of every size and vintage (some beautiful, some not) and a few cute outbuildings.
This short exploration of the trail is enough to ensure that we’ll be back to ride further and see what else is on offer in this part of the Twin Cities metro!
We only did a short segment of the trail, from County Road 51 to the detour at Fairview Lane in Mound (about 5 miles of the trail), as part of a larger outing to check out nearby Norenberg Gardens and the Minnetonka Center for the Arts. Only one tiny segment was unappealing, with big industrial buildings backing up to the trail.
Lake Minnetonka is a busy place on a summer weekend, so be prepared for congested roadways and limited parking availability. Designated parking along this trail is very limited, so know the options before you go.
The trail itself is separated from local streets, flat, and paved. It’s a little narrow to handle the number of users likely to be out on a beautiful morning, but it is in good shape.
There is at least one easy spot right along this segment of the trail to stop for lunch and there are other options off the trail.
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