Riding a bike with your friends can be the best way to spend your holidays. In fact, there’s nothing more satisfying than riding bikes with your best buddies while enjoying the beautiful scenery nature has to offer.
If you’re currently living in Minnesota, you’re in luck because you can enjoy some wonderful trails around Minnesota with amazing views. Best part? They’re perfect for quick bike racing with your friends. So here are some amazing bike-friendly trails around Minnesota where you could go on bike racing with your friends and have a great time.
1. Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway
If you want to arrange casual bike races inside the city, this can be the perfect place. The best thing about this place is that even amateur bike riders can easily ride bikes on this trail. This trail is about 100 miles long and filled with some aesthetic natural sceneries. While bike riding, you get to enjoy the beautiful chain of lakes with amazing-looking waterfront areas. You can also enjoy the vast view of Minnesota, making it a beautiful place to live. Apart from the beautiful view, this trail is perfect for some exciting gravel bike races as well.
2. Arrowhead State Trail
This trail in northeast Minnesota offers a great racing track for all kinds of cyclists in cold seasons. If you’re planning to go for a bike race in winter, the arrowhead state trail should be on top of your list. It’s also the best trail for professional athletes to practice their skills because it can sometimes get a bit challenging. But if you’re not interested in bike races in winter, you can also use this trail in other seasons. You can roam through the magnificent Superior National Forest with your friends in warm weather. But don’t forget to take some precautions because the trail can get slippery during the summer.
3. Paul Bunyan State Trail
Trails like Paul Bunyan State make Minnesota a great place to live for casual bike racers. From Bemidji to Brainerd, this 115-mile continuously paved trail is the longest in the U.S, and it’s a paradise for bike enthusiasts. Starting from Crow Wing Park, this long rail trail will lead you straight to north-central Minnesota. Although it’s a long trail, the beautiful view of nearby lakes and pine forests will never make the ride boring. If you’re planning for leisurely and flat bike races around Minnesota, Paul Bunyan State Trail can be a great option.
4. Root River Trail
Situated in southeastern Minnesota, this one is also called the “Cadillac of Trails”. Previously, this track was a railroad, but now it’s turned into this beautiful bike path where you can go on a free roam anytime you like. This 42-mile-long trail will offer you a beautiful natural view with a smooth bike riding experience. The beautiful root river and the rolling pastures make it a great trail where you’d want to spend your free time. Plenty of kids’ parks and ice cream parlors around this place also allow you to do fun activities with your family. You can see a lot of experts and even amateur riders exploring the amazing rolling bluffs of Minnesota on the gorgeous root river trail.
5. Mesabi Trail
If you want to go on a long bike race around Minnesota, the 135 miles long Mesabi trail is your perfect destination. The best part about this bike trail is it’s still growing. You can get a wonderful view of the beautiful Mesabi Iron Range while casually riding on this trail. The rich wilderness of this trail and some eye-soothing lake views will leave you with a long-lasting impression.
6. Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails
If you’re someone who loves to seek some thrills, Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Trails are for you. It’s a holy grail for mountain bikers, and people from all around the world come to have mountain bike races on this trail. If you’re new to mountain biking and want a new experience, you must try this famous mountain trail. From beginners to professional mountain bikers, this 30 miles trail offers everyone a great mountain bike riding experience. Besides, the lake view from the mountains looks stunning.
7. Duluth Traverse
Although Duluth Traverse is yet to be completed, it’s still one of the best trails for racing with your friends. Duluth Traverse is about 40 miles long and is one of the seven Gold Ride Centers in the world. With this trail, you can explore the wide parks of Duluth while enjoying the attractive cityscape. Bob Dylan’s birthplace and the impressive view of the Aerial Lift Bridge are other reasons to take a quick tour of the majestic Duluth Traverse.
8. Midtown Greenway
Although the trail of Midtown Greenway is shorter in length, it’s still an excellent option for light and casual bike racing. Besides the beautiful sceneries of the city, this barrier-free trail also showcases the mighty view of Minnesota. Free from all kinds of motorized traffic, this trail offers a great bike riding experience with fantastic natural views. The neighborhoods around this trail are also quite friendly, and you can enjoy great local food at the roadside eateries.
Conclusion
A friendly bike racing on a beautiful trail can be relaxing and healthy. From that standpoint, Minnesota offers you some of the most beautiful bike trails that’ll surely refresh your mind and body. So, decide which one of these above-mentioned bike trails you want to explore first, and get ready for some quick adventure with your friends!
