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A long, beautiful path along the Minnesota River.


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Map Key

26.2

Miles

42.2

KM

99%

Runnable

800' 244 m

High

713' 217 m

Low

1,288' 392 m

Up

1,281' 391 m

Down

2%

Avg Grade (1°)

19%

Max Grade (11°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The Memorial Park Bridge in Shakopee is currently closed. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website advises accessing the trail to the west at Huber Park.

Description

The Minnesota Valley State Trail, also known as the State Corridor Trail, passes through the southern end of the Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area, weaving in and out of the various biomes that are endemic to this area. Oak hardwood forests and Oak savannas make up the bulk of the scenery, but wetlands and lakes are common features as well. The walls of the valley range from sloping hills to small bluffs with exposed rock.

Between Chaska and Shakopee, about 10 miles of the trail is paved. The rest of the trail is unpaved, though the grade is moderate throughout. There are plans to extend the trail between Fort Snelling and beyond Belle Plaine to Le Sueur.

Part of the trail goes through the Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area, passing protected floodplains of the Minnesota River. The Lawrence Unit contains the beautiful Horseshoe Lake, which is one of the best spots in the area to see migrating songbirds and waterfowl in large numbers. Within the Louisville Swamp Unit, intersections with Middle Road, Flood's Road, and Mazomani Trail offer access to the Jabs Farm site, Little Rapids campsite, Johnson Slough, and other unique features of the area.

The path often runs close to the banks of the Minnesota River, which means that periodic flooding is a risk.

Contacts

Shared By:

Austin Lynch

Trail Ratings

  3.8 from 4 votes

#23228

Overall
  3.8 from 4 votes
5 Star
25%
4 Star
50%
3 Star
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2 Star
25%
1 Star
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Trail Rankings

#249

in Minnesota

#23,228

Overall
4 Views Last Month
1,262 Since Sep 14, 2017
Intermediate Intermediate

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Photos

Louisville Swamp Unit.
Sep 12, 2017 near Carver, MN
Sand Creek.
Aug 19, 2022 near Carver, MN
Johnson Slough.
Aug 19, 2022 near Carver, MN
Looking upstream on the Minnesota River.
Aug 19, 2022 near Carver, MN
Paved section of trail near Shakopee
Jan 16, 2019 near Shakopee, MN

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