GREAT RIVER RIDGE STATE TRAIL

Bridge along the Great River Ridge State Trail

Great River Ridge State Trail passing by field

About the trail

This trail currently traverses 13 miles of agricultural and river valley landscape in southeastern Minnesota between the cities of Eyota and Plainview. The trail is near Whitewater and Carley state parks with the ultimate vision to one day connect to these parks as well as a network of trails in the region.

Built on a former railroad corridor, this paved trail offers easy bicycling through this scenic region of the state. A portion of the trail offers a parallel tread for horseback riding and snowmobiles.

Our Work by the Numbers

1

LAND PROJECTS
completed or
in progress here

18.2

ACRES
of invaluable
land saved

1.5

MILES
of trail saved
by these efforts

$106 T

DOLLAR VALUE
of land at time
of acquisition

Trail Map Showing Project Sites

Project Stories

2018-2022: The final piece

2018-2022: The final piece

Acquiring the final piece of the trail

YEAR ACQUIRED BY P&TC: 2018

YEAR CONVEYED TO TRAIL: 2022

ACRES: 18.2

MILES: 1.5

VALUE: $106,423 (at time of acquisition)

For years, local and state trail champions have been working to extend the Great River Ridge State Trail to its final destination in Eyota. On Sept. 11, P&TC made an important step toward that goal by purchasing the final mile-and-a-half of abandoned railroad corridor that runs from County Highway 9 to US Highway 14. P&TC held this land in trust until the MnDNR was in a position to purchase it on June 30, 2022.