Glendalough State Park
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Parks & Trails Bike Excursion Logo

 Saturday, June 25, 2016

1-Day, 40-mile bike ride

~ Half-Day option (start at Lunch and we’ll shuttle you back) ~

Start & End at The Landing in Shakopee

Includes Lunch

9 AM  group ride starts
2:30 PM  group ride ends

$40/person
~ FREE for Magney Circle Members ~

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The Ride

We’ll travel 40 miles starting and ending at The Landing in Shakopee. Highlights along the route:

  • Minnesota Valley State Trail
    • We’ll travel on the paved portion of this trail that currently ends at the Bloomington Ferry Bridge.
  • Bloomington Ferry Pedestrian Bridge
    • This trail bridge crosses the the Minnesota River and connects to city trails in Bloomington
  • Lakefront Park in Prior Lake
    • the gem of the City of Prior Lake’s park system
  • Cleary Lake Regional Park
    • Part of Three Rivers Park System and one of the most popular year-round recreation spots in the south metro
  • Scott West Regional Trail
    • This trail connects Cleary and Spring Lake Parks. Approximately eight miles of the trail are open, with another 8.4 miles in the planning stage. When fully complete, the trail also will connect to Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve, the Minnesota Valley State Trail and the Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail.
  • Deerfield & the Ponds Park
    • community parks in Prior Lake
  • Spring Lake Regional Park
    • this park offers 374 acres of incredibly diverse natural habitats and a spectacular 3-mile paved trail takes visitors through forest and future savanna prairie offering breathtaking vistas
  • Scott County Historical Society’s Stans Museum
  • The Landing
    • Minnesota River Heritage Park (formerly Historic Murphy’s Landing). This 88-acre museum depicts life in the Lower Minnesota River Valley from the 1840s to 1890s with authentic 19th-century buildings, demonstrations during living history events, and a scenic river trail and overlook.

The Program Stops

We’ll stop at several locations along the route to hear from people about parks and trails.

 

Stop 1 – Minnesota Valley State Trail & Wildlife Refuge

MN Valley Wildlife Refuge

We’ll hear from Kent Skaar, who is a trail planner with the MN DNR on the plans for continuing the Minnesota Valley State Trail along the Minnesota River and through the MN Valley Wildlife Refuge by creating a dual-surface trail (paved and natural surface).

We may also hear from a naturalist from the Wildlife Refuge who will share about the wildlife and plant life through the refuge.

Stop 2 – Lunch & Program at Cleary Lake Regional Park

Trail in Cleary Lake Regional Park

We’ll learn about the forest management within Three Rivers Park District and Scott County Parks. Specifically, we’ll hear about the region’s largest good-quality oak forest at Murphy-Hanrehan (we bike along the outskirts of this park before lunch) and compare that with the forest management at Cleary Lake, which is a much smaller park.

Stop 3 – Scott County Historical Society

Scott County Historical Society garden

Kathleen Klehr, who is the director of the Scott County Historical Society will share about the work of the historical society and give us a preview of their biking/walking tour project. Then you’re welcome to tour the museum feature local artists’ work, African Gallery, Native American Gallery.

Cleary Lake Park Pavillion inside view

Lunch

Enjoy a zero-waste lunch at Cleary Lake Regional Park Pavillion, which is situated along the lake.

Sandwiches, fruit, chips and dessert.

Plus, we’ll have snacks and water at the rest stops.

Event Partners

Thank you to our event partners for helping to create this event

Great Scotts Bike Club

Great Scotts Bike Club logo

Michael’s Cycles

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