Whether you’re planning your next bicycle trip or just curious to compare our state trails, this new interactive map has all the data you need.
Trail segments, ranging from a quarter-mile to one mile in length, are rated based on their average smoothness. Click any segment to see the surface type, the year the surface was laid, the official roughness index, and how its rating changed between 2018 and 2023. Plus, you can click the link to Google Street View for that specific segment and get driving directions.
This data was collected as part of our ongoing Research Bike project. Started in 2018, we enlisted an intern to pedal every mile of state trails on our electric-assist bicycle, which we had rigged with monitors and cameras. In 2023, we re-pedaled every mile, enabling a precise assessment of the rate of decline or improvement over those years.
This data is shared with MNDNR planners, lawmakers, and the public to improve trail planning and maintenance, support legislative funding requests, and promote trail use. Our full report is expected to be published in the coming months.
