Report: State Trail Count 2015

The first independent count of Minnesota State Trails was designed to estimate trail use and highlight the need for a systematic counting.
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The first independent count of Minnesota State Trails was designed to estimate trail use and highlight the need for a systematic counting.

In fall 2015 Parks & Trails Council worked to provide an answer to this important question. Working with volunteers across the state, we conducted a series of manual trail counts at 25 locations. Our goals were to:

  • Provide an order-of-magnitude estimate of state trail use in Minnesota,
  • Engage and mobilize local volunteers on the importance of trail counts, and
  • Highlight the need for future, expanded trail counts on Minnesota state trails.

 

Background on Minnesota’s State Trail system

Minnesota was a pioneer of the rail-to-trail movement with the first state trail authorized in 1967. Today, there are 24 legislatively authorized state trails in Minnesota, of which 19 are partially or wholly developed. Nearly all these trails are designed for the multiple uses of bicycling, hiking, in-line skating, and several also allow horseback riding. The exception is the Arrowhead State Trail System, which is used primarily for snowmobiling. Of Minnesota’s approximately 1,450 of developed state trail miles, 651 are a hardened surface (either paved or compacted aggregate).