This Little-Known Trail Is Quite Possibly The Best Biking and Walking Path In Minnesota

As a state that helped pioneer the rails-to-trails movement in the United States, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that there are a whole bunch of awesome biking and hiking paths in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. One of the first, was the Heartland State Trail, which was established by the Legislature in 1974. At 49 miles, the Heartland is still one of the best multi-use trails in Minnesota, even if it doesn’t receive the same level of attention that some of its better-known counterparts do.

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Richard N Horne/Wikimedia Commons

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Paul Bunyan Statue, Heartland State Trail, Akeley, MN, USA

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Not to be outdone by its superlative neighbors, the charming community of Akeley is home to the world’s largest Paul Bunyan statue, which sits alongside the Heartland Trail, next to its Paul Bunyan Historical Museum.

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There may not be a more awesome multi-use trail in Minnesota – but the Heartland State Trail is about to become even more awesome! In the fall of 2023, the DNR broke ground on a 20-mile extension that will connect the Heartland State Trail to Itasca State Park and its network of multi-use trails and roadways. This connection between Minnesota’s oldest state park and one of its most venerable state trails will open up all kinds of opportunities for users of both. Have you used the Heartland State Trail? Tell us about your experience in the comments!

Also, if you use your phone to navigate when you’re out on the trail, you may want to check out AllTrails Plus. Its downloadable maps feature, so you can use it offline, is particularly awesome in the Northland, where cell coverage is not always reliable.