The River Bottoms trail along the Minnesota River offer a great out-and-back introduction to trailriding in the south metro — and even a rope-tow barge!
Quietly nestled along the banks of the Minnesota River are nearly 12 miles of breathtaking trails that capture the beauty of Midwest mountain biking — and, particularly, the trails of Minnesota.
With several access points from Mendota to Savage, my go-to trailhead for this route begins in south Bloomington of I-35W. It’s so quietly peaceful at this junction that it’s difficult to believe you’re parked under a major metropolitan Interstate artery that can stretch some 7+ miles in either direction to get your dirt on.
Historically for me, these trails are always the best in the late spring. Floodwaters typically recede by late April/early May, making way for a fast and zippy singletrack to emerge almost like spring treebuds. The ground is mostly flat and rarely technical, which means you can clock top speeds to your heart’s content, so long as you can maneuver the occasional tree or low-hanging branch.
The most iconic part of the ride — and many would agree — is a short barge to cross a small inlet about 5 miles to the west of the trailhead. While there is a tightrope of bridge (in the form of a downed tree with planks), there’s something just whimsical to crossing the water on the barge.
And, again, what’s best of this particular trail system is that it truly is appropriate for all ages — a great introduction to trail riding for the beginner!
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