Theodore Wirth Park occupies more than 750 acres—90 percent the size of Central Park—on the edge of downtown Minneapolis, with 12+ miles of wooded singletrack.
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As urban parks go, Theodore Wirth Park is, well, there’s no other way to put it: massive.
At 90 percent the size of New York’s Central Park, there are parts of Wirth — or “Theo,” as the locals call it — that can feel as deep as the mountain forests.
Hard to believe, given that Wirth is just minutes outside the largest metropolitan area in the upper Midwest.
Therein lies the beauty of more than 12+ miles of singletrack here — twists, tight turns and punchy climbs, stretching across highways, golf courses, cross-country ski trails and around several lakes — moments away from urban chaos, yet moments when it feels like you’re lost off the grid in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
I lived in downtown Minneapolis for nearly a decade, coming to the city in 2000.
In those early days — when Minneapolis mountain bikers were still very much cutting these urban trails — there were few rides more satisfying than to hop on the Minneapolis Cedar Lake Regional Trail out of the north side of downtown Minneapolis and, within just a few miles on paved trails, you could skirt through some railroad crossings to connect with the southern edge of Wirth.
These days, the access is much more refined, with a good chunk of the trail system accessible out of the Loppet Foundation headquarters, not far from the golf course clubhouse and other amenities. Which also means these days you’ll find riders of all ages, shapes and sizes with terrain here to suit nearly every rider’s ability.
My daughter’s mountain bike team regularly holds team practices that launch out of the Wirth Beach House, for example, burning laps on the southern edge of the park. Further north, you’ll find Wednesday night races later in the year — “Wirth on Wednesdays” — for kids of all ages and abilities.
There’s not much elevation to the terrain in Wirth, which means the trails are fast and furious, though the tight trees can clip a handlebar and leave you stunned faster than you can blink.
The trails remain surprisingly in good shape given its proximity to a population of more than 3 million+ people, but that’s also in large part thanks to the work of volunteers: the Loppet Foundation and the Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists, who help maintain the trail with regular maintenance outings and more.
Honestly the most challenging part of the park is if you choose to drive: rush hour traffic in the metro can take up to an hour and parking throughout the park is limited. If you’re driving to the park for a ride to find peace from the stress of the city, you’ll find it — but pack your patience for getting there.
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