Hit the Trails

The Three Rivers Park District maintains two bike trails that run through St. Louis Park and connect to miles of additional trails running from Minneapolis to Chaska.

• North Cedar Lake Regional Trail – This 4.4-mile paved trail connects the Cedar Lake Trail from downtown Minneapolis to the Southwest Trail in Hopkins following the Hutchinson Spur rail line.
• Cedar Lake LRT Regional Trail – This 5-mile paved trail goes from the Kennilworth Trail near 31st and Chowen Avenue to 11th Avenue in Hopkins. It follows the rail line along Highway 7 and continues west through Hopkins to Chaska. The Southwest Trail also links east to the Kennilworth and Midtown Greenway Trails in Minneapolis.

Please note: The Cedar Lake LRT Trail line is currently closed due to construction of the Southwest Light Rail. A detour  is in place that uses the North Cedar Lake Regional Trail and the local bicycle network to connect users with the Midtown Greenway during this closure period. Detour signs will notify trail users of alternative routes.

In Golden Valley, bikers and hikers will enjoy the fact that the Luce Line Regional Trail runs straight through Schaper Park. A nine-mile section of paved trail travels from Theodore Wirth Regional Park, through Golden Valley and on to Plymouth.  The full Luce Line State Trail is 63 miles in length and extends west into rural Minnesota, terminating at Thompson Lake in Cosmos. Traveling west, Medicine Lake forms a backdrop to wooden bridges that overlook the Bassett Creek marshlands. The trail then passes through suburbs and wooded stretches, across wetlands, near lakes, through tallgrass prairie remnants, and into the countryside over varying surfaces. To the east, the trail links to the Minneapolis Grand Rounds Scenic Byway trail network and skyline views of Minneapolis.

Bass Lake Preserve is a 52-acre nature preserve best known for it’s 1.4 mile George Haun Trail that meanders through oak savannah and prairie around Bass Lake. It features a playground, pickleball and tennis courts.

General Mills Nature Preserve is a visually-stunning, 27-acre natural space with over 50 different native plants, a shallow marsh, wet meadow, floodplain forest and a half-mile trail that connects to the City’s trail system. Interpretive signs will guide you along your journey.

Located within the cities of Golden Valley and Minneapolis, Theodore Wirth is a 740-acre park that offers over 5 miles of cycling, hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing and cross-country ski trails. Visit the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary where you’ll find more than 500 plant species and 130 bird species. Or explore the Quaking Bog, a 5-acre, 3,700-year-old acid bog tucked into the wooded hills of the park. You’ll cross a series of boardwalks floating over islands of sphagnum moss as you observe dragonflies, frogs and songbirds.

Westwood Hills offers 160 acres of marsh, woods, and restored prairie. More than 3 miles of trails and walkways offer ample birdwatching and wildlife spotting, including deer, turtles, fox, mink and owls. A new net zero-energy designed Interpretive Center houses live animals (including raptors!), exhibits, classrooms and event space. The center offers year-round educational programs and annual special events. Enjoy canoeing, fishing, snowshoeing and kicksledding.