Trails
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge offers close to 50 miles of trails along the Minnesota River from Bloomington to Henderson.
Learn more about the trails and current conditions below. Download one of the following trail maps to print or save to your device.
Downloadable Trail Maps
- Long Meadow Lake and Black Dog Lake Units trail map at Bloomington and Burnsville
- Bloomington Ferry and Wilkie Units trail map at Bloomington and Shakopee
- Rapids Lake, Chaska and Louisville Swamp Units trail map at Chaska, Carver and Jordan
Georeferenced Trail Maps
Download a georeferenced trail map to use on apps like Avenza, to track your location without using internet or network connection. Directions to download and add to your mobile device when you click any of the following trail maps.
- Long Meadow Lake and Black Dog Lake Units trail map at Bloomington and Burnsville
- Bloomington Ferry and Wilkie Units trail map at Bloomington and Shakopee
- Rapids Lake, Chaska and Louisville Swamp Units trail map at Chaska, Carver and Jordan
Trail and Hiking Related News (last updated 2/7/2024):
With the warmer temperatures, many trails are muddy or soft.
Current trail closures:
- Long Meadow Lake Trail - Trail closed until further notice for state trail construction and repair.
- Minnesota Valley State Trail (MN DNR) - Due to flooding damage, two sections of the trail are closed: From County Road 9 in Jordan to the beginning of the Louisville Swamp and Louisville Swamp to Gifford Lake
- Mendota Trail (MN DNR) - the Mendota trail between Jens Caspersen landing and Ft. Snelling State Park
Open season: Open year round - walking spring to fall, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and fat tire biking in the winter. This trail is open to biking.
Surface: Natural surface
Trailhead address: Bass Ponds Trailhead 2501 86th St E, Bloomington, MN 55425
Open season: Open year round - walking spring to fall, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and fat tire biking in the winter. This trail is open to biking.
Length: 0.5 miles one way
Surface: Natural surface
Trailhead address: 11255 Bloomington Ferry Rd, Bloomington, MN 55438
Open season: Open year round - walking spring to fall, snowshoeing and fat tire biking in the winter. This trail is closed to biking from the Mounds Spring spur to Old Cedar Avenue trailhead.
Surface: Natural surface
Trailhead address: 9551 Old Cedar Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55425 or 11135 Lyndale Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55420
Open Season: Open year round: walking spring to fall, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and fat tire biking in the winter. This trail is open to biking.
Length: 1.7 miles one way
Surface : Natural surface
Trailhead Address: 725 W 1st St, Chaska, MN 55318
Open season: Open year round - walking spring to fall, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and fat tire biking in the winter. This trail is open to biking.
Surface: natural surface
Trailhead address: 5865 Rapids Lake Rd, Carver, MN 55315
Open season: Open year round - walking spring to fall, snowshoeing in winter. Not open to biking or horseback riding.
Length: .4 mile loop
Surface: Natural surface
Trailhead address: 3815 American Blvd. East, Bloomington, MN 55425
Open season: Open year round - walking spring to fall, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and fat tire biking in the winter. This trail is open to biking.
Surface: Natural surface
Trailhead address: 2501 86th St E, Bloomington, MN 55425
Open Season: Open year round: walking spring to fall, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and fat tire biking in the winter. This trail is open to biking.
Length: 3.5 miles one way (continues 3.7 miles single track
Surface : Natural surface
Trailhead Address: 3815 American Blvd. East, Bloomington, MN 55425, or 11135 Lyndale Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55420
Information: Starting at the W 145 St parking area go 0.4 miles south past the kiosks to the trail junction. Travel west to loop back to the parking area via the State Access Trail. Enjoy a beautiful vista above Louisville Swamp where soaring hawks and Yellow warblers can be seen.
Open season: Open year round - walking, cycling spring to fall, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, fat tire biking in the winter.
Length: 2.8 miles one way
Surface: Natural surface
Trailhead address: 3801 W 145th St, Shakopee, MN 55379
Mazomani Trail South
Information: Starting at the W 145 St parking area go 0.4 miles south to the trail junction. Continue south passing the historic Ehmiller home site. Cross the bridge over Sand Creek at 0.8 miles. The trail goes through upland forest, across creeks and past wetlands until it meets Middle Road. Head east, passing a large glacial erratic boulder. Travel west 1.6 miles through forest to Jabs Farm historic site. Return same way.
Open season: Open year round - walking spring to fall, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and fat tire biking in the winter. This trail is open to cycling.
Length: 3.8 miles one way
Surface: Natural surface
Trailhead address: 3801 W 145th St, Shakopee, MN 55379
Open Season: Open year round: walking spring to fall, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and fat tire biking in the winter. This trail is open to cycling.
Length: 1.5 miles one way
Surface: Natural surface
Trailhead address: 3801 W 145th St, Shakopee, MN 55379
Open season: Open year round - walking spring to fall, snowshoeing in winter. Not open to biking or horseback riding.
Surface: Natural surface
Trailhead address: Bloomington Education and Visitor Center 3815 American Blvd. East, Bloomington, MN 55425
Open Season: Open year round: walking, horseback riding, cycling spring to fall, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, fat tire biking and snowmobiling in the winter.
Surface: Natural surface
Trailhead address: 3801 W 145th St, Shakopee, MN 55379
Open season: Open year round - walking spring to fall, snowshoeing in winter. Not open to biking or horseback riding.
Surface: Natural surface
Trailhead address: Bloomington Education and Visitor Center 3815 American Blvd. East, Bloomington, MN 55425
Open Season: Open year round: walking spring to fall, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and fat tire biking in the winter. This trail is open to biking.
Length: 1.8 miles one way (refuge portion from Bloomington Ferry to Izaak Walton, trail extends to Lyndale Landing)
Surface: Natural surface
Trailhead address: 11255 Bloomington Ferry Rd, Bloomington, MN 55438 or 7701 County Road 101 E, Shakopee, MN 55379
Note: the trail continues to Lyndale/Sorensen Landing in the Long Meadow Lake Unit, crossing privately owned and City of Bloomington property for an additional distance of about 4 miles. The Refuge does not promote entering private property.
Open season: Open year round - walking spring to fall, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and fat tire biking in the winter. This trail is open to cycling.
Surface: Natural surface
Trailhead Address: W 145 St. 3801 W 145th St, Shakopee, MN 55379