With more miles of paved rail-to-trail bikeways than any other state in the U.S., Minnesota is a biking enthusiast’s ideal location. Visit the Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway, where the Root River and Harmony-Preston Valley State Trails, managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, offer smooth, easygoing biking through scenic corridors. Developed on former railroad beds, these paved trails take you on a journey through the dramatic river-carved blufflands of southeastern Minnesota.
The 42-mile Root River State Trail, nestled between the Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway and the Root River, takes you through the quaint rural communities of Fountain, Lanesboro, Whalan, Peterson, Rushford and Houston. Join the trail at any of these communities. The asphalt surface of the Root River State Trail is generally level and wheelchair accessible. The eastern segment between Money Creek Woods and Houston is relatively more challenging than the western segment with a rather steep half-mile that may not be suitable for all users.
Enjoy the variety of woodland wildflowers as you pedal below soaring limestone bluffs or through wide fields beside the tranquil Root River. Cycle through the Root River Valley near Houston each spring to see its famed wild bluebell display. Slow your pace to hear the call of a wild turkey or hawk. Wildlife is abundant in this green, fertile valley, so be cautious. You might encounter deer, turkey vultures and even rattlesnakes! These state threatened and protected reptiles are occasionally found on rock outcrops, along the river bottoms, or sunning themselves on the trail. Just leave them alone, and they should leave you alone.
The byway provides access to the Root River State Trail at many towns along its length, where you will also find plenty of services for trail users. Plan to shop, stay or eat at any number of campgrounds, bed and breakfast inns, restaurants, museums, outfitters and antique shops. Rent a bike for the journey in the towns of Lanesboro and Preston near the middle of the byway.
Be sure to stop at the Houston Nature Center, located in Houston at the eastern end of the Root River State Trail. This center, supported entirely by local volunteers and donations, is open to the public from Memorial to Labor Day and offers drinking water and restroom facilities. Ask the on-site experts for information about local bird watching, eateries, campsites, and shopping. Pause and notice the intriguing art sculptures on the grounds of the center – all built from recycled bicycle parts! Take a brief break from biking and walk around the marsh next to the nature center. The marsh, park and new levee are part of Houston’s flood control measures, but you can enjoy the marsh’s variety of native prairie and wetland species in the spring and early summer. Each year, more and more of the nearly 100 species planted reach blooming age, providing an ever-changing rainbow of color.
Midway along the byway is the Harmony-Preston Valley State Trail, an 18-mile multiple-use paved trail that runs generally north-south and connects the communities of Harmony and Preston with the existing Root River State Trail. Enjoy the level terrain and cool shade of the river valley forests as you peddle through a variety of wooded areas and farmland from Isinours Junction to several miles south of Preston. Then get ready for another workout as you approach the hilly terrain of Harmony, home to the largest Amish community in the state. Enjoy the unhurried pace of this beautifully preserved farming community and you might see centuries-old buggies clomping along the path or horses pulling farm equipment in the distance.
Whether you are looking for a challenging adventure or a leisurely, scenic ride, the Root River and Harmony-Preston Valley State Trails along the Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway are excellent biking destinations full of friendly communities, plentiful services, river-valley vistas, and abundant plants and wildlife.
