Minnesota River Bottoms - Lyndale Ave to Bloomington Ferry Rd - Mountain Bike Trail

The Minnesota River Bottoms - Lyndale Ave to Bloomington Ferry Rd is a perfect trail choice for beginner and intermediate mountain bikers. It is a unique trail with outstanding features. Keep reading to see what sets it apart from other easy mountain biking trails in the city.

The Minnesota River Bottoms - Lyndale Ave to Bloomington Ferry Rd is located on government land in Minnesota. It is managed by different organizations, including the Minnesota valley state recreation area, the National park service, the City of Bloomington, and the National Wildlife refuge system. Although it is rated an easy trail, riding on it requires special skills because of its sandy nature. Check out the famous biking route's information below.

Before you go:

Drinking water

Restrooms

Fee required

Lift service

Fat bike grooming

Family Friendly

Night riding

E-bikes allowed

Dogs Allowed

Obstacles

Shuttles

Detailed Trail Description

The Minnesota River Bottoms - Lyndale Ave to Bloomington Ferry Rd begins from two points; at Bloomington Ferry Road and at Lyndale Avenue’s end. If you choose to start your biking adventure from the Lyndale parking lot, ride west from the boat launch and get on the gravel about a ¼ mile away. Keep riding until you see a single track on your left. Join it and follow it between the road and river bank until you fall onto the main trail.

If you choose to access the trail from Bloomington Ferry Rd, ride the paved trail and turn east at the map signpost. You will have a smooth descent onto a gravel path that leads to a single track.

The majority of the Minnesota River Bottoms - Lyndale Ave to Bloomington Ferry Rd trail runs alongside the river. It has a few splits, which are mostly convenient ride-arounds for its features. We recommend exploring them all for fun as you wouldn’t get lost on them; they all connect back to the main trail.

The most interesting thing about this trail is that it is mostly flat but not so easy to ride. It has a sandy surface that may pose technical difficulties for a complete beginner. Moreover, it has a unique dynamic character of changing its shape every time it floods. You may not find the technical features like skinnies and log covers you encounter next time you come to explore the trail.

Additional Trail Features

•       An information kiosk past the park at Bloomington Ferry Rd access point.
•       A park.

Sights of Interest, landscapes, views

Although the Minnesota River Bottoms - Lyndale Ave to Bloomington Ferry Rd is an ever-changing trail, some sightings, like the river views, are permanent.

Recommendations/precautions

•       As the trail is two-way, be mindful of other users, including bikers. Hikers, joggers, and families.
•       The trail floods periodically. Check if it is safe to ride in the wet seasons before going.
•       Carry your water.
•       If you have no experience riding on sandy surfaces, you may find the ride more challenging.