Dakota Rail Regional Trail
| Dakota Rail Regional Trail | |
|---|---|
| Length | 28.1 mi (45.2 km) |
| Location | Minnesota, United States |
| Established | 2001 |
| Trailheads |
|
| Use | Cycling, Pedestrians |
| Elevation gain/loss | 272 feet (80 m); 279 feet (90 m) |
| Highest point | 1,001 ft (305 m) |
| Lowest point | 932 ft (284 m) |
| Grade | Mostly flat |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Season | Year-round |
| Sights |
|
| Surface | Concrete and asphalt |
| Website | https://www.threeriversparks.org/location/dakota-rail-regional-trail |
The Dakota Rail Trail runs 28.1 miles (42.6 km) from Wayzata to Lester Prairie, Minnesota. It is on part of the former track bed of the Hutchinson Spur of the Great Northern Railway. The railway line helped bring wheat and raw materials from Central Minnesota to the flour mills, factories and warehouses in Minneapolis from 1885 until 2001. The railway line, from which there are views of the countryside, was also designed to bring tourists to the communities on Lake Minnetonka in the late 1880s.
The rail trail heads west from Wayzata. The first 13 miles are in Hennepin County, Minnesota, and the next 13.5 miles are in Carver County, Minnesota. Along the way it runs through many towns, including Spring Park and St. Bonifacius.