Friends of Birch Island Woods

Discover Guide to the

Minnesota River Bluffs
Regional LRT Trail

(Formerly the South Branch of the Southwest Regional LRT Trail)

Hopkins • Minnetonka • Eden Prairie • Chanhassen
Connections to Minneapolis & MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge

A Ribbon of Discovery for Bicyclers and Hikers Following an old railroad route, the Minnesota River Bluffs Regional LRT Trail is a get-away-from-it-all ribbon of discovery from Hopkins through Chanhassen. The guide spotlights the trail’s pit stops, Kodak views, side trips, trivia and history. The MN River Bluffs Regional Trail is a major component of America’s best regional bike trail system. Note: Our guide will sport the old name of the trail until it is updated in late March, 2008.

DOWNLOAD the FREE GUIDE For the pdf version of the Guide click here Acrobat Reader software

ORDER a HARDCOPY For the paper version of the Guide contact Jeff at 952-949-8980 or bukumi@infionline.net $12.00 + shipping

Things to Consider on the SW Regional Trail
(Updated October 10, 2007)

Minneapolis - Northwest Lake Calhoun

An array of coffee shops, sidewalk cafes and restaurants adorn the park ‘n shop malls on either side of the trail near the Lake Street underpass. For Jamba Juice, Caribou, Chipotle Grill, Three Fish and Ben & Jerry’s, exit at the trail info kiosk at Chowen Avenue and West 31st Street (just west of the Lake Street underpass). Head a block south on West 31st Street and walk over the grass berm to the parking area that serves Whole Foods and other stores. For Applebees, 1st Wok, Calhoun Grill, Barnes & Noble and other stores, take the first bike exit on the south side of the trail east of the Lake Street underpass and the Cedar Lake Trail junction

Hopkins - Depot Coffee House

The hub of the South, North and East Branches of the SW Regional Trail and the Hutchinson Spur Trail is a non-profit coffee-house with a new drink and refreshment menu that supports a teen center & a local performance venue. Located on Excelsior Blvd a bit east of Hwy 169. For more information call 952-938-2204 or 952-548-6309.

Depot Hours:
Monday, 6:30 am–2:00 pm; Tuesday, 6:30 am–2:00 pm & 6:00–10:30 pm; Wednesday & Thursday, 6:30 am–2:00 pm; Friday, 6:30 am–2:00 pm & 5:00–11:00 pm; Saturday, 8:00 am–12:00 pm; Sunday, closed.

Minnetonka - Scenic side trek to Lone Lake Park & Bryant Lake Regional Park

At Rowland Rd head a half mile east along the Rowland Rd trail 200 feet beyond Clearwater Dr to Lone Lake Park. Follow the park’s entry trail. The left fork leads to a prairie, a steep, old growth woods and the lake. The right fork follows a sylvan creek valley to Bryant Lake Regional Park with its beach, fishing pier, play structures, park trails and food concession. Both parks have Frisbee golf courses.

Eden Prairie - Dunn Bros. Coffee & Erik’s Bikes

Hydrate, caffinate and ruminate inside or on a patio at a Dunn Bros. Coffee cocooned inside a historic house several hundred yards north of the trail crossing at Eden Prairie Road (Co. Rd. 4). 1/2 mile further north, just beyond Hwy 5, you’ll find an Erik’s Bike shop.

Explore the Nation’s Best Regional Bike Trail System

with the links below

Regional and local trail maps

Points of interest, Pit stops, and History

Trail and biking organizations

Our Trail Guide Patrons
wish you many great hike and bike trips