Real Estate Blog - Willard Munger State Trail offers over sixty miles of scenic trails from Hinckley to Duluth, Minnesota

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Willard Munger State Trail offers over sixty miles of scenic trails from Hinckley to Duluth, Minnesota

The Willard Munger State Trail is a network of multiple-use trails that connects Hinckley, Minnesota with Duluth, Minnesota. Depending upon the season, the interconnected trails offer hiking, bicycling, inline skating and snowmobiling.

The 63 mile Hinckley to Duluth trail is the longest paved trail of its kind in the world. It passes through the towns of Finlayson, Rutledge, Willow River, Sturgeon Lake, Moose Lake, Barnum, Mahtowa and Carlton.

The network of trails also connects the town of Carlton with Minnesota Highway 23, just south of Jay Cooke State Park, via the Alex Laveau Memorial Trail. And the eighty mile Boundary segment begins at Saint Croix State Park and runs northward to the town of Holyoke, just north of the Nemadji State Forest.

The impressive fifty miles of scenic bicycling trails include a fifteen-mile segment (downhill the entire way) into Duluth. And you can bicycle along twenty miles of remote Saint Louis River trails as well.

My favorite portion of the trail is where the Laveau Trail touches the southwest corner of Jay Cooke State Park, near Wrenshall, Minnesota. Jay Cooke Park is one of the most unspoiled and dramatically beautiful wilderness areas in the State of Minnesota!

Bicycle rentals can be arranged through the Willard Munger Inn, in Duluth, Minnesota, by calling 218-624-4814 or 1-800-982-BIKE.

Posted by Eric Kodner, Lake Minnetonka Homes & Madeline Island Real Estate on 06/29/2008 12:09 AM

Comments (13)

willard munger state trail, duluth, minnesota, hinckley

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13 Comments on Willard Munger State Trail offers over sixty miles of scenic trails from Hinckley to Duluth, Minnesota

Hi Eric, sounds like you have your own Blue Ridge Parkway 'up there!'

06/29/2008 03:09 AM

by Susie Blackmon-Maggie Valley Waynesville NC Realtor/RE Blogger/Photographer (COLDWELL BANKER Kasey & Associates)

Eric--Sounds like a great way to enjoy our Minnesota summers!

06/29/2008 09:05 AM

by Teri Eckholm, Realtor® Anoka County MN (Keller Williams Premier Realty)

Susie -- I'm unfamiliar with the Blue Ridge Parkway, but I'll have to visit sometime!

Teri, it's not a long drive from the Cities either!

06/29/2008 02:07 PM

by Madeline Island Realty - Eric Kodner Sells Madeline Island

Eric,

can you run on the trails? If you can are they open all year around or is it too cold or snowy there. I assume you can because you can on the trails in here and Michigan isn't exactly tropical. Then i've never seen so many tunnels and sky walks any place else like you do in the twin cities

06/29/2008 04:32 PM

by Jeff Thornton ABR CRB CRS CSP e-Pro GRI

Jeff, the paved Munger trail is groomed for skiing in snow season. Much of the year, it's open to biking and I have seen people jogging on the trail.

Our skyways are a pretty sensible approach to winter cold and snow. I'm glad we have them!

06/29/2008 05:22 PM

by Madeline Island Realty - Eric Kodner Sells Madeline Island

Sounds awesume! Might just be a vacation option later in the year!

Bob Mitchell

ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc.

06/30/2008 10:04 AM

by ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc.

OK Eric...with a name like that you have to tell me who is Willard Munger??

06/30/2008 02:46 PM

by Joan Mirantz- Concord New Hampshire Realtor (Keeler Family Realtors)

Bob, if you're heading my way, please let me know! I'd be glad to show you around.

07/01/2008 01:18 PM

by Madeline Island Realty - Eric Kodner Sells Madeline Island

Joan,

Willard Munger was a member of the Minnesota State Legislature who also happened to be a passionate environmentalist. He chaired the House Environment and Natural Resources committee in the Minnesota House for two decades.

07/01/2008 01:21 PM

by Madeline Island Realty - Eric Kodner Sells Madeline Island

Eric - I love to bike in the summer and have always wanted to hit some of the northern trails. Thanks for the update, because we were planning a trip to the Brainerd are for some biking - but now we may have to re-think that. It sounds great.

07/02/2008 09:09 PM

by Lynn Johnson, Owatonna, MN Real Estate (Coldwell Banker Home Connection)

Lynn, the Munger trail is so pretty. I know you'll enjoy it!

07/03/2008 09:34 AM

by Madeline Island Realty - Eric Kodner Sells Madeline Island

I am sorry Eric, I left a message stating that I had been on the Willard Munger Trail on one of your other blogs, my mistake.

Anyway, it is a beautiful trail

07/03/2008 10:52 AM

by ROBERT A.SWETZ (777S INC. Consulting Firm )

Robert, no problem!

07/04/2008 07:21 AM

by Madeline Island Realty - Eric Kodner Sells Madeline Island