Towns along Root River State Trail plan 60-mile anniversary party Sept. 16-18

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Towns along Root River State Trail plan 60-mile anniversary party Sept. 16-18
(Released September 8, 2011)

Event will spotlight 25 years of building and maintaining the trails that earned Minnesota the distinction of Best Trails State in the country

From the west end of the trail in Fountain to the east end in Houston, the Root River State Trail will celebrate its 25th anniversary Sept. 16-18 with 60 miles of family activities (including those scheduled along the adjoining Harmony-Preston Valley State Trail), according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Authorized by the Legislature in 1971, the Root River State Trail continues to be one of the gems in the state trail system and has the highest economic benefit of the two dozen state trails managed by the DNR. The first segment of the trail was paved between Isinours Junction and Lanesboro in 1985. The final segment to Houston was paved in 1999. For the past 25 years, the Root River State Trail has become a popular tourist destination, known for bike-friendly communities and businesses.

“We are very pleased to have such a strong partnership with the eight communities along the Root River State Trail,” said Courtland Nelson, director of the DNR’s Division of Parks and Trails. “The partnership that has evolved over the past 25 years is a model for the state and the nation, and we’re very proud to celebrate this milestone anniversary in such a festive way this weekend. Their efforts have contributed immeasurably to the exceptional state trail system that earned Minnesota the distinction of Best Trails State in the country last year.”

The 42-mile Root River State Trail, which connects to the 18-mile Harmony-Preston Valley State Trail north of Preston, is part of an extensive statewide trail system that includes more than 540 paved miles and expands by approximately 25 new paved miles each year.

Recent projects have included resurfacing 11 miles of the Root River State Trail from Lanesboro to Fountain, adding a new paved trail connection from the Paul Bunyan State Trail (inducted to the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame in February 2011) to a city trail in Bemidji, completing a new five-mile segment of the Casey Jones State Trail from Pipestone to Murray County, and replacing key bridges along the Gateway and Willard Munger state trails.

Upcoming priorities include paving segments of the Gitchi-Gami State Trail near Silver Bay and Lutsen this fall, repaving 15 miles of the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail near Faribault, and completing the acquisition and initial development of the 6.5-mile Brown’s Creek State Trail (the former Minnesota Zephyr railroad line) that will connect the Gateway State Trail to Stillwater.

“The DNR is committed to taking good care of Minnesota’s trail system,” Nelson said. “In fact, we are accelerating trail and bridge repairs and expanding interpretation on trails throughout the state, because now, in addition to traditional funding sources, we also have Legacy funds, thanks to Minnesota voters.”

The Root River State Trail’s anniversary weekend kicks off Friday, Sept. 16, from 4 to 6 p.m., with an old-fashioned ice cream social at the Lanesboro Museum at 105 Parkway Ave. S. in downtown Lanesboro. Guest speakers at 4:45 p.m. will include DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr; Courtland Nelson, director of the DNR’s Division of Parks and Trails; John Edman, director of Explore Minnesota Tourism; Lanesboro Mayor Steve Rahn; and others. Additional activities are scheduled throughout the weekend all along the trail.

Activities for all ages – sponsored by Root River Trail Towns, an association of communities along the Root River State Trail – are scheduled throughout the weekend along both trails. Examples include:

• A Fitness Fest with sack races, yoga and a tug-of-war, from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday in Harmony.

• An antique bicycle display, string cheese and apple samples, and a drawing for a free bike helmet, from 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday in Whalan.

• Sheep-shearing demonstrations and Amish buggy rides, from 3 to 7 p.m., Saturday in Peterson.

• ExpoCulinaria, a competitive chef challenge with live jazz, from 5 to 8 p.m., Saturday in Rushford.

• Coffee and donuts from 8 a.m. to noon, Sunday at the Fillmore County History Center in Fountain.

• A family festival with music, games, a great horned owl and other live animals from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday in Houston.

For details about these and other events, are available online. 

For more information about the Root River State Trail, including a map and virtual tour is available online, or by calling DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 or toll-free 888-646-6367 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.