Heartland State Trail rolls out 49 miles of enjoyable for hikers and bikers – Higher Midwest reader favorites

PARK RAPIDS, Minn. — Good for enjoyable, good for a run.

Whether it’s on two wheels or your individual two toes — and even with a four-legged good friend — the Heartland State Trail can be utilized by health followers wanting some train, vacationers attempting to see the websites of the realm or anybody seeking to get a bit of recent air and take within the pure great thing about the Park Rapids space.

Dan Determan / Park Rapids Enterprise

The almost 50-mile paved path spans from Park Rapids to Cass Lake, however even the 27-mile stretch from Park Rapids to Walker affords loads for vacationers and locals alike.

One of the primary “rail-to-trail” tasks within the nation, the Heartland Trail is sort of totally on a stage deserted railroad grade.

The path begins formally at Heartland Park within the heart of Park Rapids, alongside the Fish Hook River.

Dan Determan / Park Rapids Enterprise

Though the path is asking to be hiked or cycled, there are a lot of causes to cease alongside the trail, the primary of which is Heartland Park itself.

The Park affords the path’s first level of entry to the water, each within the type of a public swimming seashore and a fishing pier overlooking the river. Those not within the temper for the water can play any variety of sports activities, together with disc golf, seashore volleyball or the ever-popular pickleball … or let the children benefit from the park’s playground. There can be loads of house and tables to have a picnic alongside the river.

Shannon Geisen / Park Rapids Enterprise

After working up an urge for food, the tiny city of Dorset, set alongside the path, is known for claiming extra eating places per capita than anyplace else on earth.

Perhaps the most well-liked possibility for a summer time trailside snack is ice cream, and Dorset House affords greater than a dozen flavors to assist guests get their dairy repair.

Shannon Geisen / Park Rapids Enterprise

“We offer 32 flavors of premium ice cream, so we have a very wide range,” proprietor Beth Durgin stated. “We have been around for many years, and it is kind of nostalgic for people to come get ice cream here, so we try to keep it similar to what it was before.”

If you may make it a bit of farther east earlier than taking a break, Muskie Waters Company in Nevis can be well-known for its rotating menu of hand-dipped ice cream, smoothies and malts.

“We have hand-dipped malts and milkshakes in a variety of flavors,” proprietor Tracy Ganley stated. “We have homemade waffle cones, both vanilla and chocolate. Our signature is a mocha malt, since we are a coffee shop as well. It’s great for people to come in, get some air conditioning and cool down.”

Dan Determan / Park Rapids Enterprise

Also alongside the path in Nevis sits the town’s public seashore and park space, giving trail-goers a relaxed, serene place to calm down and perhaps take a dip within the waters of Lake Belle Taine.

East of Nevis, the path runs largely alongside State Highway 34, taking path customers by Akeley’s well-known Paul Bunyan Statue and picnic shelter, till it joins with the Paul Bunyan Trail south of Walker and finally reaches its finish on the western shore of Leech Lake.

The metropolis of Akeley additionally has a sandy seashore on eleventh Crow Wing Lake, a fast jaunt from the path.

The Park Rapids-to-Walker section of the path has a parallel pure floor path for horseback using, climbing and mountain biking.

The Heartland State Trail additionally connects with quite a lot of different regional path methods, together with its intersection in Walker with the Paul Bunyan State Trail, stretching from Brainerd to Lake Bemidji.

Shannon Geisen / Park Rapids Enterprise

Expansion of the path is an ongoing challenge. Construction on a multi-purpose, paved path connecting

Itasca State Park

— the most well-liked vacationer vacation spot within the space — to the Heartland Trail is nicely underway, with a tunnel added in 2024 and few extra miles of path to be added this fall.

Shannon Geisen / Park Rapids Enterprise

Remaining phases of the challenge embrace building of extra path segments on county land heading towards Emmaville. From there, the challenge would name for a southbound path to intersect with the principle path, forming a brand new trailhead.

However, plans to complete these remaining phases would require state bonding. The challenge has already garnered $4.4 million in state bonding and a $150,000 federal grant, however the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources views this challenge as a precedence, believing the connection might be a “destination trail” for vacationers.

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