New Brown’s Creek Bike Trail

This season cyclists can enjoy a new multi-use paved trail connecting downtown historic Stillwater to St. Paul. Completed just before snow fall, the new Brown’s Creek Trail (6 miles long) starts on the north end of Main Street Stillwater by the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. This new trail, now connects to the existing Gateway State Trail (18 miles long) that begins in the city of St. Paul, travels northeast through the cities of Maplewood, North St. Paul, and Oakdale in Washington County, and ends at Pine Point Regional Park, just four miles northwest of the city of Stillwater. The two trails are connected at Duluth Junction in the city of Grant.

Riders travel through beautiful rock gorges, parks, farmland, fields, and wetlands on the east side of the Twin Cities with connections to local park and trail systems. The Gateway-Brown’s Creek trail is perfect for beginners yet long enough (48 miles round-trip) for avid cyclists both are accessible to users of all abilities because they are constructed on old railroad beds.

“We are so excited to welcome cyclists to pedal from the Birthplace of Minnesota to the Capital of the State enjoying scenery from the St. Croix River to the Mississippi River through rural landscapes in an urban setting,” Jerry Helmberger, President of Stillwater Convention & Visitor Bureau and owner of Aurora Staples Inn. “We welcome bike enthusiasts to stay overnight in Stillwater as their base to enjoy the breweries, wineries, boutiques, culinary scene, river views and fun nightlife in our historic downtown.”

A formal grand opening ceremony celebration will take place for the new trail at the downtown Stillwater trailhead, located on north Main Street and Laurel just south of the old train depot, on Saturday, June 6th at 10am. The event, hosted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, coincides with National Trails Day where American’s are encouraged to take the Trails Day Challenge by sharing photos while hiking and biking trails throughout the country. Refreshments will follow the ribbon-cutting ceremony. This will be a family-friendly event including art activities at the trailhead and staffed interpretive displays along the 6-mile Brown’s Creek State Trail. The interpretive stops highlighting natural resources and history of the land distinguish this trail within the state. Additional events will continue throughout the week at Brown’s Creek Nature Preserve at Neal Ave in Stillwater. For more information, visit the MN DNR Brown’s Creek Trail website.

A new trail is big news for tourism, yet serious cyclist have always enjoyed the steep hills and scenic highways nearby Stillwater as both the Minnesota IRONMAN Bike Ride and North Star Grand Prix Bicycle Festival include routes through Stillwater. When the North Star Grand Prix takes place on Sunday, June 21st this year, experts can be seen pedaling up one of the hardest climbs in North America, Chilkoot Hill. In the neighborhood near the top of the hill resides a great local bike shop for repairs, retail, and local insight – Chilkoot Café & Cyclery, 826 4th St. S.

Stillwater is located on the MN/WI border just 30 minutes east of Minneapolis/St. Paul. To order a 2015 Stillwater Visitor Guide/Map with a downtown map noting the trailhead or see a complete list of things to do and places to stay, visit www.DiscoverStillwater.com. #OnlyinMN


Discover Stillwater