The Dakota Rail Regional Trail: A Lake Minnetonka Gem

In 2009, the 13.5 mile paved stretch of the Dakota Rail Regional Trail from Wayzata to St. Bonifacius opened. The trail occupies the former Dakota Rail corridor on which trains traveled to Hutchinson until 2000.

The scenic trail goes through the cities of Wayzata, Orono, Minnetonka Beach, Spring Park, Mound, Minnetrista and St. Bonifacius. It has become one of the Twin Cities’ most popular trails.

“The annual use of the trail in 2010, according to the Met Council, was 364,000 users,” said Jon Nauman at Three Rivers Park District, which administers Hennepin County’s portion of the Dakota Rail Regional Trail.

The Dakota Rail corridor was purchased by the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA) and the Carver County and McLeod County railroad authorities in 2001.

In 2010, the Dakota Rail Regional Trail was extended into Carver County. A trail and bridge extend the trail from St. Bonifacius to the Carver County line where it then continues for another 12 miles.

Three Rivers has conducted observations at various points along the trail to estimate activity. About 84 percent use the trail for biking, 9 percent use it for hiking, 2 percent use it for running and 4 percent use it for inline skating and roller skiing.

“I use the trail at least four times per week for running,” Orono resident Devon Sween said. “I mostly run it very early in the morning, and I love the scenery, both the lakes and marshes. It is also so easy to get on and off of the trail.” 

Minnetrista resident Cherie Kramer uses the trail an average of four times a week. She walks, runs and inline skates on the trail. She also snowshoes on the trail in the winter.

“I think my favorite thing about the trail is its versatility,” Kramer said. “And the fact that it is a paved trail definitely contributes to that.” 

Kramer said she typically begins her workouts in Mound and then, depending on how she feels, either heads east towards Wayzata or west toward Waconia and Mayer.

“I love that the landscape is ever-changing with the seasons and that you can go from suburban Wayzata out to rural farmland in Waconia and Mayer and get an awesome workout along the way,” Kramer said. “The trail embodies so many of the reasons why we choose to live here with the lakes, farms and everything in between.” 

According to Nauman, the average group size on the Dakota Rail Regional Trail is 1.8 people.

“Groups with dogs are 3 percent,” Nauman said.

There are many attractions along the Dakota Rail Regional Trail, including the Minnetonka Drive In, Big Stone Golf, Gale Woods Farm, St. Boni Bistro and more.

Parking is available at the ends of the trail, as well as at various points along the trail.

For more information about the Dakota Regional Trail, visit www.threeriversparks.org.