Cannon Valley Trail facts for kids
The Cannon Valley Trail is a fantastic paved path in southeast Minnesota. It's a special kind of trail called a rail trail, which means it was once a railroad line. This trail follows the beautiful Cannon River.
The trail stretches for about 20 miles (32 kilometers) between the towns of Cannon Falls, Minnesota and Red Wing, Minnesota. It used to be a railway corridor for the Chicago Great Western Railway.
You can enjoy the trail in many ways! In spring, summer, and fall, it's perfect for hiking, biking, and inline skating. When winter arrives, the trail is specially prepared for cross-country skiing.
The idea for the trail began in 1983. Local people bought the old railroad land after the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company decided they no longer needed the line. Today, the trail is managed by a group with representatives from Cannon Falls, Red Wing, and Goodhue County, Minnesota.
Along the Cannon Valley Trail, you'll find many interesting spots. You can see the Cannon River itself, and also visit special areas where wildlife lives. There's even a 1.5-mile (2.4-kilometer) mountain-bike trail for more adventurous riders. Other cool places include the Welch Village ski area and the Red Wing archaeological preserve.
You'll notice milepost markers along the trail. These were put there by the old Chicago Great Western Railway. They show the distance from Mankato, which was the original end point of that railway line.
Connecting Trails and Future Plans
The Cannon Valley Trail is part of a bigger network of trails. A section of the old Chicago Great Western Railway, from Faribault to Mankato, is now the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail.
There are plans to develop another section of the old railway, between Faribault and Cannon Falls. This project is being worked on by the Mill Towns Trail Association. If completed, it would mean the entire original route of the Chicago Great Western Railway from Mankato to Red Wing would become trails!
In Red Wing, the Cannon Valley Trail connects to another great path called the Goodhue Pioneer State Trail. This allows you to explore even more of Minnesota's beautiful scenery.
