Marine on St Croix

Mostly a road ride with some trail segments

Approximate distance: 52 mi


This is a long loop ride mostly in the rural area of Washington County northeast of Shoreview. The route first heads east of Shoreview to White Bear Lake. It then goes north through Hugo following the Hardwood Creek Trail along Hwy 61 to Washington Cty Rd 4. It then goes east to Marine on St Croix via Cty Rd 4. From Marine on St Croix, the route goes south to Washington Cty Rd 7 where it turns southwest up the very steep Nason Hill Rd. The route then follows Cty Rd 7 over hilly terrain, past Square Lake Park and Withrow back to White Bear Lake and then retraces the beginning of the route back to the Shoreview CC. The portion of the hike to Hugo is mostly flat but the Cty Rd 4 section consists of rolling hills. Near Marine on St Croix, the route descends a hill to the city. From the city, the climb up the Nason Hill Rd is a couple of miles of very steep ascent. The next several miles of Cty Rd 7 ascends and descends several hills. Further west on Cty Rd 7, the terrain varies from relatively flat to rolling hills. Most of the road sections of the ride are along roads with wide shoulders and moderate traffic levels. The first 5 miles of Cty Rd 7 from Marine on St Croix does not have much paved shoulder. But the traffic levels are low and so does not present serious worries about car interactions. After Square Lake Park, Cty Rd 7 has a wide paved shoulder most of the way back to White Bear Lake.


Directions:

  • From the Shoreview CC, take Hwy 96 east to Hwy 61 in White Bear Lake.

  • Cross Hwy 61 and take the path along Lake Ave to Hwy 96.

  • Turn right and go a short distance to Pacific Ave.

  • Turn left onto Pacific Ave and go to Stillwater St.

  • Turn right at Stillwater St and go to Northwest Ave.

  • Turn left at Northwest Ave and go to Buffalo St.

  • Turn left at Buffalo St and ride a short distance to Hwy 61.

  • Turn right (north) at Hwy 61 and ride to Frenchman Rd where you can get on the Hardwood Creek Trail.

  • Take the Hardwood Creek Trail to the intersection of Hwy 61 and Washington Cty Rd 4.

  • Turn right (east) onto Cty Rd 4 and ride about 12 miles to Marine on St Croix.

  • Turn right (south) onto Hwy 95 and ride to Nason Hill Rd (Washington Cty Rd 7).

  • Turn right (southwest) onto Nason Hill Rd and climb a very steep hill.

  • Cty Rd 7 winds through wooded hilly terrain and turns sharply south at Paul Ave N.

  • Follow Cty Rd 7 to Square Lake Park going right at a fork in the road onto Square Lake Rd.

  • Continue west on Cty Rd 7 to Manning Trail.

  • Turn left (south) onto Manning Trail and after a short distance turn right at 122nd St N, staying on Cty Rd 7.

  • Follow Cty Rd 7 west to Portland Ave in White Bear Lake.

  • Turn left (south) onto Portland Ave and ride to Stillwater St.

  • Turn left (west) onto Stillwater St and ride to Pacific Ave.

  • Turn left (south) onto Pacific Ave and ride to Hwy 96.

  • Turn right (west) at Hwy 96 and go a short distance to White Bear Lake Park entrance where you turn and ride on the trail along Lake Ave to Hwy 61.

  • Cross Hwy 61 and take Hwy 96 back to the Shoreview CC.


Route section approximate distances (see map):

  • Shoreview CC to Memorial Beach Park – 7 mi

  • Memorial Beach Park to Washington Cty Rd 4 – 8 mi

  • Washington Cty Rd 4 to Marine on St Croix – 12 mi

  • Marine on St Croix to Square Lake Park – 4 mi

  • Square Lake Park to Withrow – 6 mi

  • Withrow to Shoreview CC – 15 mi