Tour of the Twin Cities

A road and trail ride.

Approximate distance: 45 mi


This is a long ride from Shoreview that is truly a “tour of the Twin Cities”. The route starts passing by Sucker and Vadnais Lakes and then south to St Paul on the Vento Trail. After riding through downtown St Paul, the route crosses the Mississippi River and then follows trails along the river through Lilydale and Mendota. The route then crosses the Minnesota River on the Mendota Bridge and passes by Fort Snelling and Minnehaha Regional Park. The route then continues north along the west side of the Mississippi River before re-crossing it on the Lake-Marshall Bridge. The route continues north on the east side of the river to the U of Minnesota. The route next continues north on the U of Minnesota Transitway, past the Mn State Fairgrounds and through Roseville and then back to Shoreview. Most of the route is relatively flat. Approximately half of the route is on trails. The road portions of the route are on bike-friendly roads.


Directions:

  • From the Shoreview CC, take Hwy 96 east.

  • Turn south onto the trail towards Sucker Lake.

  • Follow the trail to Cty Rd F and turn east.

  • Turn south onto the trail towards Vadnais Lake.

  • Take the trail to Vadnais Blvd and turn east.

  • Follow Vadnais Blvd to Edgerton St and turn south.

  • Cross I-694 and turn east on Cty Rd D.

  • Continue on Cty Rd D past Hwy 61 and turn south on the Vento Trail.

  • Take the Vento Trail south to Maryland Ave just past Lake Phalen.

  • Continue south on the trail to Phalen Blvd.

  • Turn south on the Vento Trail adjacent to Phalen Blvd.

  • After passing under Arcade St, take a trail branch to the right to stay on the Vento Trail.

  • Continue on this trail as it descends and curves to the south.

  • Continue on the trail as it enters Swede Hollow Park.

  • After Swede Hollow Park, follow the trail to the Vento Nature Preserve.

  • Near the Vento Nature Sanctuary, take 4th St to the west.

  • Turn left on Willius St and then right on Prince St.

  • Turn right at Broadway St and then left on 4th St.

  • Take 4th St to Cedar St.

  • Turn left on Cedar St and continue to Kellogg Blvd.

  • Turn right on Kellogg Blvd and continue to Wabasha St.

  • Turn left on Wabasha St and cross the Wabasha bridge.

  • On the other side of the bridge, exit onto a trail on Harriet Island going to the southwest.

  • Continue on the trail that runs parallel to Water St into Lilydale Regional park.

  • After passing the Pool and Yacht Club, take the Big River Regional Trail continuing to the southwest.

  • After passing Mendota Heights take a trail to connects to and crosses the Mendota Bridge.

  • Across the bridge, follow the trail as it passes by Fort Snelling and then continues to Minnehaha Park.

  • Continue on the trail through the park past Minnehaha Falls.

  • Follow the trail east along Godfrey Pkwy to W River Pkwy.

  • Continue along the W River Pkwy trail to the Lake-Marshall Bridge.

  • Exit the trail and cross the bridge and then getting onto E River Pkwy going north.

  • Continue on E River Pkwy and shortly after passing I-94 turn north on Ontario St.

  • Continue to University Blvd and turn right.

  • At the intersection of University and Huron cross University and go north on 23rd Ave SE.

  • After a short distance, turn east on the U. of MN Transitway.

  • Follow the transitway past Como Ave to Commonwealth Ave.

  • Turn right and then left onto Randall Ave and ride into the State Fair grounds.

  • At Underwood St turn north and continue to Larpenteur Ave.

  • At Larpenteur turn right and then left onto St Mary’s St.

  • Go north on St Mary’s St to Maple Knoll Dr.

  • Turn right on Maple Knoll Dr and continue to Garden Ave.

  • Cross Snelling Ave and continue east on Garden Ave to Hamline Ave.

  • Turn north on Hamline Ave and continue to Josephine Rd.

  • Turn east on Josephine Rd and continue to Lexington Ave.

  • Turn north on Lexington Ave and continue north to Hwy 96.

  • Turn east onto Hwy 96 and return to the Shoreview CC.


Route section approximate distances (see map):

  • Shoreview CC to Labore Ave – 8 mi

  • Labore Ave to Gervais Ave via Bruce Vento Trail – 3 mi

  • Gervais Ave. to Larpenteur Ave on Vento Trail – 2 mi

  • Vento Trail to Vento Nature Sanctuary – 4 mi

  • St Paul to Minnehaha Park via Mendota – 1 mi

  • Minnehaha Park to E.River Rd – 10 mi

  • E.River Rd to U of Mn – 5 mi

  • U of Mn to Mn State Fair grounds – 3 mi

  • Mn State Fair grounds to Lake Josephine – 5 mi

  • Lake Josephine to Shoreview CC – 4 mi