Minnesota has some very nice bike trails, many of them, like the Currie trail, part of the state trail system.  In addition, several cities have their own trails, and today we set out to explore the five-mile bicycle trail in New Ulm, MN.

We parked and unloaded our bikes at the south end of the trail, where 20th South Street meets German Street, and we were off.  This was the first time the boys have ridden their bikes, instead of the tagalongs, on a family bike outing, so we weren’t sure how far we’d make it.

The entire trail is paved, and runs through residential areas, park zones, part of downtown, prairie land, and even a farm field or two.  In a town like New Ulm that has some pretty steep hills, the slope of the path isn’t extreme.  There are gradual ups and downs, with level sections in between that allow some respite.  The path is clearly marked in areas where it makes turns.

Much of the trail is shaded, especially as evening approaches.  I like that there’s only one busy road to cross, and some residential and downtown streets, but on the north end of the trail it is more than two miles without having to cross a street.  This was fun for the kids to be able to ride without worrying about traffic.

There are benches and trash cans at several points along the path for those who want to take a break.  The path runs one block from German Park and about two blocks from Riverside Park, should you want to make a playground stop with kids.  (There are also restrooms in German Park.)  And if you’re hungry, when you’re in the downtown area, you’re only two blocks from the Minnesota Street restaurants, and at the south end of the trail, Applebees is adjacent and Pizza Ranch is a block away.

With four young kids, we completed the 10-mile roundtrip in less than two hours, making just one rest stop.  Because the trail is hidden from the street much of the time, my children were surprised at how long it was.  As my six-year-old said, “This trail is a lot better than I thought it would be!”

I recommend the New Ulm bicycle trail as one of many family-friendly activities in New Ulm, Minnesota.

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