🌤 Weather at Des Moines River Valley State Trail by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21–68 °F | 57–81 °F | 22–73 °F | 5–28 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Lakefield 2NE, 4 mi away, elevation 1,530 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
📜 Authorized, Not Built — Minnesota law names a Des Moines River Valley Trail from the Iowa border to the Casey Jones Trail, but DNR data on constructed state trails do not list it
The Des Moines River Valley Trail exists in Minnesota law, not as a state trail you can use. Minn. Stat. 85.015, subd. 27 says it shall start in Jackson County at the Iowa border, connect with the Dickinson Trail in Mini-Wakan State Park in Iowa, follow the Des Moines River valley to Kilen Woods State Park, continue through Cottonwood County and end at the Casey Jones Trail in Murray County. Building and running state trails is the job of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
The DNR’s current GIS layer of state trails that are “legislatively authorized and physically constructed” does not include it. In this corner of southwestern Minnesota the layer shows only the Casey Jones State Trail. The DNR published a master plan for the trail in April 2013, so the route has been planned. We could not read that plan in full, and we cannot rule out short local paths built by cities or counties. We found no state trailhead to drive to.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Status | Authorized by law; not in DNR data of constructed state trails |
| Planned route | Iowa border to the Casey Jones Trail (Jackson, Cottonwood and Murray counties) |
| Responsible agency | Minnesota DNR, Division of Parks and Trails |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hike or bike the Des Moines River Valley State Trail?
We found no constructed state trail by this name. Along this river, Kilen Woods State Park has its own trails, and the Des Moines River itself is a state water trail for paddlers.
Why does an unbuilt trail have a name?
Minnesota designates state trails by statute first and develops them later, often over decades. In 2011 the DNR noted that only half of the authorized state trail system was developed.
Sources: Minn. Stat. 85.015, subd. 1 and 27; DNR GIS layers of state trails, state park trails and water trails; DNR master plan, April 2013 (opening pages only); DNR “Directions for the Future” (2011). As of November 2026.
📜 The Authorization
The Des Moines River Valley Trail is not listed as a constructed state trail. You can read the law that authorizes it in the Minnesota Statutes, section 85.015, subdivision 27.
Park Map
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