Douglas State Trail

Available Activities

Hiking
Biking

🏆🏆🏆 Rochester Rail Trail — 12.5-mile paved trail from Rochester to Pine Island through farm country

Douglas State Trail is a 12.5-mile paved rail trail running from Rochester (home of the Mayo Clinic) north to Pine Island through the rolling farm country of Olmsted County. The trail follows the former Chicago Great Western Railway grade and is popular with Mayo Clinic staff, patients, and Rochester residents for fitness and recreation. The surrounding landscape features productive farmland, woodlots, and the Zumbro River valley.

Visitor Information

Detail	Information
Location	Rochester to Pine Island, MN
Length	12.5 miles (paved)
Fee	MN Ski/Trail Pass required
Nearby	Mayo Clinic, Rochester

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this connect to other trails?

In Rochester, the Douglas Trail connects to the city’s extensive paved trail system. Future plans include connections to other state trails in the region.

About Douglas Trail

Douglas State Trail runs 12.5 miles from Rochester to Pine Island through southeastern Minnesota’s rolling agricultural landscape. The trail follows a former railroad corridor past farms, restored prairies, and hardwood forest patches. Rochester — home of the Mayo Clinic — provides a bustling starting point for this peaceful trail.

Things to Do

Biking, hiking, and inline skating the paved trail, birdwatching, horseback riding (separate treadway), cross-country skiing in winter, and connecting to Rochester’s trail network.

Insider Tips

Prairie cycling: Douglas State Trail is a paved rail-trail connecting Rochester and Pine Island — rolling through southeast Minnesota’s agricultural landscape. Pro tip: Rochester is home to the Mayo Clinic — the world-renowned medical center that attracts 1.3 million patients annually. Zumbro River: The trail follows the Zumbro River valley — excellent for birding, especially during spring warbler migration.

Best Time to Visit

Summer: Peak cycling season. Fall: River valley foliage and apple orchards. Spring: Wildflowers and bird migration. Winter: Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Rochester famous?

The Mayo Clinic, founded in 1889 by the Mayo brothers, has grown into the world’s largest and most renowned medical center — treating over 1.3 million patients annually from all 50 states and 140+ countries. The clinic transformed a small prairie town into a world-class medical destination.