Willard Munger State Trail
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 Minnesota’s Greatest Trail — 70+ mile paved trail from Hinckley to Duluth — consistently rated one of America’s top 10 rail trails
Willard Munger State Trail is Minnesota’s flagship trail system — over 70 miles of paved trail from Hinckley to Duluth that consistently ranks among America’s top 10 rail trails. The trail climbs from the St. Croix River valley through boreal forests to the heights above Lake Superior. The Alex Laveau Trail segment passes through the Jay Cooke State Park gorge where the St. Louis River roars through tilted slate rock formations. Named for Willard Munger, Minnesota’s longest-serving legislator and “Father of Environmental Legislation,” the trail embodies his legacy of public access to nature.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Hinckley to Duluth, MN |
| Length | 70+ miles (paved) |
| Fee | MN Ski/Trail Pass ($6/day) |
| Rating | Top 10 Rail Trail in America! |
| Highlight | Jay Cooke SP gorge segment |
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best section?
The segment through Jay Cooke State Park is spectacular — the trail crosses the dramatic St. Louis River gorge with its tilted slate rock formations. The Duluth terminus offers stunning Lake Superior views. For a point-to-point ride, start at the Duluth end and ride downhill!
About Willard Munger Trail
Willard Munger State Trail is a 70-mile paved trail from Hinckley to Duluth — one of the longest continuous paved trails in the Midwest. The trail climbs through pine and birch forests, crosses the Kettle River (a state Wild and Scenic River), and arrives at the dramatic Lake Superior shore in Duluth. The Duluth section drops steeply toward the lake through the city’s hillside neighborhoods.
Things to Do
Biking the 70 miles from Hinckley to Duluth (one of Minnesota’s great bike adventures), hiking, crossing the scenic Kettle River, visiting Jay Cooke State Park (along the route), and arriving at Lake Superior. Cross-country skiing in winter.
🚴 Visit Willard Munger State Trail
America’s Top 10 — 70+ paved miles from wilderness to Lake Superior.
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