If you’re searching for the best Minnesota bike trails, Stillwater deserves a spot at the top of your list. Wind your way down through the beauty of the St. Croix River Valley on wooded, dirt, and gravel trails, then roll into downtown Stillwater for food, drinks, and a little shopping. Did you know you can bike all the way from downtown Stillwater to downtown St. Paul, or from downtown Stillwater across the river into Wisconsin? That’s right, you can ride from the Birthplace of Minnesota to its Capital on nothing but connected trails.
Stillwater was also recently named a bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists, an award that recognizes the city’s commitment to building transportation and recreational resources encouraging healthier, more sustainable ways to get around. Whether you are in the mood for a great meal or craft beer tasting, our small town offers plenty of things to do after your bike ride.
Water Street Inn is the only waterfront hotel in downtown Stillwater. We’re a short ride from the two most popular routes in town, the St. Croix River Crossing Trail Loop and Brown’s Creek State Trail. Our historic hotel dates back to the 1800s, and several of our guest rooms carry that same Victorian character, with tall windows, warm wood tones, and comfortable, spacious layouts that make for a great place to unwind after a long ride. Book your stay today!
One of the newer additions to the area’s Minnesota bike trails is the St. Croix River Crossing Trail Loop, a multi-use, 5-mile route that crosses both the Historic Lift Bridge and the St. Croix Crossing Bridge. It connects Minnesota to Wisconsin on the other side of the river.
Most riders find it manageable regardless of skill level, though there’s one hill on the Wisconsin side that will get your heart rate up. A local news station even covered the route on video, and if you watch closely, they mention Water Street Inn’s rooftop restaurant as one of the best views along the way.
Stillwater has around 30 miles of interconnected bike routes, and city planners have done a nice job of making sure most of them connect. Brown’s Creek State Trail runs about six miles and connects directly to the Gateway State Trail, which continues another 18 miles all the way into St. Paul if you’re up for a longer ride. That connection works both directions too, so if you’re coming from the Twin Cities, you can ride the Gateway State Trail out of St. Paul and end up right at our door for the getaway.
Between these two trails and the river loop, it’s easy to see why locals consider this stretch some of the best bike trails in Minnesota. Grab a Stillwater Minnesota bike trails map from one of the shops downtown before you head out, since it’ll help you figure out which connections make sense for the distance and terrain you’re after.
For rentals, head to Herman’s Electric Bikes at Coffee Beans and Bikes, just a short walk from the hotel at 209 S Main Street. They rent e-bikes by the hour, which makes it a lot easier to knock out the longer stretches toward St. Paul or Wisconsin without wearing yourself out before you even hit downtown.
Rates at Herman’s start at $45 for the first hour, with a discount on weekday rides Monday through Thursday. Walk-ins are welcome, but it’s worth calling ahead to reserve a bike if you’re headed out on a weekend, since they tend to book up. Once you drop the bike off, stick around for a coffee and one of their baked goods. It’s the perfect way to reward yourself after a long ride.
Once you’re back from a day on the trails, you’ll be glad you booked a waterfront hotel in Stillwater MN. Our guestrooms look out over the St. Croix River and the historic Stillwater Lift Bridge, and most of downtown’s top attractions are within walking distance.
We also have two on-site restaurants, so you won’t need to go far for a good meal. Charlie’s Restaurant offers a casual Irish fare with live music most weekends, and Papa’s Rooftop Restaurant serves wood-fired pizza and cocktails with some of the best river views in the city. We’d love to host you here in Stillwater. Book your stay today and make Water Street Inn your home base for the ride. Reserve your room now!
