White Water State Park / Root River Trail System

I really am an outdoor sort of person, always have been. Camped often with my parent’s decades ago, later with my kids and now with good friends. Have been known to scare a trout from time to time. I also put a lot of miles on a bicycle; we have talked for years about biking in Minnesota, hence the reason for our current stop over by the way. I like being busy and outside. But I am here to tell you that at the end of the day (maybe early afternoon) I am ready for a shower and a cold drink.  Add a little AC away from the bugs and I’m a happy camper so to speak.  It’s wonderful that the Princess and I are not in a tent anymore.  I know, being in a travel trailer isn’t real camping but I don’t care.  This one is for you Donna B, glad you talked us into looking at these little portable houses a couple of years ago.

We have been spending a few nights in the Minnesota White Water State Park.  It is a smaller park with a lot of very well-maintained campsites. The Park has a swimming area with a nice beach that the kids from the campground enjoy.   The sites numbered 200 and above are in a new camping section and are surrounded by wild flowers and small walnut trees. The showers and restroom facilities are the nicest I’ve ever come across in a state park.  The sites are level with plenty of room between them. For us this is a good place to park the rig while we explore the country side and get a few miles on the bikes.

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South of the park maybe 25 miles is the Root River Trail bicycle system.  I read about the trails several years ago but this is the first time I have come up here to ride.  The paved trail mostly follows the Root River.  Bicycle repair stations are provided along the trail. We stopped in a bike shop in St. Charles, MN for advice.  The owner talked to us for quite a while recommending that Lanesboro be our starting point both days we plan to ride.  Go east on the trail one day and west the other.  Taking his advice, we discovered that Lanesboro is a lovely small town inundated with bike riders and people there to float the river.  We took time to explore a couple of art galleries, found the trail parking area and made plans for an early start the next day.

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At the crack of 11:30 the next morning we were on the trail riding from Lanesboro to Preston.  This is a “rails to trails” affair so we were surprised to find a 6-mile climb on this section.  I suppose that over the length of the climb it was in the 2% range but several miles were a lot steeper.  The 6-mile slope went a lot faster on the way back.  All in all, it was a pleasant 25-mile trail ride in the shade for Day 1.

Day 2 did not work out as well.  We did get a slightly earlier start, the ride from Lanesboro to Whalen was pleasant with the town of Peterson on the way.  The trail was shaded all the way there.  No climbs to speak of and ice cream was offered at both Peterson and Whalen. Sounds good doesn’t it?  We made it to Whalen ate ice cream, turned around and went two miles, first flat tire.  Half mile later, second flat tire.  Three miles later the third flat tire.

The fun of the ride started to wane a little.  She graciously handed her bike to me and agreed to wait for me at Whalen despite the lack of cell phone service. Trying to figure out how to blame this on the Princess but haven’t come up with it yet.  I’ll keep you posted.

It was a good day.

Dennis