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Lake Wobegon Trail adventures: Enjoying the trail
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My family is fortunate that we live just a few blocks off of the Lake Wobegon Trail. The trail runs through several communities where Garrison Keiler once lived and where he developed the concept for the fictional city of Lake Wobegon, which he has made popular on his National Public Radio Program, Prairie Home Companion.
The Trail is a 46 mile long, 10 foot wide, bituminous surfaced hike-and-bike pathway that extends from the city of St. Joseph, to the city of Osakis. The trail also has an extension on the west side of Albany heading northeast to Holdingford and beyond.
My home base, Albany, MN, lies somewhere in the middle of the trail.
The paved trail makes this an easy outing for your family whether on foot or on bike. No motorized vehicles are allowed. The great thing about the trail is that each direction from Albany offers you different scenery.
If you take the 9 mile spur north to Holdingford, MN you travel through hill and dale (literally) and enjoy the view of numerous dairy farms and streams. Your reward for making it all the way to Holdingford is you get to cross through the longest covered bridges in Minnesota. If you want to start in Holdingford you can contact the Helping Hands Outreach and rent a surrey bike for an hour or as long as you want. The trail continues a short distance north from Holdingford, but that’s as far as we’ve gotten.
If you take the trail west out of Albany you will find yourself on a straight away running close to the interstate. It’s probably my least favorite direction but you will be able to visit Freeport, MN (five miles) and Melrose, MN (an additional six miles) along the route, both of which have options close to the trail for refreshments.
If you take the trail east out of Albany, you are headed toward Avon, MN (six miles) and eventually St. Joseph (an additional nine miles). If you ride your bike much at all this is an easy ride.
Albany to Avon takes you by a small lake and is quite woodsy. You might spot a few emus, yes emu, along the way. As a rest stop in Avon you have your choice of wading into the Avon Beach or resting in the shade of the city park.
In the park you can use the picnic shelter and climb the observation tower. You don’t need to worry about Acrophobia as it’s just high enough to give you a nice view of a few blocks of the city. There is also a nice coffee shop a few hundred feet off the trail where you can get some ice cream.
Leaving Avon your next city stop will be St. Joseph. St. Joseph also has developed a small park on the trail and there are a few refreshments stops within easy distance of the trail.
What ever form of human-powered transportation you prefer, walking, running, biking, the Lake Wobegon Trail is a wonderful way to enjoy the Minnesota outdoors with your family.
along the Lake Wobegon Trail.
For more info:
Prairie Home Companion
Lake Wobegon Trail
Osakis, MN
Albany, MN
Holdingford, MN
Melrose, MN
Helping Hands Outreach Avon, MN
Freeport, MN
St. Joseph, MN
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