Jordan Gerard/Winonan

There are a few ways to go south for the winter: fly, drive or bicycle on the recently completed Mississippi River Trail that runs through Winona.

The bike trail starts at the headwaters in Itasca State Park and follows the Mississippi River to New Orleans, where it meets the Gulf of Mexico.

The bike trail follows the river though Winona, entering on Prairie Island Road, riding through Levee Park, exiting on Mankato Avenue and heading south toward Pickwick.

Matt Benson, president of the Winona State University Mountain Bike Club, said, “Students can use the trail anytime they want. It gives them a place to ride with some nice scenery and well-marked paths.”

Elizabeth Walton, a representative for the Bicycles and Pedestrians Section of Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), said the trail will provide more profit to businesses from travelers seeking local restaurants, lodging and more.

The trail will benefit Winona because it is another attraction to the area, Benson said.

Winona was one of six selected communities to offer expert advice to help MnDOT understand the functioning of a bike-friendly community.

“MnDOT believes that if a community is bicycle-friendly for those living in the community, it will be inviting to those passing through—whether on a few-hours bike ride or lengthy cross-country ride,” Walton said.

A bicycle-friendly community means providing safe trails, well-marked maps and lodging. It also encourages bicycle recreation and transportation. The University of Minnesota Tourism recognizes bicycling as Minnesota’s second most popular outdoor activity.

The trail goes on state, county, city and township roads that already have existing bike lanes and paths, so MnDOT connected them together to make one whole trail throughout Minnesota.

Minnesota’s part of the trail is over 800 miles long, including the Paul Bunyan and Heartland Trails near Bemidji and St. Cloud.

Winona currently has an “honorable mention” status with the national Bicycle Friendly America program, organized by the League of American Bicyclists.

The trail was started in 1990 as a community and economic development project between St. Louis and New Orleans and eventually connected to Itasca, Minn.

The MnDOT, Explore Minnesota Tourism, the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota and local partners like mayors and tourism advocates helped build the trail.

More information about the trail and maps can be found at www.dot.state.mn.us/bike/mrt.

Contact Jordan at [email protected]