Paul Bunyan — Excelsior Road head: short bicycle return
Minnesota · Other separated ride
Follow the signed main path north toward Merrifield. Turn after 2 outward miles or before the first public-road crossing, work barrier, uncertain continuation or uncomfortable transition, whichever comes first; retrace. Walk any initial lot or access-drive interface. Do not use a road or private-property detour.
Plan your ride
- Location
- Baxter · Minnesota
- Ride length
- Up to 4 miles return
- Ride format
- Out-and-back
- Surface
- Paved main rail-trail
- Road crossings
- Follow the signed main path north toward Merrifield. Turn after 2 outward miles or before the first public-road crossing, work barrier, uncertain continuation or uncomfortable transition, whichever comes first; retrace. Walk any initial lot or access-drive interface. Do not use a road or private-property detour.
- Elevation
- Owner generally level rail corridor supports this southern short course. Distant Chippewa Forest eight-percent hills and steep Shingobee road-shoulder alternative are excluded; lot grades unmeasured.
- Starting location
- Paul Bunyan State Trail Baxter Trailhead, Excelsior Road, Baxter, MN
Chosen 4-mile maximum return, not the full regional corridor or a surveyed parking-to-parking distance. Earlier interfaces shorten the outing; parking walking is extra.
Approximate named public facility/access-area reference. Follow the guide to designated public visitor parking and the signed path; not a surveyed stall.
Paul Bunyan — Excelsior Road head: short bicycle return — detailed guide
Source review: 2026-10-21. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.
Baxter, Minnesota · Up to 4 miles return · Paved main rail-trail
Start: Paul Bunyan — Excelsior Road head, Paul Bunyan State Trail Baxter Trailhead, Excelsior Road, Baxter, MN. DNR gives this public lot on the left approaching Conservation Drive east along Excelsior Road. Join the signed northbound separated trail; do not add the on-road Baxter connection or business parking. Use designated ordinary visitor spaces, respect reserved spaces and walk through the lot to the signed main path. The address identifies a public facility, not a surveyed stall.
Ride: Follow the signed main path north toward Merrifield. Turn after 2 outward miles or before the first public-road crossing, work barrier, uncertain continuation or uncomfortable transition, whichever comes first; retrace. Walk any initial lot or access-drive interface. Do not use a road or private-property detour.
Distance: Chosen 4-mile maximum return, not the full regional corridor or a surveyed parking-to-parking distance. Earlier interfaces shorten the outing; parking walking is extra.
Permission and effort: Source-backed ordinary bicycle use on the designated improved main path; walking-only spurs and adjacent private property are excluded. Owner generally level rail corridor supports this southern short course. Distant Chippewa Forest eight-percent hills and steep Shingobee road-shoulder alternative are excluded; lot grades unmeasured.
Planning: Choose daylight and obey posted gate / parking hours. No ordinary bicycle trail pass; DNR vehicle permits apply to state-park parking, a different start. Follow lot signs. Yield to walkers and horses where present, keep right and announce passes. Obey posted speed, helmet and pet requirements. Ordinary pedal bicycles covered here; no blanket e-bike-class permission inferred.
Access reviewed October 20, 2026 Central (October 21 UTC): Fresh owner profile retains this public head and explicitly excludes short Baxter / Bemidji road connections from the 115-mile figure. Neither those roads nor distant steep sections are required here. This is a dated source review, not a field inspection or current-day all-clear. Postpone for snow, ice, high water, soft tread or barriers rather than improvising a bypass.
Bring water and choose suitable weather. Parking walking is extra. No surveyed parking-space pin or navigable GPX is supplied.