Master plans for state trails

Strategic plans | Plans open for public comment
Plans under development | Completed plans

What's a master plan?

Some state trails follow previously existing routes such as railroad grades, while others are planned to follow rivers or simply to connect two or more cities or other destinations. A master plan is needed to identify one or more potential routes - also known as "alignments" - before any portion of a trail can be developed.

Throughout the planning process, Parks and Trails staff work closely with resource experts, local communities and trail users to identify important natural and cultural resources, scenic landscapes, and potential connections to parks, downtown districts, local or regional trails, and other points of interest.

The planning process also results in decisions about the types of uses that are appropriate for the trail and how the trail will be managed. The resulting master plan is a blueprint for the development of the trail - a process that can extend for many years into the future.

Plan amendments

If a state trail is to be extended outside of its original corridor or opened to new uses, a trail master plan amendment may be prepared. As with complete park and trail plans, local communities, park and trail users, and other interested citizens have opportunities to comment on these plan amendments during the planning process and during an official public review period.

Completed plans

Master plans are available electronically for these state trails listed below. Other plans are available for review in paper form in the DNR Library at the DNR Central Office in St. Paul.

• Blazing Star State Trail This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 05/03 (1 MB)

• Casey Jones State Trail This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 09/05 (3.9 MB)

• Cuyuna Lakes State Trail This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 08/04 (7.2 MB)

• Glacial Lakes State Trail Extension to Sibley State Park This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 04/09 (3.2 MB)

• Glacial Lakes State Trail—Willmar to Richmond This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 06/93 (11.6 MB)

• Glacial Lakes State Trail Amendment—Trail Surfacing This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 06/06 (1.1 MB)

• Goodhue Pioneer State Trail This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 01/02 (7.8 MB)

• Harmony-Preston Valley State Trail Master Plan This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 04/95 (6.7 MB)

• Heartland State Trail—Park Rapids to Moorhead This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 06/11 (6 MB)

• Heartland State Trail This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 10/79 (6.7 MB)

• Matthew Lourey State Trail Master Plan Amendment This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 05/12 (7.2 MB)

• Mill Towns State Trail This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 05/05 (8.1 MB)

• Minnesota River State Trail Part 1 This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. (10.6 MB) and Part 2 This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. (3.4 MB) 02/08

• North Shore State Trail This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 08/81 (5 MB)

• Preston to Forestville State Trail This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 08/03 (3.4 MB)

• Root River State Trail Extension, Houston to La Crescent This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 12/11 (6.1 MB)

• Root River State Trail, Houston Extension This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 09/98 (2.1 MB)

• Root River State Trail This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 11/83 (11.4 MB)

• Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail Master Plan This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 01/81 (4.9 MB)

• Shooting Star State Trail Master Plan This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 08/02 (4.7 MB)

• Stagecoach State Trail Master Plan This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 03/12 (9.5 MB)

• Taconite State Trail Master Plan This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 08/81 (5.1 MB)

• Whitewater Country Loop State Trail This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 02/08 (4.9 MB)

• Willard Munger State Trail—Minnesota Wisconsin Boundary Trail This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 04/82 (10.3 MB)

• Willard Munger State Trail—Minnesota Wisconsin Boundary Trail Maps This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 04/82 (10.1 MB)