Brown's Creek State Trail

The Brown's Creek State Trail is under development and not yet open to public use. When complete, the trail will be 5.9 miles long and will connect the Gateway State Trail in the city of Grant to the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway in Stillwater. The trail will also connect to local park and trail systems.

Since the trail will be situated on a former railroad grade, it will be generally level and accessible to users of all abilities.

Map

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Trail notes

Please stay off the entire Brown's Creek State Trail corridor while it is under development, for your own safety as well as the safety of the work crews. We'll let you know here as soon as any part of the trail is ready to open to public use. Thanks.

Landscape

About two miles of the Brown's Creek State Trail will be immediately adjacent to Brown's Creek, a designated trout stream with a dense broadleaf forest canopy. One mile of the trail corridor will parallel the St. Croix River, with great views of the National Scenic Riverway. The trail will also pass by historical markers and buildings and through local parks, golf courses, and a community with historical significance.

Development timeline

From 1985 to 2008, the Minnesota Zephyr dinner train followed this 5.9 mile route between downtown Stillwater and Duluth Junction. With the financial assistance of Washington County, the DNR purchased the rail corridor in the winter of 2012. The Gateway-Brown's Creek Trail Association and others have also donated funds toward the trail's development.

The railroad tracks and ties are now being removed and recycled. Once this is complete, the trail will still be unsafe for public use. No stop signs or other safety signage will be in place, and the existing railroad bridges are not safe for pedestrian use.

The next phase of development—likely beginning in the spring or summer of 2013—will involve paving the trail from downtown Stillwater to Neal Avenue at Brown's Creek Park, and rehabilitating trail bridges.

Management plan

Trail uses

The trail is being developed primarily for pedestrian use and nonmotorized riding. Other trail uses like horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and environmental education or interpretation may be accommodated on specific segments of the trail.

State trails