Big Rivers Regional Trail is a paved

rail trail A rail trail is a shared-use path on railway right of way. Rail trails are typically constructed after a railway has been abandoned and the track has been removed, but may also share the right of way with active railways, light rail, or streetcar ...

that overlooks the confluence of the

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

and

Mississippi Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...

rivers along the northern edge of

Dakota County, Minnesota Dakota County is the third-most populous county in the U.S. state of Minnesota, located in the east central portion of the state. As of the 2020 census, the population was 439,882. The population of Dakota County was estimated to be 442,038 in ...

, United States. It runs between the cities of

Eagan Eagan may refer to: People * Daisy Eagan (born 1979), American actress * Dennis Eagan (1926–2012), British field hockey player * Eddie Eagan (1897–1967), American sportsman * James Eagan (1926-2000), American politician from Missouri * John J. ...

and Lilydale. The trail also links to the

Mississippi National River and Recreation Area The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is a and protected corridor along the Mississippi River through the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro in the U.S. state of Minnesota, from the cities of Dayton and Ramsey, to just downstream of Ha ...

, hundreds of miles of trails throughout the greater

Minneapolis–Saint Paul Minneapolis–Saint Paul is a metropolitan area in the Upper Midwestern United States centered around the confluence of the Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix rivers in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is commonly known as the Twin Cities ...

metropolitan area, and historic landmarks including

Fort Snelling Fort Snelling is a former military fortification and National Historic Landmark in the U.S. state of Minnesota on the bluffs overlooking the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers. The military site was initially named Fort Saint Anth ...

Pike Island Pike Island (Dakota: ''Wita Tanka'') is an island at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers in the southwestern-most part of Saint Paul in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The island is managed as part of Fort Snelling State Park and ...

and the city of Mendota, one of Minnesota's oldest settlements. The Big Rivers Trailhead provides access to a nearly flat paved trail built on an abandoned railroad bed.

Minnesota State Highway 55 Minnesota State Highway 55 (MN 55) is a highway in west-central, central, and east-central Minnesota, which runs from the North Dakota state line near Tenney and continues east and southeast to its eastern terminus at its intersection with U.S. Hi ...

Mendota Heights Mendota Heights is a city in Dakota County, Minnesota, Dakota County, Minnesota, United States. It is a first ring southern suburb of the Twin Cities. The population was 11,744 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Geography According to ...

I-494 Interstate 494 (I-494) is an auxiliary Interstate Highway making up part of a beltway of I-94, circling through the southern and western portions of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area in Minnesota. The road is coupled with I- ...

in Eagan, and

I-35E Interstate 35E may refer to: *Interstate 35E (Texas), a long branch route serving Dallas, Texas *Interstate 35E (Minnesota), a long branch route serving St. Paul, Minnesota See also

* Interstate 35W (disambiguation) {{road disambiguation Lis ...

in Mendota Heights are additional access points to the Big Rivers Regional Trail.

Route

The trail is long. The trail begins atop an overpass that parallels I-494. It descends and heads north, paralleling

Minnesota State Highway 13 Minnesota State Highway 13 (MN 13) is a highway in Minnesota that runs from its intersection with U.S. Highway 65 in Albert Lea to its northern terminus at its intersection with State Highway 149 at the West St. Paul / Saint Paul city boundar ...

. The trail crosses the Sibley Memorial Highway and intersects a spur connecting to a local trail. The trail leaves modern MN 13 but parallels the old alignment. It passes under the

Mendota Bridge The Mendota Bridge (full name Fort Snelling–Mendota Bridge), in the US state of Minnesota carries State Highway 55 (MN 55) and MN 62 over the Minnesota River between Fort Snelling and Mendota Heights. It is the final bridge over th ...

, which carries state highways 55 and 62. It crosses MN 13 under a tunnel and enters the old village of Mendota, a small hamlet that overlooks the Minnesota-Mississippi River confluence. The trail leaves Mendota and crosses MN 13 again, this time at-grade. The trail descends into the valley and parallels the

Canadian Pacific The Canadian Pacific Railway (french: Chemin de fer Canadien Pacifique) , also known simply as CPR or Canadian Pacific and formerly as CP Rail (1968–1996), is a Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canadi ...

railway line. It passes three scenic overlooks. It passes under I-35E and the Lexington Bridge and climbs out of the valley. It crosses MN 13 two more times, under its bridges over Lilydale Road and I-35E respectively. It turns north, paralleling the interstate. It crosses the Lexington Bridge, descends one last time, and terminates at Shepard Road.

References

External links

Dakota County Parks - Big Rivers Regional Trail
{{Mississippi National River and Recreation Area Mississippi National River and Recreation Area National Recreation Trails in Minnesota Protected areas of Dakota County, Minnesota Rail trails in Minnesota Regional parks in Minnesota