Type: Paved Path, Loop
Difficulty: 3 / 10
Dog Friendly: Yes, with leash
Jog-Stroller Friendly: Unknown
Filed Under: Running
It's beautiful, historic, and uncrowded. It offers the runner several distances from which to choose. While the city's other recreation seekers flock to the lakes in Minnehaha Park, run the Mississippi riverfront and get away from the crowds. The entire western side of the river on this run is on the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway, the longest continuous system of public urban parkways and has been the preeminent urban parkway system for more than a century.
Paved paths line the entire stretch of the river from the Ford Bridge to the Washington Bridge on both sides. Fountains along the way will keep you hydrated. The river is an ideal training ground as you can choose your distance based on your starting point and the bridge to make your loop. From Minnehaha Park you can do 6 miles, 9 miles, and 12 miles. Or, start from the north end of the river and do 3 miles, 6 miles, or 12 miles. A good portion of the River Road forms the third major route along the Twin Cities Marathon Course.
Entire loop - 12 miles (Minnehaha Park to Washington Bridge loop)
9 Miles - (Minnehaha Park to Franklin Ave. Bridge loop)
6 Miles - (Minnehaha Park to Lake St. Bridge loop)
3 Miles - (Start at Washington Bridge to Franklin Bridge loop)
Recommended Start Point: Minnehaha Park - there's paid parking here, but it's free and plentiful on nearby surface streets.
Minnehaha Park is located in southeast Minneapolis at the intersection of Hiawatha Avenue and Godfrey Pkwy/Nawadaha Blvd.
From south: 35W north to 62 east. Left at first light (Hiawatha/ Hwy 55). Travel a few miles to Godfrey Pkwy. Right on Godfrey. Go through one light. Pay lot on right.
From north: 35W south to 55/Hiawatha south. Take this a few miles down to Godfrey Pkwy. Left on Godfrey. Pay lot on right.
From west: 94 east to Hiawatha south. Left on Godfrey Pkwy.
From east: 94 west to Riverside exit. Go through first light. Turn left at next light (25th).
Posted by: tradkelly and last modified on Feb 02, 2006 by thoos
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