by Dennis Dalman
The Lake Wobegon Trail, as of March 20, is now completely open for walkers and bikers.
In mid-March, three segments of the trail had been closed, one at a time, because of the necessity for tree-trimming on the trail’s edges. The first tree-trimming took place along the trail from Albany to Avon, the second phase from Avon to St. John’s University area and the third from St. John’s to St. Joseph.
On March 20, an announcement was made by Stearns County Parks that the trail is open for people to enjoy, from mile post 95 in Albany to mile post 80 in St. Joseph.
The Wobegon Trail, 65 miles long and 10 feet wide, is enjoyed year-round by walkers, bikers, rollerbladers and snowmobilers.
Its newest, eastern stretch ends at River’s Edge Park in Waite Park, and its western end is at Osakis. There is also a northern stretch of the trail that goes from just west of Albany to Holdingford.
Cities along or near the trail include St. Joseph, Waite Park, Albany, Avon, Collegeville, Freeport, Holdingford, Melrose, Sauk Centre, West Union and Osakis.
Planning for the Lake Wobegon Trail began in 1994. It was constructed over a period of years, one section at a time on what was a railroad corridor once owned by Burlington Northern Santa Fe. The final section of the trail, the eastern end connecting St. Joseph and Waite Park, was completed in 2018.
The trail was named in honor of “Lake Wobegon Days,” a bestselling novel written by humorist Garrison Keillor about his memories of living in central Minnesota.
Xcel crews trim trees on Lake Wobegon Trail.
