New Single Track Trail at Elm Creek Park Reserve Remains Under Construction

Recent heavy rainfall has slowed down a number of projects around Maple Grove and neighboring communities. One of those projects is the construction for a new 12.5-mile single-track trail in the  

The sustainable, non-paved trail meant for mountain bikers, trail runners, hikers and nature lovers was on task to open June 1. Due to heavy rains, the opening is delayed until mid to late June.

“I have never seen this much water in the park before and I have been here since the 1980s,” Three Rivers Park District Forestry Specialist Charlie Evenson said.

The new trail is flooded in a couple areas and contract crews are currently waiting for the standing water to recede.

“We have built the trail to be sustainable and the design works well. There doesn’t seem to be any erosion problem, which was one of our main concerns,” Evenson said.

Construction on the trail started last year and is considered 95 percent complete. The trail is a soil-packed surface with several obstacles, rock stair-steps and other features to make the course challenging.

“To have a trail this length is few and far between. It’s hard to find a great trail like this one or of this length,” Three Rivers Parks and Natural Resources Coordinator Judy McDowell said.

The trail was designed and funded from with the help of several community supporters, according to McDowell. Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists (MORC) came up with the idea and has provided volunteers with trail design experience and to help out with the labor of carving out the trail.

“We have a very active group of mountain bikers who thought this would serve many. Basically it would be for anyone who likes to get outside and enjoy nature,” McDowell said.

Building the new trail hasn’t been cheap. McDowell says it is costing about $338,000 to make it happen. The project received funding from not only Three Rivers Park District but from Minnesota Legacy Funding, the Federal Recreational Trail Program, Bikes Belong, and Maple Grove Cycling and Fitness.

The main trail is 10.6-miles long, with shorter cut-off options to provide loops of 3.1, 6.3 or 8.2-miles that connect to several other paved trails throughout Elm Creek Park Reserve. Part of the new trail includes a 2.2-mile adaptive use section designed for those in wheelchairs and to be accessible for adaptive three and four wheeled mountain bikes.

"We are hoping to bring in some younger bikers, host some races and share this new trail with those who will appreciate it and enjoy it,” said McDowell.

Once the trail opens, entry can be accessed just north of Maple Grove. Access will be available through the Elm Creek Park Reserve, south of Hayden Lake Road in Champlin.