Luce Line Trail
| Luce Line State Trail | |
|---|---|
 The trail in Independence, Minnesota | |
| Length | 63 miles (101 km) |
| Location | Minnesota, United States |
| Trailheads | Theodore Wirth Park, Vicksburg Lane, Plymouth, Minnesota; Cosmos, Minnesota |
| Use | Cycling, pedestrians, snowmobiles, equestrian |
| Grade | Mostly flat |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Season | All |
| Sights | Minnesota farms, sugar maple, basswood, prairie, Lake Minnetonka, Crow River, Winsted Lake |
| Hazards | at-grade road crossings |
| Surface | crushed limestone, natural |
The Luce Line State Trail is a 63-mile (101 km) trail that is primarily made up of crushed limestone or aggregate base. However, the section from Cosmos to Cedar Mills is undeveloped. Also, the section from just west of Hutchinson to Winsted and east of Plymouth. It is maintained by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, west of Vicksburg Lane, and is maintained by the Three Rivers Park District east of it. It is called the Luce Line Regional Trail east of Vicksburg Lane.
Western DNR segment
The trail begins in Cosmos, by Thompson Lake. There is a parking lot, a campground, and facilities. It crosses MN 4 and MN 7, and will parallel MN 7 for 24.5 miles (39.4 km). At this point, the trail leaves the town and is undeveloped with a natural surface. After 10 miles (16 km), it reaches Cedar Mills and transforms into an aggregate surface. It becomes paved and goes by Otter Lake as it enters Hutchinson. It parallels the Crow River and passes under several bridges, including MN 15. It leaves town and crosses over MN 22 on a bridge. It passes under MN 7 again, and continues east. It goes south of Swan Lake and into Silver Lake. It leaves MN 7 and continues northeast, and intersects several farm roads. Just west of Winsted, the trail turns south on a new section to avoid the Winsted Airport. The western segment ends at County Road 20.
The eastern segment is 33 miles (53 km) long. [1]
Eastern DNR segment
After following Winsted streets, the trail passes south of Winsted Lake and a parking lot. It continues due east, and passes by several roads. It goes by a parking lot at Vega Avenue. It enters Watertown, and crosses the Crow River. It leaves Watertown and goes by several lakes. It changes directions a few times and goes into the small hamlet of Lyndale in Independence. It crosses county roads 92, 110, and 19, and south of Maple Plain. It enters the Lake Minnetonka area, and passes by Stubbs Bay. Past this point, no snowmobiles are allowed. The scenery begins to be more suburban, and it crosses local roads. It passes under Brown Road, and over Orono Orchard Road. It passes US 12 and the railroad tracks, and Wayzata Boulevard on a restored bridge. It goes south, and parallels US 12 for a while. It passes just north of Wayzata, and tunnels under CSAH 101. It passes into Gleason Lake. This section ends at Vicksburg Lane
The eastern segment is 37 miles (60 km) long.[2]