Heartland State Trail

Biking the Trail

The first multi-use Heartland State Trail in Northwest Minnesota opened June 19, 2021. This segment of the Heartland State Trail travels east from the Detroit Lakes underpass at U.S. Highway 10 for 5 miles to the overpass bridge east of Acorn Lake before Frazee. From the bridge, the trail continues north of Hwy 10 and around a wetland into the outskirts of Frazee. This section of the trail was completed July 11, 2025. Depending on where you start your ride in Detroit Lakes, the trip one-way is 7.5-8.5 miles.

From Detroit Lakes, the trail weaves north off the highway right-of-way through a canopy of hardwood and pine trees with fragrant wetlands along the way. Look for the active Osprey nest on the adjacent Hwy 10 electric tower from spring to late summer, an artesian well, and in late spring, the Showy Lady’s Slipper. The Frazee trailhead provides vehicle parking and a jaunt across Highway 87 for photo opps by the Big Turkey in the Lion’s Park.

Early morning riser? Take your pooch out for a walk along the trail or slip on your jogging shoes for a solo run. The trail is accessible for electric motorized scooters and wheelchairs. In the winter months, skate skiers and snowmobilers may use the trail.

Wooded Heartland State Trail — Woods and wetlands along Heartland Trail

Water flows from Artesian well — Flowing water from Artesian well

A newly constructed trailhead in Detroit Lakes offers direct access to the Heartland State Trail. Located between Country Inn & Suites and Casey’s, Highway 10 East, the trailhead with parking will be open Spring 2026. It features a shelter with picnic tables, benches, accessible charging stations (one 15kW, two 7.5kW EV chargers; six 20 amp outlets for bikes), bike racks, kiosks, pet waste station, waste receptacles, bike repair station and toilets.

Trail extension from Frazee to the bridge was completed July 2025

In September 2021 a bridge spanning County Hwy 10 at the western entrance to Frazee was completed. By the weekend of July 11, 2025 the trail was completed from the bridge to the trailhead in Frazee, across from the Lion’s Park and Big Turkey. This segment of the Heartland State Trail will eventually span from the trail in Park Rapids to Moorhead and into Fargo, ND.