Cedar Lake Regional Trail
Trail Guide
easy

Cedar Lake Regional Trail

Cedar Lake / Downtown
4.3 miles
4.4/5
4.3 mi
Distance
30 min
Duration
point to-point
Route Type
4.4/5
Rating
Trail Overview
The Cedar Lake Trail is a 4.3-mile paved trail running from downtown Minneapolis (Target Field) west to Cedar Lake and the St. Louis Park border. It was the first federally designated bikeway in the U.S. and connects to the Kenilworth Trail, forming a key link in the city's west-side trail network. Flat, fast, and commuter-friendly with great lake access.
Distance
4.3 miles
Difficulty
easy
Surface
Paved, well-maintained
Route Type
point to-point
Location
Cedar Lake Trail, Minneapolis, MN
Neighborhood
Cedar Lake / Downtown

Trail Tags

commuterpavedhistoricfast
What to Expect on This Aspen Bike Trail

Highlight 1

First federally designated bikeway

Highlight 2

Downtown to Cedar Lake connection

Highlight 3

Links to Kenilworth Trail

Highlight 4

Commuter-friendly and flat
Points of Interest Along the Way
First federally designated bikeway

Connects downtown to Cedar Lake

Flat and fast

Kenilworth Trail connection
Best Times to Ride

Early Morning (7–10 AM)

The best time to ride in Aspen. Trails are fresh, temperatures are cooler at altitude, and you'll beat the afternoon crowds on popular routes like Maroon Bells.

Late Morning (10 AM–Noon)

Great for longer rides when fully acclimatized. Aim to be off exposed ridgelines by early afternoon as afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer.

Avoid Afternoons in Summer

Aspen summers bring rapid afternoon thunderstorms, especially above treeline. Start early and plan to return before 2–3 PM. Always bring a rain layer.

Gear Up Before You Ride

Before hitting Cedar Lake Regional Trail, make sure you're fully prepared for high-altitude mountain biking. Check out our local Aspen bike shops for gear, mountain bike rentals, spare tubes, or a quick tune-up.

Aspen Cycling

Aspen's premier mountain bike shop, conveniently located near popular trailheads

Ute Mountaineer

Perfect for last-minute gear, trail maps, or a quick bike check before your ride

Safety Tips for Mountain Biking in Aspen, CO
  • •Wear a helmet: Always wear a properly fitted mountain bike helmet — Aspen trails are technical
  • •Acclimatize first: Aspen sits at 8,000 ft — give yourself 1-2 days to acclimatize before hard rides, especially if flying in
  • •Watch for thunderstorms: Afternoon summer storms build fast in the Rockies — start early and be off exposed terrain by 2 PM
  • •Bring water & snacks: High altitude increases dehydration. Bring more water than you think you need plus energy snacks
  • •Know wildlife etiquette: Aspen has bears, moose, and elk. Make noise on blind corners and know how to react to wildlife
Trail Location
Marker
Leaflet © OpenStreetMap

Cedar Lake Trail, Minneapolis, MN

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Current Weather
56°F
Partly Cloudy
5 mph
Wind
0 mm
Precipitation
Ride Conditions: Good

Decent riding conditions today.

Live data via Open-Meteo · Austin, TX

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