Savage area roadies

[Daddy X]

I live in Savage and am just getting into road biking. I want to know if anyone knows of good ride routes in my area? I would like to string together some decent climbing routes if possible. I know there are a few hills in the area but just not sure how to tie them together. Are Hwy 13 or 27 going south decent? I would prefer something with a shoulder if possible since I don't quite have that thick skin that most roadies have aquired. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Shane

[Toasty_Duck]

Welcome to Savage. There are TONS of paved trails in the PL/Savage area. But, if you want to go out on the road, I would suggest 13. Since there is nearly no traffic just south of PL.

[TomT]

There are a lot of good places to ride south.


I have never ridden 13 south from Savage, but I have ridden 13 south of 283 (south of Prior Lake) and it isn't bad.

I live in Shakopee and ride Eagle Creek Blvd to McColl Drive when going from Shakopee to Savage.

A typical loop I ride south of Shakopee is Vierling Drive to Marystown Road to 283 to 17 to Vierling Drive. A little over 17 miles. To add extra distance I head south on 13, which is where 283 and 17 meet. I ride 13 for around 5 miles and there is a cross highway can't remember the number I think it's 220th street. Head east and there are a few roads that will take you back into Prior Lake, head west and you can pick up hwy 21 into Jordon and then grab 283 again.

It all depends on how far you want to ride.

[GearDaddy]

I had some time on my hands, so here you go... :)

http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/data/512/38savage_map3.jpg

The green markings are for good roads, and the purple markings indicate where the hills are.

I'd stay away from 42 altogether. Hwy 13 is rideable, but not too great. Of course there can be busy traffic on the bigger roads like 27, 16, 18, and etc., but there is mostly a good shoulder or some extra space on the roads.

For longer rides you can go:
- East to Burnsville on Burnsville Parkway or Southcross.
- North to Bloomington/Eden Praire on Stagecoach (goes across Bloomington Ferry river crossing.
- West to Shakopee on Eagle Creek Blvd.
- West to Chaska on 14 or 78 (Both have "T" intersection at Hwy 17)
- West to Jordan going south from Hwy 13 on Fish Lake Road and then west on Hwy 10).

From Savage a real nice 40+ mile ride would be to go west across the river through Chaska, then south to Carver, then Hwy 45 south to Jordan, and then back to Prior Lake on Hwy 10, and so on.

[Daddy X]

WOW, thanks, that is awesome!! I work in Chaska and have been trying to figure out a way to bike to work and not run into trouble at the river crossing in Shakopee, it would be a nightmare in the morning!

[TomT]

trouble at the river crossing in Shakopee, it would be a nightmare in the morning!
As of Tuesday morning, the Bloomington Ferry Bridge path has water acrossed it in several places. :embarass:

Ride too fast and the wake off the front tire will drench your feet. Ride too slow and the current tries to tip you over. :shocked:

[Daddy X]

Where exactly is the Ferry Bridge path? Does this take you across the river somehow? The only way I know to get across to the Chaska/Eden Prairie area is by going to Shakopee and going across the two lane crossing there, I believe it's Hwy 101? If there are others I would love to hear about them.

[KleinCrazy]

Where exactly is the Ferry Bridge path? Does this take you across the river somehow? The only way I know to get across to the Chaska/Eden Prairie area is by going to Shakopee and going across the two lane crossing there, I believe it's Hwy 101? If there are others I would love to hear about them.
HWY 101 at the stop light just west atfer it goes under 169. That is the trailhead for the paved path that goes over the Ferry Bridge.

[TomT]

Hwy 169 is the "new" Bloomington Ferry Bridge. The old road, which is now a bike path, typically floods in the spring.

You can access the "old" Bloomington Ferry Bridge road at the stop lights(Stagecoach Road. old hwy 18), just west of where hwy 169 crosses hwy 101. Head toward the river, into the parking lot. On the east side of the parking lot there is a gate that blocks off access to the old road. Follow the old road and it turns into a bike path and crosses the river at the west end of the the river bottoms trail.

Depending on your final destination, this is typically better than 101.

[Daddy X]

Okay, I know exactly where that's at. I always wondered where that road went after the parking lot! Thanks, I may actually be able to ride to work in Chaka now!

[GearDaddy]

Attached picture shows the Bloomington Ferry crossing. If you want to avoid some steep hills on McColl just west of 13 and the looong hill on Hwy 18, then you can ride down Hwy 13 and then zig-zag through an industrial park area to get to Stagecoach Rd. Another thing is that you'll cross some railroad tracks right under Hwy 169 that oftentimes will cause you to sit and wait for up to 20 minutes for them to rearrange rail cars (it seems I get stopped here nearly 1/2 of the times I cross it).

Hwy 101 isn't really so bad for crossing. It's just a bit busy at the intersections on the North side of the river. Hwy 101 and 212 have nice big shoulders though, and it probably is the flattest route to Chaska. However, if you're going all the way to Chaska, you may be better off finding your way to Hwy 78, which turns into Hwy 41 bringing you right into Chaska. Nice big shoulders on the roads here. You'll have to climb a hill or two going this way though. Either go towards Shakopee on Eagle Creek and then cut south up Canterbury Rd. or Marschall Rd (Hwy 17) or Townline Rd. (least busy) or Marystown Rd.. Alternatively, you could take the northern route towards the Mystic Lake casino along Hwy 82 and then turn down Hwy 17 to get to Hwy 78.

[socrates]

Hwy 169 is the "new" Bloomington Ferry Bridge. The old road, which is now a bike path, typically floods in the spring.

You can access the "old" Bloomington Ferry Bridge road at the stop lights(Stagecoach Road. old hwy 18), just west of where hwy 169 crosses hwy 101. Head toward the river, into the parking lot. On the east side of the parking lot there is a gate that blocks off access to the old road. Follow the old road and it turns into a bike path and crosses the river at the west end of the the river bottoms trail.

Depending on your final destination, this is typically better than 101.
Really close to my house (Southbridge)...so if I'm heading to RB my typical route is New 18 (about .1 mile) to home depot (whatever that new street is called) to Stage Coach and down to the bike path...

[smeulebroe]

I've just move to Savage a couple of weeks ago and am looking for a route to take to work. I live off of Ottawa/42 and would like to find a route to Edina France/66th. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[TomT]

I don't know where Ottawa is in Savage, but you may want to try this route.

McColl Dr west to Hwy 18 north
Hwy 18 north to Stagecoach Rd to Hwy 101.
Bloomington Ferry Bridge path to Auto Club Road
Auto Club Road to Normandale Blvd
Normandale Blvd to W 110th street
W 110th to France

France Ave is probably not the safest place to ride however. I would probably opt for the following.

From the Bloomington Ferry Bridge path go north on Bloomington Ferry Bridge Road to W 106th street. Head east to Bush Lake Road and then take East Bush Lake Road to W 84th street. Follow W 84th street to France.

[smeulebroe]

Thanks - one less car :D