cedar to river bottoms

[flea]

o.k. this is probably already here in another thread but I haven't been able to find it. If you come across the Cedar bike bridge from the south how do you get to the Bloomington River Bottoms trail? I was told you can ride along the north side of the river to the west in the Refuge but the signage states otherwise.

[KleinCrazy]

o.k. this is probably already here in another thread but I haven't been able to find it. If you come across the Cedar bike bridge from the south how do you get to the Bloomington River Bottoms trail? I was told you can ride along the north side of the river to the west in the Refuge but the signage states otherwise.
The Long and short of it.... You Can't....The Cedar Bike Bridge is currently closed to all traffic...condemned....

But.. If it was open, you would follow along the Southern park of the woods, past the bubbling spring thingy, and through some very wild areas and hook in about 1/4 mile east of the Lyndale Parking lot. right before the first climb if you are heading west from the lot.

DO NOT RIDE IN THE BIRD SANCTUARY... YOU WILL BE TICKETED AND GIVEN A..IF I REMEMER CORRECTLY $150 FINE IF CAUGHT.

[dave t]

I think the bridge is the caged one under the big bridge, right? If so, isn't the gravel road right next to the river (on the north side) outside of the sanctuary and OK to ride? I thought that you just had to stay out of the trail at the north end of the old bridge.
If I remember right, as you ride that road, there are signs and maybe a fence along the side of the road marking the boundry that say to stay out but the road always seemed to be rideable.

[seberly]

Hi Bill,

Yes, you can access the river bottoms from the pedestrian/bike bridge that you describe - and yes there is another thread about this - keep looking.

After you cross the bridge and come down the ramp on the North side go left on the road (Old Cedar Ave) down toward the river, then continue to the right on the gravel road for about a mile - keep going - the trail will then degrade considerably (sandy, very overgrown) - after another mile or two then you will have to go more inland and cross a creek - then continue back up toward the river - continue to the west and you will then run into the river bluff trail about .5 to .75 miles east of the Lyndale Avenue boat ramp (35W).

Hope that helps.

[Beaner128]

As somebody who rides this trail quite often yes you can get all the way to Lyndale, but as somebody stated it is severly overgrown and there is also a lot of sand in spots, but rideable. The trail is actually south of the nature preserve, and this section of the trail is not maintained. I have gone out there and done some work on my own since I ride this trail. The section North of the preserve is all maintained by MORC and is in great shape. As somebody else said after crossing the bridge you go left towards the river, then take a right at the trail, I found that the nicer you are to pet owners etc. the more they treat you with respect!!