View Full Version : River Bottom Ride, one way: Bloomington Ferry to Minnehaha Falls
Burke
10-04-2005, 11:19 AM
This Friday I'm going to be riding the MN River Bottom trail home from work. A couple people have expressed interest in being shown how to get from Bloomington Ferry to Sibley House/Minnehaha Falls with nearly 0 on road riding. This is your chance.
With the ride being about 24 miles, the ride can easily be a 3 hour spin-fest, so be ready. To beat sunset, I'm going to be at the Bloomington Ferry trail head ready to go at 4pm.
The weather is supposed to be a crisp 52 and sunny.
Who's in?
LightWeight
10-04-2005, 11:32 AM
D'oh, wish I could. I've never done the "complete" length of the bottoms. Does anyone have any written directions?
If I can escape that early, I'm in. Do you go past the Lyndale parking lot or cut across the river at Bloomington Ferry?
nigel
10-04-2005, 03:05 PM
Ack, Scotty Nooooo your going to give away my secret long ass mtn bike route in the city!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :crazy2:
All right, I do most of this route usually but how do you LEGALLY get past the airforce gun range or the bird sanctuary? Wish I could join you Friday but I will be outta town.
-pete
Scott, I'll ride with you, I just need to figure out a way to get to the starting point. (The light-rail can get me home.)
Burke
10-04-2005, 04:13 PM
If I can escape that early, I'm in. Do you go past the Lyndale parking lot or cut across the river at Bloomington Ferry?
Start at the Bloomington Ferry bridge parking lot and ride the trail on the north side of the river east to the Cedar Bridge (the one that crosses the river, not the wetland). Cross the river to the south there. Ride NE on the south side of the river to the Sibley house. Cross the Mendota Hwy 55 bridge and stay on paved trails to the falls.
For more details, show for the ride, or catch the next one later this month.
Burke
10-04-2005, 04:15 PM
Scott, I'll ride with you, I just need to figure out a way to get to the starting point. (The light-rail can get me home.)
We'll be ending right at the 50th street station.
Start at the Bloomington Ferry bridge parking lot and ride the trail on the north side of the river east to the Cedar Bridge
Neat -- so if I can't escape early enough to pedal up to your end of Bloomington, I can just lurk in the trail like wanna - be roadkill :D
Start at the Bloomington Ferry bridge parking lot and ride the trail on the north side of the river east to the Cedar Bridge (the one that crosses the river, not the wetland). Cross the river to the south there. Ride NE on the south side of the river to the Sibley house. Cross the Mendota Hwy 55 bridge and stay on paved trails to the falls.
For more details, show for the ride, or catch the next one later this month.
Ahh, you go that way... Isn't part of that first part though a bird sanctuary?(just before(west) old cedar bridge?) I thought I saw no biking signs as I rode near there...
We'll be ending right at the 50th street station.
Yeah that's sweet, but I already know that! What I need to figure out is how to get from DT-MPLS to Old Shakopee and Bush Lake Rd without blowing my load before the 24mi ride even starts. The Metro transit website comes up with nothing!?!?
Anybody know how to get close (couple-3 miles) to the river bottoms bloomington ferry lot by way of bus(es) from downtown MPLS?? I'd rather leave my car at home and not have to worry about shuttling back to the Ferry Lot to get it.
steef
10-04-2005, 05:01 PM
The 539 will get you from MoA to France and Old Shakopee.
The 539 will get you from MoA to France and Old Shakopee.
Thanks Steev, looks like I can do light rail from DT to MOA, then 539 out to France & Old Shakopee in 1.5hrs, then ride that last 2-3miles to the river bottoms trail head. I guess that'll work!
Burke
10-04-2005, 05:36 PM
Ahh, you go that way... Isn't part of that first part though a bird sanctuary?(just before(west) old cedar bridge?) I thought I saw no biking signs as I rode near there...
The particular section that we use is a trail recognized by the Fish and Wildlife agency. It skirts the protected area. Which is why I'd rather show, than tell about how to get through. It's hard to describe, but easy to ride.
undsioux7
10-04-2005, 06:42 PM
Thanks Steev, looks like I can do light rail from DT to MOA, then 539 out to France & Old Shakopee in 1.5hrs, then ride that last 2-3miles to the river bottoms trail head. I guess that'll work!
http://www.metrotransit.org/serviceInfo/route589.asp
This one might work for you
The particular section that we use is a trail recognized by the Fish and Wildlife agency. It skirts the protected area. Which is why I'd rather show, than tell about how to get through. It's hard to describe, but easy to ride.
I will have to go on the next ride. :) I am guessing it is the trail closest to the river?
[pouring outside] Hopefully the trail is still there............maybe we will have to canoe it instead?!?!
Burke
10-05-2005, 07:31 AM
[pouring outside] Hopefully the trail is still there............maybe we will have to canoe it instead?!?!
The river bottom usually sheds water pretty quickly. I wouldn't even consider it today, and probably not tomorrow, but Friday should be OK. We'll play it by ear.
We still a go for Friday at 4pm at the Ferry lot?
Burke
10-07-2005, 06:47 AM
We still a go for Friday at 4pm at the Ferry lot?
I am planning on attempting it at 4pm. I think the trail itself will have mostly recovered by now. Depending on how high 9 mile creek and the MN river have gotten, it might get interesting at the raft and a mile and a half east of Lyndale.
If you're still down, keep an open mind about the actual route we might have to end up taking. It will probably be an adventure. No matter the route, it WILL end at the 50th street light rail station. I live a few blocks from it on 50th street.
Burke
10-07-2005, 08:59 AM
Update:
I'm at work with my mountain bike and still plan on starting at 4 from the Bloomington Ferry trailhead. I can promise adventure, but not a complete journey using just the river bottoms. 9 mile creek is flooded above the road at Poplar Bridge road. I imagine that it will be as high at the raft. Who knows if we'll be able to get across. We might have to back track and use the train swing bridge access road to jump up and over the creek, coming back down at Lyndale.
Depending on how high the MN river is, we might have to stay on the north side of the river. Either way, it'll be an adventure. With water incidents, it might stretch a little longer than 3 hrs.
If you're coming, come with an open mind, a desire for adventure and flexible evening plans.
Update:
Depending on how high the MN river is, we might have to stay on the north side of the river. Either way, it'll be an adventure. With water incidents, it might stretch a little longer than 3 hrs.
If you're coming, come with an open mind, a desire for adventure and flexible evening plans.
This sounds like my kind of biking adventure. Bummer I can't join you but have fun guys!
Sweet, we'll be there ready to go! See ya there.
TrailPatrol
10-07-2005, 09:32 AM
This sounds like my kind of biking adventure. Bummer I can't join you but have fun guys!
I agree. I was planning to come down, but I have to teach a class at 4:00. Maybe next time.
Have fun and ride safe!
:banana:
Hans
I'm out -- I'm sick as heck and am a danger to myself and others just zombie walking around the office. Have a fun ride, all. I hope there is a next time!
Burke
10-07-2005, 10:11 AM
I'm out -- I'm sick as heck and am a danger to myself and others just zombie walking around the office. Have a fun ride, all. I hope there is a next time!
Yuck. Thanks for sparing us the plague. Hope you get better soon.
There will be a next time. I'll post up when the details get firmed up.
steef
10-07-2005, 10:26 AM
I'd like to be there, but I'll catch it next time. I was trying to figure out the way to the falls from down there earlier this summer.:confused:
Burke
10-07-2005, 09:49 PM
Super fun ride.
Myself, Mark G and Pete K. rocked the river bottom. Made it through to the falls. Had to stay on the north side of the river after Cedar, as the south side was flooded out. High water all around, but rideable. The raft had 4 steps above water, no problem.
Oh.
The bridge east of Isaak Walton has washed out. Be EXTREMELY careful if you're coming from the east. The bridge is still there and you can get across, but there's a huge hole where the dirt washed away on the east side of the bridge. It will eat your wheel. It will ruin your day.
Look for more of these rides throughout fall.
Scott
Burke
10-10-2005, 09:38 AM
Same idea... leave the Bloomington Ferry parking lot at 4pm sharp. One-way eastbound to Minnehaha Falls. Minimal pavement. 3 hours. Expect adventure.
The water is down so crossing the creek east of Lyndale should be easier, and the south of the river doubletrack should be accessable.
We left at 4pm on the 7th and with 15 minutes of lollygagging (nice work Pete) we pulled into the 50th street light rail station at 7pm with about 10 minutes of daylight to spare.
Consider bringing tail light and light duty front light.
Who's in?
I'm going to give a very tentative yes this time so I don't get stricken with leprosy right before the ride :p Sounds like fun and a great reason to escape early on a Friday!
manual63
10-10-2005, 10:05 AM
I would like to try this out. I am very curious about some parts of this route.
...15 minutes of lollygagging (nice work Pete)....
Yeah, the only mechanical I have all season happens on the only ride where a mechanical would be an issue.....go figure. I'd be down for this week's ride, but I think the groom is required to be at the rehersal and the groom's dinner. I'll double check on that though and get back to you.
(BTY, Mark, I still have your spoke wrench, I'll swing by sometime this week and drop it off)
Don Youngdahl
10-10-2005, 09:44 PM
............ The bridge east of Isaak Walton has washed out. Be EXTREMELY careful if you're coming from the east. The bridge is still there and you can get across, but there's a huge hole where the dirt washed away on the east side of the bridge. It will eat your wheel.
I did a temporary repair today, but the bridge is very close to collapsing on the east end if or when we have another big rain. I'm not available to do the repair (extend stringers, install stringer support posts, and extend decking) until early next week, but it will be a job for at least a 3-person crew.
We have permission to access the river trail via the Izaak Walton property, which makes it about a 10 minute walk from the car to the work site.
If we start about 4 or 4:30 PM, we can get the job done in one short evening. The stream bed is about 6 feet down from the bank at that spot, and an alternative way across the stream is a wet, unattractive option.
Send me a PM or e-mail if you think the bridge is worth saving and you'd like to help, & maybe we can plan something for early next week.
Don Youngdahl
Burke
10-11-2005, 08:35 AM
Don, nice work on the temporary fix. I'd be game to help with the permanent repair.
On a different note, I'm just now realizing that I have tickets to the Wild game this Friday night, and will have to reschedule the river bottom excursion in order to get to the game while they're still playing. Sorry for the scheduling snafu. I'll repost the next date when it gets set.
Don Youngdahl
10-13-2005, 10:26 PM
........ I'd be game to help with the permanent repair.
Thanks, Scott. With Scott at the nucleus of a crew, we've set Wednesday, Oct. 19 as the day to do the job. We'll access the trail at the Izaak Walton League grounds, 6601 Auto Club Road. Look for the small green & yellow sign and the long driveway through the trees. Time will be about 4:00 or 4:30 PM, not sure of the exact target time yet, so I'll do a reminder post late Sunday or Monday. The only tools anyone need bring is a cordless drill or an extra shovel. A tall guy (or anybody, I guess) with a pair of waders might also be valuable.
MORC members and prospective members, take note that the MORC president has his priorities straight, as he is out there riding, leading rides, and doing trail work in addition to the organizational stuff he does.
I'd venture to say that if he's like the rest of the trail leadership people I've known over the years, he finds it more fun to work on trails and ride than go to meetings, prepare reports and speeches, organize things, and all the rest of the stuff that goes with a leadership position. At least that's the way that I've always felt.
Look for the reminder post on the bridge rescue project next Wednesday.
Don Youngdahl
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