Luce Line/Plymouth to Theo Wirth?

[Sevadari]

I live west of Minneapolis in a place called Corcoran...about 2 miles north of Hwy 55, about 9 miles west of Hwy 494, and about 8 miles from the Plymouth (or eastern) end of the Luce Line trail.

Just wondering if anyone's commuted by, or biked to, Theo Wirth from this area? Using gped map it's coming up as a 15 mile one-way trip if I basically just go most of the way on 55 all the way into Theo Wirth Park. This sounds too dangerous and way too unpleasant, though, so...

Does anyone know of any bike paths/trails from the Plymouth area to Theo Wirth? (I ride MTB, but would be fine with a combo of trails, pavement, etc.)

On the opposite side of the road from the eastern trailhead for the Luce Line Trail there's another trail of some kind with a sign which says something like "city commuter trail". If you follow it on google earth it looks like it basically parallels 55 all the way into the T Wirth park...in fact, it 's the rail line that splits the trails at the park... :sick: so, I'm not sure whether there really is a rideable trail that would get me there or not.

Any ideas from others that are familiar with the area west of Theo Wirth?

After all the discussion in a thread elsewhere about the importance of proper pre-ride warming up and post-ride cooling down, I figure 15 miles before and 15 miles after some T Wirth laps should do it :D !!!

[stoneage]

MOCA and the MPRB are in negotiations with 3RPD for placement of the Luce Line through Theo Wirth. As of now you could get on 36th Ave N and take that east to Boone, South to 32nd, then east till you hit the Highway 100 soundwall. You will see a paved trail (right behind my house) that will take you up and over 100 into Golden Valley. From there you can easily access Theo from GV Road. Turn right at Courage Center and go through the housing development. There is a north access point at the far end of the parking lot.:)

[Smurf]

Here's a link to Hennepin County's official bike maps...

http://www.co.hennepin.mn.us/vgn/portal/internet/hcdetailmaster/0,2300,1273_83394_103236036,00.html

Looks like there isn't much across Golden Valley.

[TrailPatrol]

The actual proposal was that the Luce Line and LRT trails will eventually enter Minneapolis in the Minnehaha Park area. Since the Luce Line is a state (DNR) trail and the LRT trails are 3RPD trails, which are coming into MPRB turf, across several different cities, you can imagine that this is not going to happen overnight.

Last I heard, about 2-3 years ago, 3RPD was proposing merging the LLT and the LRT in St. Louis Park somplace, and taking it into the Minneapolis Grand Rounds Scenic Byway via the Cedar Lake Trail or a new trail coming in at or near Minnehaha Creek Park and Xerxes Ave. S. as a paved trail. (LLT is already paved east of Vicksburg) But I have not heard anything more for a long time.

Ride safe,
:banana:
Hans

[FSSS]

The actual proposal was that the Luce Line and LRT trails will eventually enter Minneapolis in the Minnehaha Park area.

That is the complete opposite side of Minneapolis.

???

[Wheels]

The Luce Line is on the NW side of the city.

We are currently working with the 3RPD and the MPRB on the placement of the last section - which will run directly through our current area.

I just sent over our proposed placement of the extension and it was well received by the MPRB planning coordinator.

By next year the Luce Line should be complete, and there will be a spur that connects the Golden Valley from the north side.

Stay tuned.

[Sevadari]

Thanks everyone! Sounds like, once again, MORC is doing some very worthwhile work to open up ("gaining...trails) bikeways that will really improve the riding experience in the Twin Cities and get more people connected to the MTB trails that you work so hard to maintain!!!

Three dancing bananas for that!

:banana::banana::banana:

Bill, just a few clarifications on this part of your helpful post:

As of now you could get on 36th Ave N and take that east to Boone, South to 32nd, then east till you hit the Highway 100 soundwall. You will see a paved trail (right behind my house) that will take you up and over 100 into Golden Valley. From there you can easily access Theo from GV Road. Turn right at Courage Center and go through the housing development. There is a north access point at the far end of the parking lot.:)

1. Once you get to the Hwy 100 path and take it over the highwy, does the paved trail go directly south along 100 until you get to GV road?

2. What's Courage Center? Not being from the area, or even MN, I'm not familiar with it and I can't seem to find it on Google Maps.

3. Which parking lot are you referring to? I've only been to Wirth once and parked at the MORC parking lot at Wirth park and then biked around to the trailhead.


The Luce Line is on the NW side of the city.

We are currently working with the 3RPD and the MPRB on the placement of the last section - which will run directly through our current area.

I just sent over our proposed placement of the extension and it was well received by the MPRB planning coordinator.

By next year the Luce Line should be complete, and there will be a spur that connects the Golden Valley from the north side.

Stay tuned.
Thanks again for the actual work on this and for getting the word out to those of us that live on this side of the cities! Please let me know if there is anything I or others in this area can do in terms of advocacy and getting our voices heard.

[TrailPatrol]

That is the complete opposite side of Minneapolis.

???

Minnehaha Creek Park is in the far SW corner of Minneapolis and runs east to where it meets along the creek.

The LRT trails are both south of 394. The Luce Line starts just north of 394 on Vicksburg and crosses over MN Hwy 12 in Orono. If you look at a state map, it runs pretty much straight west from Plymouth to Cosmos. Past Winstead, it could almost be considered a MTB trail. I've ridden the "improved" length of the trail from Plymouth to Winstead, and scouted the western sections all the way to Cosmos. It pretty much parallels MN Hwy 7 all the way to the end, always south of Hwy. 12. It's crushed limetone to Winstead, then undeveloped to just east of Hutchinson, (but you can ride it) paved from east of Hutch to Otter Lake, than crushed granite to Cedar Mills. After that i's undeveloped but ridable all the way to the west side of Cosmos.

Go to www.luceline.com (http://www.luceline.com)

Going the other way from Plymouth, I have never felt the need to ride it. I knew that 3RPD wanted to use the west end of the paved trail as part of a Mpls. access corridor, connecting with the MPRD system. Back when I was following the discussion, they were not sure where yet. From what Shawn said, it sounds like they have made progress in that area.

Good work, MORC/MOCA!
Hans

[TrailPatrol]

It's crushed limetone to Winstead, then undeveloped to just east of Hutchinson, (but you can ride it) paved from east of Hutch to Otter Lake, than crushed granite to Cedar Mills. After that it's undeveloped but ridable all the way to the west side of Cosmos. Hans

Correction, per the DNR website, it is "crushed aggregate" from Winstead to Cedar Mills except for the paved stretch through Hutchinson.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_trails/luce_line/index.html

Ride safe,
:banana:
Hans

[stoneage]

Bill, just a few clarifications on this part of your helpful post:

1. Once you get to the Hwy 100 path and take it over the highwy, does the paved trail go directly south along 100 until you get to GV road?

You can follow the trail as it winds through the neighborhood. The trail follows Westbend Road. Take that to Noble Avenue, turn right and then turn left on Golden Valley Road. Less than a quarter mile, turn right at the light, which is the entrance to the housing development and Courage Center. After you pass the guard house at the bottom of the hill, bear right and take that road to the top of the hill and through the parking lot, to the left corner of the lot. This is the Sleep Center lot. You will see an entrance to the park at that point and the singletrack starts immediately as you enter.

2. What's Courage Center? Not being from the area, or even MN, I'm not familiar with it and I can't seem to find it on Google Maps.

Courage Center is an advocate and therapy center for the disabled.

3. Which parking lot are you referring to? I've only been to Wirth once and parked at the MORC parking lot at Wirth park and then biked around to the trailhead.

The parking lot at the North entrance is not an authorized parking area for the trail users. You could park anywhere in the neighborhood on GV Road and bike in, though. The ritzy area discourages on street parking.

[Sevadari]

1. Once you get to the Hwy 100 path and take it over the highwy, does the paved trail go directly south along 100 until you get to GV road?

You can follow the trail as it winds through the neighborhood. The trail follows Westbend Road. Take that to Noble Avenue, turn right and then turn left on Golden Valley Road. Less than a quarter mile, turn right at the light, which is the entrance to the housing development and Courage Center. After you pass the guard house at the bottom of the hill, bear right and take that road to the top of the hill and through the parking lot, to the left corner of the lot. This is the Sleep Center lot. You will see an entrance to the park at that point and the singletrack starts immediately as you enter.

2. What's Courage Center? Not being from the area, or even MN, I'm not familiar with it and I can't seem to find it on Google Maps.

Courage Center is an advocate and therapy center for the disabled.

3. Which parking lot are you referring to? I've only been to Wirth once and parked at the MORC parking lot at Wirth park and then biked around to the trailhead.

The parking lot at the North entrance is not an authorized parking area for the trail users. You could park anywhere in the neighborhood on GV Road and bike in, though. The ritzy area discourages on street parking.

Bill, thanks a bunch for the specifics...definitely going above and beyond the call of duty! ;););)

It sounds like that north entrance into the trail is the one that you see at A20 (I believe) on the T. Wirth map.

I'll have to check out that route sometime when I'm up for a longer ride before and after a session at T. Wirth.

thanks!

[quickerpicker]

I live over by Medicine Lake and frequent the Luce Line when I ride west, and ride Wirth on my Mtn bike. If you stay on the Luce Line, go past the south side of Medicine Lake across the 2 board walks, and take a right on 13th ave. Cross under 169 and take a right on Boone ave. (2nd right). go south 1 block to 10th ave. Cross over Winnetka follow the road to a sharp right, and then take the 2nd left (Country Club Drive). There is a road which almost imediately veers off to the right, (Glenwood ave.). Follow that straight to Hwy 55. The crossing is a stop light for Pedestrians/bicyclists only. Follow Glenwood to Wirth. Go north across 55 and your there. Mostly wide shoulders, and a frequent route of cyclists. Maps.Google shows the route pretty good.

[jonbodin]

I live in Plymouth and have made that trek numerous times. I have taken Luce Line East until you hit the paved trails (Vicksburg) and follow that as it will take you to Medicine Lake From there I would take either Medicine Lake road or Plymouth Ave (I usually take Med Lk Rd) all the way to Douglas Drive. Go south to Golden Valley Road/Duluth Street (Honeywell is at that the stoplight). Just follow Golden Valley Road (you'll go under Hwy 100 at Byerlys) to Theodore Wirth parkway (you'll go by Courage Center).

Not too bad of a ride, I just don't like Med Lk Rd too much.