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Tags:
Level: Advanced
Length: 10 mi (16.1 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Network
Elevation: +372/ -391 ft
Total: 120 riders
Mountain Biking Battlecreek Park
#24 of 138 mountain bike trails in Minnesota
The park is very large. There are all types of trails with lots of variety check it out.
For more info go to morcmtb.org Restrooms may be available in the community center on the east side of the park, port-a-john was set up by the parking lot.
First added by alvin.santoy on Jan 1, 2003. Last updated May 9, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: yes
- Pump track: unknown
- Restrooms: yes
- Fat bike grooming: unknown
- E-bikes allowed: unknown
- Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
From Minneapolis drive I-94 East to McKnight Rd South exit, turn right on Upper Afton Rd, left on Winthrop St and park at Battle Creek Community Center. Singletrack begins at the South end of parking lot.
Update. The Battle Creek MORC trail crew has been doing an awesome job at Battle Creek. As of April 2020, the park has becoming much more enjoyable and accessible with their efforts. Big shout out to the crew!
If you are looking to stretch you legs with good challenging climbs, fun descents and great ridgeline views, this is the trail system. Keep in mind it is not a beginner friendly trails system.
Recommend parking in the lower part of the park near hwy 61 and Lower Afton Road. Easy to find the trails from that parking lot.
| ThankCouldn't find trails. Old map in parking lot doesn't tell you where you are, or where to go. Initial trail circles back to walking paths in fields and disappears..
| ThankA confusing network of old school MTB trails and ski trails in Battle Creek Regional Park. Plenty of elevation if you want to work on your climbing skills. Portions are very enjoyable if you can find them. Ridgelines and lots of roots and sand keep this from being very friendly for new riders.
MInnesota Off-Road Cyclist (MORC) and the park are starting to get serious about some trail improvements which are already starting to take place. From what I've heard, long range plans could turn this park in a wonderful MTB destination with over 20 miles of trail.
| ThankThis place is a labyrinth. If you use mapping software on your phone, you can find your way through it relatively easy if it's your first time. Looking forward to riding it again.
| ThankVisited here and rode on one section of trail, then couldn't even find another one for 2 hours. I cross country ski for my high school multiple times a winter in this park, and that knowledge wasn't even enough to navigate me through it. Desperately needs some form of labeling, until then count me out.
| ThankCould not find mountain biking trails. There were no signs so i took ski trail after ski trail looking for them.
| ThankAwesome trails. Good 1/4 mile single track with tall burms and 4 decent jumps look for trail head off of main blacktop trail right by large spray painted Boulder. Can't miss it. Also lots of trails once you reach the top. More than ten miles if you explore enough there's hidden trails all over
| ThankI would recommend hitting this trail with someone who knows it well. The signage is poor and erosion can easily be mistaken for singletrack where a wrong turn could mean a drop down a 30' creekside. No maintenance is done, so the grassy sections are over the handlebars and you're going to want long pants and long sleeves. I found multiple pipes sticking out of the trails (must be erosion control?) and also a random manhole cover or two in the middle of your ride.
If you're an advanced rider and want to do some technical exploration this might be a solid option. It certainly is different than most trails in the area.
| ThankTrails are terribly marked. I couldn't find any trails other than 1 that looped right back to parking lot. Trails might be worth a ride if I could find them. Map at parkING lot is worthless
| ThankBattle Creek is, as one other reviewer hinted, a "diamond in the rough". Some of the most technical trails in the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis / St Paul. Tough, arduous climbs, tight technical singletrack, wide open ski trail, drops, roots, rocks...you name it! This area would be better served, however, by some new signage and an established trail direction. For first timers out there it is extremely frustrating finding your way. Riding with a person that knows the ins and outs as a guide would be a great way to get introduced to this great trail system!
| ThankCould be a fun ride here but if you know where to go or got plenty of time to explore yourself. There're very nice portions here but it's hard to connect it into one ride. Terrain is very hilly and sandy in places. Overall ill ride here again - there's nothing like this trail in the Twin Cities
| ThankPeople either learn to love Battle Creek or don't have the patience to get to know it. It's not well marked and "flow" is about knowing how to connect a 2-minute singletrack section to a wide ski trail to a road to another killer stretch of singletrack to an abandoned road and so on. The first time it may be helpful to go with someone who knows it, because there is greatness here if you can find it. Some of the best hill climbs and descents in the area, rocky technical sections, high banked turns, long cement skinnies and frequent ridgetop views of downtown STP and the valley. The crowds can have Lebanon Hills, this place is an unpolished diamond.
| ThankGo with someone who knows it your first time, easy to go wrong direction
| ThankThis is my home turf. I live in downtown Saint Paul. The trail is single track, with some good climbs. Some expert tech features. Be sure to try the wall ride. Its on your way up to the picnic table, and the scenic overlook of Saint Paul. There is a set of 120 steps that can be treked up, for additional cardio blast. Bring a helmet for the extreme ride down the section called the luge. High banked turns, with some jumps mixed in.
| ThankFavorite section was the single track down hill with vertical banked hairpin turns. Also nice view of the creek and rock cave at the bottom. The climbs are great cardio workouts.
| ThankYou won't figure it out the first time though, unless you really do some good research, but there is some nice single track here. With planning maybe a good 7-8 mile ride. Some advanced portions.
| ThankBattle Creek offers quite an extensive network of trails, as compared to most metropolitan trail systems. In many areas of the park, it's easy to forget you're surrounded by suburbs on all sides. Battle Creek has something for riders of all technical abilities, with trails running the gamut from smooth, hard-pack ski trails to expert-level singletrack. The terrain is quite hilly, so expect the trails to give you a good workout. Although hilly, the climbs tend to be relatively short, with the longest single climb gaining approximately 110' in elevation. Trails are mainly fast hardpack, with a few sandy sections and a few rocks & roots.
One common complaint with this trail is that there is no one right way to ride it. This leads to confusion on the part of people who are not familiar with the trail. It also causes some scary near misses by bikers bombing around blind corners not expecting to see people coming the other way. There is also a nice new section of Singletrack that has been added. Check the maps on the morc website for details.* Review edited 6/10/2008
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