For years, local and state trail champions have been working to extend the Great River Ridge State Trail to its final destination in Eyota. On Sept. 11, we made an important step toward that goal by purchasing the final mile-and-a-half of abandoned railroad corridor that runs from County Highway 9 to US Highway 14.

This purchase is the culmination of a four-year effort initiated by the Wabasha County Regional Rail Authority’s Management Committee in partnership with Parks & Trails Council. Committee chair Will Harrington says they pursued this purchase because, once developed, “it completes the logical stretch by giving the trail a destination on both ends.”

P&TC plans to hold the land in trust for future development. This allows the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MnDNR) the necessary time to secure funding and finalize the plans for the state trail. “We ensure opportunities like this don’t slip away simply because the public agency is not in a position to act before the landowner sells the land,” explained Brett Feldman, P&TC executive director. “Timing and persistence are critical in these projects and we’re excited to see it pay off here,” Feldman said.

The next steps will be to coordinate the route for crossing US Highway 14. Several options have been discussed and one of the primary concerns expressed by MnDNR is to ensure a safe crossing.

Meanwhile, plans are underway for Eyota to be the connection point between this trail and the planned Chester Woods State Trail. Jeff St. Mane, a local trail advocate says he expects the MnDNR to complete the nearby segment from Rochester to Chester Woods Regional Park by 2020. Then the next phase would be from Chester Woods to Eyota.

Eventually, a master trail plan envisions a 50-mile multi-use trail system that will connect eight cities, two state parks and a regional park using five trails. “This is very exciting step in the long-term vision,” Feldman said.

Wabasha County Regional Rail Authority’s Management Committee