Kiwanis Mountain Bike Trail - Mankato

Dogs No Dogs

E-Bikes Unknown

Kiwanis is in a river valley and flood plain, so the majority of the soil is very sandy. We've tackled these sections by covering with varying types of boardwalk, rocks, and gravel to make the trail full of many features. There are a couple healthy climbs and short downhills, but the majority of the trail is rolling hills.

There are 2 pavement bike path crossings, please yield!

Total mileage riding both loops is over 5 miles. Parking is at the lower gravel lot - simply drive into the Kiwanis Rec Area and onto the short gravel road, the parking lot will be on your right. Ride your bike on the short gravel path along the dog park fence and you'll see a large trailhead sign with a map.

New in fall 2015 is a skills park right at the trailhead. You'll find many wooden features, teeters, drops, rocks, and other technical features to fine-tune your abilities. There will be a "kids loop" added in summer 2016 as well.

Kiwanis is a stacked loop layout. There are two different loops at Kiwanis. The Short Loop is a 1-mile trail rated as a beginner trail and is primarily dirt, but there are some boardwalk sections and little ups and downs.

The Long Loop is a +4-mile trail that is rated intermediate. There are however some features that are advanced, nearly all of which are off to the side of the main trail. There is a rock area called "Stonehenge" that features advanced level rock lines. From there, you'll climb into a prairie area and then descend back into the woods along the highway for a nice intermediate jump. This is the "Beaver Trail" as you'll be able to tell by the work they have formerly done on the trees. Down the trail a ways you'll come to another climb/descent that features a large berm that shoots you between some trees - use caution!

Farther along the trail you'll next come to a downhill - stay right if you want to just cruise down, or go left if you want to hit some jumps. Next up is the boardwalk roller coaster - a berm raised boardwalk. This area features fun up and downs. Next up you'll come to a very healthy climb, and then more prairie sections. From there you'll get into some rocky, rooty, technical sections. Then the trail heads south again and into another berm. Head back and forth a few more times and you'll need to save your energy for the last sudden climb up to the paved trail crossing. On from there you'll find more boardwalk and features like the "Bone Shaker" - a log platform ride that does what it says.

Then the "Guillotine" - a log over and duck under ride that takes some technique but once you get it, you got it. After that, you'll come to "Paul Bunyan" - a large log pile made out of former telephone poles. From there get ready for some more boardwalk and random skinny rides and more log piles. Look for a teeter ride in summer of 2015! You'll finally come back out at the intersection for the long loop and short loop. Either go left to repeat the long loop or go right to complete the ride on the short loop and you'll come back to the trailhead.