Trail Construction Update

Open from Cannon Falls to Cannon Bottom Road

Mississippi River Cannon River Cannon Falls Mile 0 · Start here Welch Start here Cannon Bottom Rd Mile 15.5 · Trail ends Red Wing OPEN CLOSED
Simplified map, not to scale.
OPEN
Mile 0 – Mile 15.5Cannon Falls to Cannon Bottom Road (Red Wing)
CLOSED
Mile 15.6 – Mile 19.7Cannon Bottom Road to Old West Main Access (Red Wing). The trail does not go all the way into Red Wing. Please respect all posted signage.

Where to startThe best access points are Welch or Cannon Falls (Downtown Access or Archie Swenson Fields). Limited parking and trail access are available at Cannon Bottom Road.

April 1 – November 1

Wheel Pass Required

Anyone age 18 or older using a wheeled device on the Cannon Valley Trail needs a Wheel Pass.

$7Daily Wheel PassBuy Daily Pass
$30Season Wheel PassBuy Season Pass
  • Passes are also sold on site at the Downtown Cannon Falls Access and Welch Station Access.
  • Wheelchairs, strollers and pull wagons are exempt.

Wheel Passes are not required on City of Cannon Falls trails, the Mill Towns State Trail, or City of Red Wing trails. The Cannon Valley Trail connects with the Cannon Falls city trail on the west end and Red Wing city trails on the east end.

Fall colors along the Cannon Valley Trail from above
New Podcast · Explore Minnesota More

40 Years on the Cannon Valley Trail

To celebrate the trail’s 40th anniversary, Explore Minnesota featured the Cannon Valley Trail on its podcast. Host Randolph Briley talks with trail manager Scott Roepke, Voices of the Valley coordinator Brenda Owens and Cannon Falls trail user Ryan Cooper about the trail’s railroad history, how neighbors’ views of the trail have changed over 40 years, the more than 30-year tradition of live music at Welch Station, and the story behind the trail’s pet policy.

Listen to the episode (28 min)

Did You Know?

  • The Cannon Valley Trail is not a State of Minnesota Trail
  • The CVT is owned and operated by the Cities of Cannon Falls, Red Wing and Goodhue County
  • Donations and fees charged are used exclusively for maintenance and updates to the CVT
  • Members of the Friends of the CVT can purchase a season pass at a discount – check here for details.

Rail to Trail

The Cannon Valley Trail is built on a former Chicago Great Western Railroad line connecting the cities of Cannon Falls, Welch and Red Wing in beautiful southeastern Minnesota. This paved bicycling, hiking and inline skating trail is 19.7 miles of diverse and spectacular scenery.

Paralleling the Cannon River, the Trail offers glimpses and panoramas of the valley and gradually descends 115 feet in elevation from Cannon Falls to Red Wing.  From overhanging cliffs to views of extensive wetland complexes, nature’s seasonal changes are vividly displayed.

View the highlights of the Trail by visiting the Cannon Valley Trail Story Map. 

The Cannon Valley  Trail is owned and operated by a Joint Powers Agreement consisting of the cities of Cannon Falls, Red Wing and Goodhue County.  We are not part of the MN State Trail system, although we do connect with the Mill Towns State Trail to the west, and the Goodhue Pioneer Trail to the east.

The Trail is open year round for bicycling, hiking, inline skating and similar wheeled recreational devices. Trail users age 18 or older must have a valid Wheel Pass when using the trail from April 1st – November 1st. Wheel Pass fees are $7/day or $30/season.

The Great Minnesota Ski Pass is required to cross-country ski on the Cannon Valley Trail.