Home › Minnesota › Faribault › Cannon River Wilderness Area - West Trailhead
Cannon River Wilderness Area - West Trailhead
4.6 ★★★★★ 23 Google reviews · Running trail in Faribault, Minnesota · Hours vary
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Not reported
We have not been able to confirm the surface, distance or shape of Cannon River Wilderness Area - West Trailhead yet from its own listing, the park's website or runner reviews — so those cells stay blank rather than guess. What is below comes straight from the listing and from reviewers' own words. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
What runners say about Cannon River Wilderness Area - West Trailhead
“Beautiful area with a well marked main trail and many smaller trails to explore.”
“Beautiful area with a well marked main trail and many smaller trails to explore.”
Beautiful wilderness area that even has a few primitive camping sites. The Cannon River looks great and there are nice sandy areas (when the river is running low to normal).
Beautiful area with a well marked main trail and many smaller trails to explore.
The tail was fairly easy and nice to hike. We saw several eagles and hawks along the four mile hike. There was only one true hike upwards that was semi-steap. Refreshing trail to have the family hike. There was a very icy section right in the beginning.
Awesome place to hike and enjoy the river and forest. Please beware of the Timber rattle snakes. We hiked on 6/6 around 3pm and came across a 3ft Timber rattle snake in the middle of the trail by the trailhead. Very uncommon.
Trail conditions & character
“Beautiful area with a well marked main trail and many smaller trails to explore.”
“We hiked on 6/6 around 3pm and came across a 3ft Timber rattle snake in the middle of the trail by the trailhead.”
“Beautiful area with a well marked main trail and many smaller trails to explore.”
Plan your run at Cannon River Wilderness Area - West Trailhead
The practical stuff
- AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Websitericecountymn.gov
- Social Instagram
Running trails near Faribault
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Cannon River Wilderness Area
4.5 ★★★★★ 103 reviews
Hills and camp sites feature in this woodland site with trails, some of which link to an oak savanna.
Caron Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 128 reviews
Casual park offering waterfalls, hiking trails, woods and a river.
Mill Towns State Trail
4.6 ★★★★★ 67 reviews
Tranquil park featuring ruins of an 1870s water-powered mill plus riverfront trails.
Two Rivers Park
4.2 ★★★★☆ 29 reviews
Trail's Edge Park
4.2 ★★★★☆ 29 reviews
North Alexander Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 559 reviews
Shady playground-equipped park featuring baseball fields, volleyball nets and picnic shelters.