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Jail Trail (North Loop) Mountain Bike and Cross Country Ski Trailhead

4.3 ★★★★☆ 81 Google reviews · Running trail in St Cloud, Minnesota · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface: Natural surface
Loop distance: Not reported
Shape: Loop
Shade: Not reported
Access: Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Jail Trail (North Loop) Mountain Bike and Cross Country Ski Trailhead's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. 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.

Jail Trail (North Loop) Mountain Bike and Cross Country Ski Trailhead — running trail in St Cloud, MN, photo 1

Jail Trail (North Loop) Mountain Bike and Cross Country Ski Trailhead — running trail in St Cloud, MN, photo 2

Jail Trail (North Loop) Mountain Bike and Cross Country Ski Trailhead — running trail in St Cloud, MN, photo 3

Jail Trail (North Loop) Mountain Bike and Cross Country Ski Trailhead — running trail in St Cloud, MN, photo 4

Jail Trail (North Loop) Mountain Bike and Cross Country Ski Trailhead — running trail in St Cloud, MN, photo 5

Natural surfaceLoopOpen 24hDog-friendlyStroller / ADAFlat & fastRestroomsTrailhead parking

Clean, family-friendly trail system featuring wooded hiking and biking paths plus winter skiing.

What runners say about Jail Trail (North Loop) Mountain Bike and Cross Country Ski Trailhead

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (81 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

✨ well-maintained 4 mentions

“Be aware there are no bathrooms but it's still a nice park that's kept clean.”

👟 good for all levels 2 mentions

“Short trail but a great sprint or family friendly roll.”

Our first ride was awesome! Beautiful scenery, lots of uphill/downhill, tight turns, cool bridges, and a surprise tepee made for an awesome ride. Definitely a great workout. If you like trail riding, I highly recommend! I already can’t wait to go back.

★★★★★ — Raquel , Sep 2021

A few things to keep in mind - BRING BUG SPRAY!! - There are no bathrooms. - A great workout Lots of biking (and hiking) trails. If you are biking, prepare for lots of hairpin curves, S turns, and jumps. The course is a good mix of uphill and down hill riding.

★★★★☆ — Rukshan , Jul 2018

This is a very nice MTB park. It is very techy so would recommend coming if you like that kind of thing. Personally it is a little slow for me with all the roots so if you are looking for some flow trail head over to the Plumb Creek trails for a smoother ride. But overall great park.

★★★★☆ — Aiden , Feb 2023

Nice enough trail system to ride. Lebanon is in my backyard, and I road Jail Trail on my way home from Cuyuna (unfair comparison). It was nice to try something new. Very flat course and no banked corners.

★★★★☆ — J , Aug 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 81 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

 🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 5 mentions 
“Personally it is a little slow for me with all the roots so if you are looking for some flow trail head over to the Plumb Creek trails for a smoother ride.”
More trails like this →
 ➖ Flat & fast 5 mentions 
“A few challenging spots when you get deeper in, but overall a pretty easy and flat course.”
More trails like this →
 🅿️ Trailhead parking 5 mentions 
“Lots of signs to keep you on course and its nice that there is a spot for parking at the entrance.”
More trails like this →
 🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions 
“Be aware there are no bathrooms but it's still a nice park that's kept clean.”
More trails like this →
 🔁 Loop trail  
“I only did the green loop.”
More trails like this →
 🐕 Dog-friendly  
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 ♿ Stroller / ADA accessible  
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Plan your run at Jail Trail (North Loop) Mountain Bike and Cross Country Ski Trailhead

The practical stuff

AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
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, restrooms — reported by runners
DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
Websitemtbproject.com
Phone+1 320-257-5959

Hours

Monday	Open 24 hours
Tuesday	Open 24 hours
Wednesday	Open 24 hours
Thursday	Open 24 hours
Friday	Open 24 hours
Saturday	Open 24 hours
Sunday	Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Jail Trail (North Loop) Mountain Bike and Cross Country Ski Trailhead

15th Ave SE, St Cloud, MN 56304

Get directions

Running trails near St Cloud

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

St Cloud, MN

Scenic

Clean park at the city's center featuring a lake, hiking paths and playgrounds.

1.8 miles away

All running trails in St Cloud, MN →

Nearby towns

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Running trails in Clearwater, MN (1 trail)
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Running trails in Buffalo, MN (2 trails)

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.