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Mill Towns State Trail
4.6 ★★★★★ 67 Google reviews · Running trail in Dundas, Minnesota · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Paved
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Mill Towns State Trail'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.
Tranquil park featuring ruins of an 1870s water-powered mill plus riverfront trails.
What runners say about Mill Towns State Trail
“Walk onto the nearby bridge for a great view of the mill on the Cannon River.”
Nice smooth trail on the east side of river. One large branch hanging down today that will impede two way traffic. West side of river trail needs maintenance , pretty bumpy.
Great urban and rural setting. Mini buffs at several places. Shade and sun on the Northfield stretch. There was mostly sun from Dundas back to Northfield.
Being a cold January day I didn't explore but will definitely come back in the spring. I learned a lot of interesting information about the little town of Dundas and its' impact in the milling industry and driving "patent" (pure white flour with the hard to process bran from hard midwest spring wheat ).
Small park next to the original Archibald Mill. Once more advanced than the Minneapolis mills when they first started. A fence has been erected around what’s left of the mill. Probably a good thing for safety. This is what’s left of the 1870 water powered mill. You can still get close and glimpse a bygone era.
Trail conditions & character
“Bring your bicycle and end up in the friendly town of Dundas, where the park is big and the beers are freshly brewed (with patio overlooking river).”
“The paths are paved, but there are some unpaved trails that go along the river.”
“Nice park, convenient parking, kayak/canoe landing, trails, brew pub 1 block east”
Plan your run at Mill Towns State Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
- 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
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitednr.state.mn.us
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–10 PM |
Running trails near Dundas
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Heritage Park
4 ★★★★☆ 22 reviews
Simple park featuring a paved walkway, playground, basketball court & picnic tables.
St. Olaf Natural Lands
4.7 ★★★★★ 9 reviews
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.
