Gateway State Trail

Have ridden this trail from near 694 and 36 out to Pine Point Park and love it! Reasonable elevation climbs that are more long and gentle. Nicely paved with beautiful scenery.

We are so lucky to live in Minnesota! What great trails. We have been to many all over the state but our favorite is right here in St. Paul. The Gateway state trail is a very flat old railroad track that has been paved over for a bike trail.
You can jump on at so many locations. Check the website. We like to start at Pine Point Park and head West the Browns Creek Junction. And then take the new Browns Creek Extension down into Stillwater. It ends really close to PD Pappy’s right on the St. Croix river and the Marina.
Stop here for lunch and a beer (you deserve it but not too many beers) and then back on your bikes for the 10 mile ride back to Pine Point Park. The grade is uphill but not too steep — maybe 2% or 4% in some areas. If I can do it you can do it.

The Gateway is an 18.3 mile long flat, paved, rail-​to-​trail that extends from the heart of St. Paul’s North End to it’s country terminus at Pine Point County Park in rural Stillwater. From Pine Point you can travel south on country roads another 5 miles and sample all the delights that downtown Stillwater offers and St. Paul’s North End does not.
Parking is available at either end of the trail, however, you may wish to choose a point someplace in between as there is a fee for parking at Pine Point Park, and the St. Paul end of the trail on Cayuga Street, two blocks east of Jackson Street near Oakland Cemetery is in a very sketchy area.
For urban-​dwelling St. Paulites with limited access to a car, this trail affords users the opportunity to escape the urban ghetto and take a ramble out in the country.
The first several miles starting at the St. Paul end and heading north east will take you past a trout stream, wildlife refuge, over bridges, and with the sight of wildlife interspersed with gang graffiti covered industrial buildings and the I35 just a stone’s throw away at times.
At mile 3 – 4 the trail links up with Lakes Keller and Phalen. Here you can take a lovely 3 odd mile detour around the lakes on the paved path, or continue on to Bruce Vento trail junction.
Around mile 10 you’ll hit the Highway 36 tunnel and pop out the other side to a sight of the North St. Paul giant, creepy snowman. Pause here for a moment to prostrate yourself and beg for mercy. Bring a burnt offering and pour libations. Take heart, for He Who Is Always Frosty often takes pity on two-​wheeled travelers to his frightening domain.
North St. Paul, and it’s conveniently located and charmingly dilapidated downtown is just a few blocks adjacent to the trail, affording weary sojourners their easiest access to food and respite. Should He Who Breathes Ice Into Your Soul choose to spare you, consider pausing here to support the many, many fine business establishments located in this bucolic suburb.
North St. Paul is also the jumping off point to the country. From the Highway 36 bridge on, you will be treated to sights of rolling meadows, ponds, quaint trout streams, and small stands of birch, pine, and poplars. Listen for the melodious songs of red wing blackbirds, pileated woodpeckers, the occasional owl, the ennui-​filled mooing of area cows… and the conch-​shell trumpet blasts of the war lords of He Whose Jolly Round Rolls Crush All… just in case he or his evil ice minions have changed their minds, and decided to reclaim his icy kingdom at the point of frozen javelins from bicycling-​riding, holiday-​making interlopers.
You will also wish to make note of the fact that out here, a dirt equestrian path parallels and sometimes crosses the paved bike trail. Bike riders must announce themselves when horses are sighted using «horse language.»
«Neigh, neigh. Neigh, neigh, neigh on neigh left,» with a courteous whinny is adequate for most situations.
The trail also crosses some deceptively deserted-​looking country roads and back-​woods driveways. Use extra caution here, because drivers drive fast, and they have the last laugh if heedless bikers cross their path.
And also, the red-​eyed devil ducks of the North St. Paul Snow Demon of Death patrol these areas, especially the middle of driveways and roads. Their pitiless, sarcastic quacks can often be heard for miles as they roam in gangs looking for unwary victims. One bite from them can cause purple polka dot laughing sickness, curable only by a kiss from one of Princess Loosestrife’s whimisical faeries… and jeez… you know how THEY are!