Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

Root River Trailhead – Natural Playground loop from Houston

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

Root River Trailhead – Natural Playground loop from Houston

Moderate

riders

Root River Trailhead – Natural Playground loop from Houston

02:28

41.7km

140m

Cycling

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: June 9, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

80 m

Root River Trailhead

Highlight • Rest Area

This trailhead even has showers!

Tip by

99 m

This natural playground is located right next to the Root River Trailhead in Houston, Minnesota. It features nature walks and a campground for walk in tents only. Perfect for bicycle campers. There are showers in the nearby Trail Center.

Tip by

7.74 km

View of Cushing Peak

Highlight • Viewpoint

I saw a highlight Komoot created for Cushing Peak, so I wanted to get a picture of it today on my bike ride.

Tip by

10.6 km

Large bridge over the Root River

Highlight • Bridge

There was a ton of tree debris pushed up against this big bridge, maybe the longest bridge on the trail between Rushford and Houston

Tip by

20.9 km

Creamery Pizza and Ice Cream

Highlight • Restaurant

Looks like a neat little place, and it's right next to the bowling alley which has more food and drink options. Plus they have volleyball courts.

Tip by

22.9 km

An interesting retaining wall.

Highlight • Structure

A bunch of crushed rock put between fencing to hold back the rock. Haven't seen one like this before.

Tip by

30.7 km

Picnic area sign

Highlight • Rest Area

I'm guessing at different times the picnic area had more amenities, right now it was one table. And the only thing eating back there was the mosquitos chomping on me when I stopped to take a picture.

Tip by

41.2 km

View of the Houston sign on the Bluff.

Highlight • Viewpoint

A view of the Houston sign on the Bluff from the Root River bike trail.

Tip by

41.7 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

41.1 km

485 m

104 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

40.7 km

845 m

166 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Today

Tuesday 14 July

34°C

18°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 10.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

Want to know more?

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Edit route

Download GPX

Move start point

Embed on a website

Report an Issue

Report restricted access

Nearby routes

Moderate

5.0

Mississippi River & Apple Blossom Scenic Byway loop

02:36h

43.4km

320m

Easy

La Crosse River and Marsh Loop

00:34h

9.71km

20m

Moderate

5.0

Root River State Trail – Root River Trailhead loop from Whalan

03:10h

52.8km

290m

Hard

5.0

Barn and Pump House – Peterson sign with a gnome loop from South Fork Root River

06:11h

106km

490m

Moderate

5.0

Peterson Depot Museum – Barn and Pump House loop from Peterson

03:08h

54.5km

220m

Moderate

5.0

Peterson sign with a gnome – Peterson Depot Museum loop from Whalan

02:50h

39.6km

280m

Moderate

Root River Trailhead – Natural Playground loop from Houston

02:28h

41.7km

140m

Hard

Bike loop from La Crescent

05:11h

71.9km

780m

Easy

4.5

Lake Winona Park loop from Sugar Loaf

00:31h

9.02km

20m

Moderate

La Crosse Trailhead – La Crosse Marsh loop from La Crosse

02:16h

34.9km

320m

Moderate

La Crosse Trailhead – West Salem Bike Depot Park loop from La Crosse

02:15h

36.8km

90m

Moderate

La Crosse Marsh – Riverside Park loop from La Crosse

03:40h

60.8km

430m

Root River Trailhead – Natural Playground loop from Houston

Root River Trailhead

Natural Playground

View of Cushing Peak

Large bridge over the Root River

Creamery Pizza and Ice Cream

An interesting retaining wall.

Picnic area sign

View of the Houston sign on the Bluff.

Nearby routes

Sign up or log in to keep exploring this route

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️