Midtown Greenway

Description: This trail follows the old Milwaukee Road right of way in south Minneapolis, about a block north of Lake Street. The trail starts where the Southwest LRT trail ends, just north of the Whole Foods Market, and runs directly east to cross Hiawatha Avenue (Highway 55). It turns a little bit and then heads straight east until it hits the Mississippi River. There is also a spur that goes north along the LRT line to the Metrodome.

Meeting location:We meet in the parking lot for the Lake Calhoun Executive Center at 3033 Excelsior Blvd. Park in the corner closest to Lake Calhoun (farthest from Excelsior Blvd). (3033 Excelsior Blvd Minneapolis, MN 55416)

Getting there: This trail is probably easiest to access from intersections with other trails. On the west side, there is a trail access behind the new Whole Foods Market location, just south of Lake Street (about at the intersection of 31st and Chowen). The trail also has entrances at the connection to the Kenilworth Trail, Dean Parkway, East Calhoun Parkway (on the connector between the Lake Calhoun trail and the Lake of the Isles trail), Humboldt Ave., Bryant Ave., Nicollet Ave., 5th Ave. S., and other streets east of there.

Length: 4.2 miles from the west end (the junction with the Kenilworth and LRT Trails) to the intersection with Highway 55. 1.7 miles north from Highway 55 to the Metrodome.

Comments: A good, well-connected urban trail in the heart of Uptown. It also has a strong community following and good involvement from the nearby neighborhoods.