Goodhue: Trails, Landscapes and History

Get to know Goodhue through its paved trails, wetlands, and local history. When planning your trip, you can explore a range of highlights: hiking and biking trails, a natural-surface trail for horses and carriages, distinctive landscapes, museums, and a long-standing county event. Depending on your interests, discover Goodhue through outdoor activities, nature, or culture.

Trails and their different routes

The northern section of the Goodhue Pioneer State Trail runs between Red Wing and the Hay Creek Unit of the Richard J. Dorer State Forest. It includes four miles of developed, paved trail. Directly adjacent is a natural-surface trail for horseback riding and carriage driving, which connects to 15 miles of bridle trails in the Hay Creek Day-Use Area. The surface and designated uses distinguish these two trails.

The Cannon Valley Trail is 19.7 miles long, paved, and designated for biking, hiking, and inline skating. It connects Cannon Falls, Welch, and Red Wing. It also connects west to the Mill Towns State Trail and east to the Goodhue Pioneer Trail. When comparing it with the Goodhue Pioneer State Trail, the lengths matter: the latter is described here as a four-mile northern section, while 19.7 miles refers to the Cannon Valley Trail.

The Cannon Valley Trail runs parallel to the Cannon River. Along the way, you can enjoy views of the valley and extensive wetlands. This adds a landscape perspective to the trail description: the river and wetlands are among the trail’s distinctive sights, along with the route itself. Since trail infrastructure can change over time, check current trail conditions before setting out.

Prairie, forests, and river landscapes

The Billings-Tomfohr Conservation Area offers hiking trails and natural prairie landscapes. It covers 93 acres and rises 200 feet above the valley floor. When planning a visit, you can take into account two specific features of the area: the opportunity to hike and its elevation above the valley. The elevation difference describes the landscape; it does not indicate how difficult a trail is.

Frontenac State Park covers more than 2,600 acres. Its landscape includes bluffs, prairie, floodplain forests, and hardwood forests. By comparison, Billings-Tomfohr is a smaller area, also characterized by prairie, with designated hiking trails. Visitors interested in landscapes will find different scales and several named natural features here, although the two areas do not necessarily share the same characteristics.

The Cannon Valley Trail offers another perspective on the region, with views of the valley and wetlands along the Cannon River. This description of the views differs from the information about the conservation areas: there, the focus is on named landscape types and the size of the area, while here it is on the scenery along a trail.

Bridges, pottery, and county history

The Zumbrota Covered Bridge is Minnesota’s only surviving example of a covered wooden truss bridge, making it especially significant. Today, it serves as a pedestrian bridge over the Zumbro River. Its current location is 1,000 feet west of its original site. The bridge thus combines a distinctive design with a clearly documented relocation and a present-day function for pedestrians.

At the Pottery Museum of Red Wing, you can see common and rare items produced by Red Wing potteries. The collection includes stoneware, art pottery, and dinnerware. Group tours typically last 45 minutes to an hour; allow for this during your museum visit and check current tour arrangements in advance.

The Goodhue County History Center tells the county’s story in its permanent exhibits through stories about the land and its people. Local history is the focus here, while the Pottery Museum showcases specific objects and materials. Visitors interested in both subjects can learn about the area from two perspectives: through the region’s development and its pottery tradition.

The Goodhue County Fair is also part of the county’s history and present-day life. Since it was established in 1859, it has been a long-standing tradition. Every year, the event welcomes visitors for five days of entertainment, education, and celebrations. If you’d like to include the fair in your trip plans, check the event dates in advance.

He Mni Can and finding your way around the park

He Mni Can-Barn Bluff is significant for its geology and its connections to prehistoric and Indigenous peoples. At the trailhead by the park entrance, the He Mni Can Memorial has memorial sites that provide information to park visitors. The bluff’s landscape and historical significance, as well as visitor information at the park entrance, are among the region’s highlights.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Zumbrota, Red Wing, Mower County, Koochiching, Redwood County, Brown County, Mille Lacs, Carver.

Return to the main travel overview: Minnesota.