
Agassiz Recreational Trail logo in steel
The Agassiz Recreational Trail is a rail corridor that was acquired and converted to a natural surface multi-use recreational trail.
The Agassiz Recreational Trail runs 52 miles from Ulen, Minnesota in the south to Crookston, Minnesota in the north, and travels through Clay County, Norman County, and Polk County, as well as the cities of Ulen, Twin Valley, Gary, Fertile, and Crookston.
This natural surface trail is open for walking/hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and ATV riding and is a stellar example of a trail accommodating multiple uses. The trail has several impressive river crossings and runs through beautiful rural farmland.
The local snowmobile and ATV club, the Fertile/Beltrami Sandhill SnoCruisers, partners with the Agassiz Recreational Trail (ART) Board to groom and maintain the trail. The ART Board is a collaboration of Clay, Norman, and Polk Counties. The creation of this trail, and the preservation of the corridor, were the result of a community initiative spearheaded by local club volunteers and trail advocates with the support of local and state officials.
The bridge construction project
The Agassiz Recreational Trail Board has been very successful in securing the needed funds to acquire and develop the recreational trail. Unfortunately, when the rail grade was abandoned by the railroad, many of the rail bridges were removed.
The ART Board, with the leadership of trail advocates, was able to acquire funding from State of Minnesota Bonding Funds, State Snowmobile and ATV Grant-in-Aid Funds, and matching Recreational Trail Program grants to complete the connections of this trail by constructing and refurbishing several bridges.
The bridge in winter
2021: Vermilion Falls Trail
2021: Climax Tunnel Rehabilitation
2020: Blue Ridge Tunnel Rehabilitation & Trail Project
2020: Milan Trail Huggers Nash Stream Bridge
2019: Weed Patch Mountain Trail
2018: Ouachita National Recreation Trail Shelters - Arkansas and Oklahoma
2017: Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area - Pennsylvania
2016: Kanab Creek OHV Bridge - Utah
2015: Blanca Peak and Ellingwood Point Trail Project - Colorado
2015: Joanna Trail Project - Missouri
2014: Abbott Motocross Park - Nebraska
2014: Millersburg Historic Park and Trailhead - Michigan
2013: East and West Twin Creek Bridges - Michigan
2012: Chattahoochee Nature Trails - Florida
2012: Tahoe-Pyramid Bikeway - Nevada
2011: Iron Range OHV Recreation Area - Minnesota
2009: Sam Houston Multiple-Use Trail - Texas
2008: Wanoga Snopark Shelter - Oregon
2007: Potato Knob Trail at Holly River State Park - West Virginia
2006: Indian Canyon Trailhead - California
2006: Upper Waiakea ATV/Dirt Bike Park - Hawaii
2006: County Line Acres Bikeway - Ohio
2005: River Bluff Trail Project - Indiana
2005: Red Creek Bridge - Michigan
2005: MKT Trailhead Project - Missouri
2004: Diana Bend Conservation Area Trail Project - Missouri
2004: Sweetser Switch Trail Project - Indiana
2003: Jane Addams Trail - Illinois
2003: Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Area - West Virginia