Gateway State Trail

Gateway State Trail
The Gateway State Trail traverses urban open space in the heart of Saint Paul, Minnesota
Length	18.3 mi (29.5 km)
Location	Ramsey and Washington Counties, Minnesota, USA
Designation	Minnesota state trail National Recreation Trail
Trailheads	Cayuga Park, St. Paul Pine Point Regional Park, Stillwater
Use	Biking, hiking, in-line skating. Partial: carriage driving, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, mountain biking
Elevation
Grade	Level
Hiking details
Trail difficulty	Easy
Season	Year-round
Sights	St. Paul, Phalen-Keller Regional Park, wetlands, North St. Paul Snowman, Gateway Trail Iron Bridge, Stillwater
Hazards	Road crossings, severe weather
Surface	Asphalt, partial dirt parallel
Website	Gateway State Trail

The Gateway State Trail is a multi-use recreational rail trail in Minnesota, USA, running 18 miles (29 km) from Saint Paul to Pine Point Regional Park through urban landscapes of eastern Saint Paul in Ramsey County and rural farmland and forests in Washington County. It was designated a National Recreation Trail in 2002.

The trail is open to walking, jogging, cycling, inline skating, and roller skiing during the summer. A side trail is designed for horseback riding. During the winter separate sections invite snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. Both horseback riding and cross-country skiing require permits from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

The Gateway State Trail follows part of the Soo Line Railroad that served the upper Midwest. This particular line connected Saint Paul to Duluth and was used for passenger and freight rail. The section of the Soo Railroad now the Gateway Trail connected Duluth's major port on Lake Superior to the Twin Cities. It also transported the taconite and coal mined in Northern Minnesota.

In 1980 the "Interstate Commerce Commission issued an order, authorizing abandonment of the Soo Line railroad track on January 23, 1980, 'conditioned on a public use in accordance with the plans of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.' That condition opened the door for converting the railroad line into a recreational trail, and interested citizens seized the opportunity."