Have Fun Biking features “four season fun” at Winona’s Bluffside Park

Winona’s bluff country recently added a thrilling new dimension for mountain bikers — and it’s not just for summer. Have Fun Biking founder Russ Lowthian took to Winona’s Bluffside Park this fall and included top highlights in a recent feature titled “Winona’s scenic bluffs offer a new twist for four season fun.” Bluffside Park recently expanded to include over five miles of newly constructed switchback trails built to take advantage of the bluff’s dramatic elevation above the city. Bluffside Park contains 15 miles of multi-use trails in the system just off Lake Boulevard within city limits of Winona. These routes deliver outstanding views of the Mississippi River Valley, showcasing the rugged beauty of Minnesota’s Driftless Area.

In winter, when the bluff is blanketed with snow, the multi-use trails welcome fat bikers, snowshoers, and winter hikers. For those looking to stay active year-round, this makes Bluffside Park a true four-season recreation destination, and the switchback paths are also ideal for snowshoeing or winter hiking.

Bluffside Park isn’t just a place to ride — it’s also a community hub. The trails are closely connected to Holzinger Lodge, where you can access parking and launch onto the bluff. Local riders, like longtime mountain biker Sheldon Morgan, emphasize in the feature article how important the trails are for community and youth engagement. According to Morgan, mountain biking is a vital way for young people to reconnect with nature and relieve stress, and Winona’s new trail infrastructure helps make that possible.

Beyond recreation, the project is part of Winona’s broader Bluffs Traverse initiative, which aims to knit together Bluffside Park with nearby parks like Sugar Loaf and Garvin Heights. This expansion has drawn praise not only from the local mountain biking community — including the Winona Area Mountain Bikers (WAMB) — but also from conservation groups, as care was taken during trail construction to preserve sensitive bluff habitats.

Winona’s bluff trail system is now a compelling draw for both outdoor adventurers and families seeking a unique, year-round nature experience.