March 30, 2017: Midsection Gateway Trail Hike (Maplewood/North St. Paul)

Join the group for a hike along the midsection of the scenic Gateway Trail in Maplewood and North St. Paul, in eastern Ramsey County.

The trail follows an abandoned Soo Line (Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie RailRoad) rail line from just north of downtown St. Paul to a park just north of Stillwater. At nearly 18 miles, it's one of the longest trails in the Twin Cities metro area. The western section of the trail goes through suburban areas and mostly residential neighborhoods. In 1990, after a dozen years of controversy, litigation, and land acquisition competition, the Minnesota Legislature appropriated $2 million to develop the trail. The trail was completed in 1993. The trail passes by the former Ramsey County Poor Farm/Alms House, which is the present site of the Ramsey Nursing Home and is soon to be the site of a heritage park. The Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad was incorporated in Wisconsin in 1883 by grain millers who thought the transportation rates on the railroad to Chicago were outrageous and it began as a rail line from St. Anthony to White Bear to connect with the railroad to Duluth. The "Soo Line" reached Sault Ste. Marie in 1887 and, with the construction of the International Bridge, connected with the Canadian Pacific Railroad. The Ramsey County Poor Farm operated from 1895 to 1923. The prior poor farm site was donated to the State in 1885 and is the location of the Minnesota State Fair.

Directions: From Highway 36 east of I-35E, take the White Bear Avenue exit and go south on White Bear Avenue a few blocks to the Maplewood Community Center, 2100 White Bear Ave, just south of the intersection of County Road B. The Community Center is on the east side of the road and has a large parking lot with several entrances. If you are going south on White Bear Avenue and pass under the large walk bridge, you have gone too far. Meet at the south end of the Community Center parking lot.

Map to hike starting point: 2100 White Bear Ave N
Maplewood, MN 55109-3710

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This page was last updated on February 28, 2017.