Root River Trailhead – Natural Playground loop from Houston

Bike touring routes & trails

Root River Trailhead – Natural Playground loop from Houston

Moderate

riders

Root River Trailhead – Natural Playground loop from Houston

02:28

41.7km

140m

Cycling

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: November 9, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

80 m

Root River Trailhead

Highlight • Rest Area

This trailhead even has showers!

Tip by

99 m

This natural playground is located right next to the Root River Trailhead in Houston, Minnesota. It features nature walks and a campground for walk in tents only. Perfect for bicycle campers. There are showers in the nearby Trail Center.

Tip by

7.74 km

View of Cushing Peak

Highlight • Viewpoint

I saw a highlight Komoot created for Cushing Peak, so I wanted to get a picture of it today on my bike ride.

Tip by

10.6 km

Large bridge over the Root River

Highlight • Bridge

There was a ton of tree debris pushed up against this big bridge, maybe the longest bridge on the trail between Rushford and Houston

Tip by

20.9 km

Creamery Pizza and Ice Cream

Highlight • Restaurant

Looks like a neat little place, and it's right next to the bowling alley which has more food and drink options. Plus they have volleyball courts.

Tip by

22.9 km

An interesting retaining wall.

Highlight • Structure

A bunch of crushed rock put between fencing to hold back the rock. Haven't seen one like this before.

Tip by

30.7 km

Picnic area sign

Highlight • Rest Area

I'm guessing at different times the picnic area had more amenities, right now it was one table. And the only thing eating back there was the mosquitos chomping on me when I stopped to take a picture.

Tip by

41.2 km

View of the Houston sign on the Bluff.

Highlight • Viewpoint

A view of the Houston sign on the Bluff from the Root River bike trail.

Tip by

41.7 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

41.2 km

518 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

40.7 km

860 m

199 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Today

Tuesday 10 November

16°C

3°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 9.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

September 17, 2026,Rushford to Houston bike ride with my Dad

I rode form Rushford to Houston on the Root River State Trail. 2 miles before you get to Houston they were re-paving the trail, looked like they might have ground up the old trail and re-did the whole thing. Very nice!