GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — We're stepping outside this week on "Hitting The Trails" and venturing out on the Root River State Trail. The 42-mile trail runs from Fountain to Houston, and was built 30 ...

The Root River State Trail stretches for 42 miles between Houston, Minn., and Fountain, Minn. (David Ranzenberger/Winona Daily News) ...

The other 35 miles became the Root River Trail. Development began in 1985. Workers completed the project in 1988. It cost $2 million in state bonds, Blommer said. Extensions to Harmony and Houston ...

The amounts being sought are: Root River Trail from Preston to Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park, $2.9 million; Goodhue Pioneer for 9 miles between Goodhue and Zumbrota, $2 million; Chester ...

Root River Trail Towns was created in 1988 to market the Root River and Harmony-Preston Valley state bike trails.

The Blufflands Trail System: The Root River State Trail and the Harmony/Preston Valley Trail comprise a rails-to-trails network that spans about 60 miles through Minnesota's southeastern bluff region.

Post-paddle: Lanesboro is like a museum exhibit of a 19th-century river town, with several small inns, B&Bs and cafes, and it's also at the nexus of the 60-mile Root River State Trail System ...

Ann Endres from La Crosse, Wis., attaches a map of the Root River State Trail to her handlebars June, 4, 2011, before leaving Houston, Minn. (David Ranzenberger/Winona Daily News) ...