January 6, 2011: Gateway Trail (St. Paul)
Join the group for a hike in St. Paul along a portion of the scenic Gateway Trail, a "rails-to-trails" converted trail that constitutes the Metro area portion of the Munger Trail. The trail was originally a Soo Line RailRoad rail line. The rail line was abandoned over 20 years ago and, after much controversy and some lawsuits, was converted into a biking/hiking/horse-riding trail by the State Department of Natural Resources. Willard Munger (1911-1999) was a long time State legislator from Duluth, the last Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party member elected to a State office, and an ardent environmentalist. His political accomplishments include authoring a ban on the pesticide DDT in Minnesota before a national ban was enacted, creating sewage sanitary districts, rivers and wildland protection, recreational trails, and authoring legislation that created the state's Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund. The Soo Line RailRoad was initially established to provide Midwest grain farmers with an alternative rail transportation route. Because the east terminus of the line was Sault Ste. Marie, the railroad took the "Soo" name. The Soo Line incorporated the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic RailRoad early in the 20th Century, assumed much of the former Milwaukee Road trackage and rolling stock in 1985, and suffered the subsequent spin off of the core of the original railroad to Wisconsin Central Ltd. The Soo Line is owned by the Canadian Pacific RailRoad and the Soo Line rolling stock is being redesignated and repainted as CP equipment.
If driving: Take I-35E north out of downtown St. Paul to the Maryland Avenue exit, then go east (right) on Maryland Avenue two blocks to Westminster Street. Go north (left) on Westminster Street approximately 1/2 mile to Arlington Avenue, then turn left and go approximately 300 feet to the DNR parking lot and trail access. Be careful to distinguish between the East-side trail crossing, which occurs first, and the West-side entrance to the parking lot, which occurs second. The parking lot is not well lit at night.
If coming by public transit: Take Metro Transit route(s): 71. The closest bus service point appears to be the corner of Westminster and Arlington. Applicable Metro Transit Map / Bus Schedule information
Interested hikers will reassemble for dessert or dinner after the hike at a nearby restaurant (Champps, 1734 Adolphus Street, Maplewood.)
Map to the Hike start point:
Westminster St At Arlington Ave E
St Paul, MN 55101
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Last modified: December 28, 2010.
