Winchell Trail
Winchell Trail is a round trip, pedestrian-only trail in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, that runs along the west side of the Mississippi River between Franklin Avenue South and East 44th Street. Popular with bird watchers and naturalists, the rustic trail provides Upper Mississippi River gorge access and views. The trail is separate from the adjacent multi-use bicycle path, taking hikers past sandy beaches, an oak savanna restoration project, and the floodplain forest. The trail has multiple access points and the section from East 38th Street to East 44th Street is paved. Described as moderate and for all hiking skill levels, the out-and-back Winchell Trail has total elevation gain of . Portions of the trail can be hiked in near solitude as its age and general destitute make it a widely forgotten place to explore. Route description The Dakota people have lived along the shores of the Upper Mississippi River for many centuries. The contemporary route of Winchell Trail may have followed an original path created by Dakota people in the area. Residents and visitors who hike the trail experience what a native oak savanna looked like prior to European-American settlement. Access points Winchell Trail has multiple access points from the West River Parkway trail of the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway. The northern trailhead is near Franklin Avenue South and West River Parkway. The southern trailhead is near East 44th Street and West River Parkway. There is also a signed entrance to the trail at East 36th Street with several paths down to the oak savanna site. There are a few crescent-shaped parking lots along the trail route, two near East 36th Street and one near East 44th Street. Many of the various access points have racks for bicycles, which are not permitted on Winchell Trail or other natural surface paths in the gorge. Major points of interest List from north to south Northern trailhead marker and Mesabi Iron Range boulder near Franklin Avenue South. Hajduk Spring near East 26th Street White Sands Beach near East 28th Street Minneapolis Rowing Club Boathouse near East Lake Street Longfellow Beach near East 33rd Street Overlook of the river gorge at East 36th Street Oak savanna restoration near East 36th Street Southern trailhead marker and overlook of the river gorge near East 44th Street Mesabi Iron Range boulder The northern trailhead features a large boulder with a bronze tribute plague describing the scientific contributions of the trail's namesake, Newton Horace Winchell. The boulder was brought from the Mesabi Iron Range by Winchell's eldest son. The plaque on it reads:The Winchell Trail marked by this boulder brought from the Mesabi Iron Range, was named in honor of the eminent geologist Newton Horace Winchell whose scientific studies along this river provided a measure for the time since the glacial period. His early appreciation of the economic importance of Minnesota's resources did much to preserve for the people some share in the state's mineral wealth. Hajduk Spring Hajduk Spring in Minneapolis is a falling water source