The Luce Line State Trail is a 63 mile long former railroad grade. The limestone surfaced trail runs from Plymouth 30 miles west to Winsted. From Winsted to Hutchinson, the trail is gravel, from Hutchinson to Cedar Mills it is crushed granite and Cedar Mills to Cosmos it is grass. Snowmobiles are allowed on the trail west of Stubb's Bay Road.
Stretching across the varied landscapes of metropolitan and rural Minnesota, the Luce Line is a preserved strip of countryside alive with many varieties of plants and animals. In the east the influence is woodland, a carry-over from the Big Woods that once occupied the area. Rolling stands of sugar maple and basswood can be found here. From Hutchinson westward, the Big Woods give way to remnants of the tall-grass prairie.
Wildlife inhabitants range from deer, fox and mink to owls and pheasant. Many adjacent lakes also support ducks and geese. The Luce Line is truly like a jaunt down a quiet country road.
Current trail conditions:
Some content from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 2008. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Web Site (online). Accessed 2008-01-02 at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/sitetools/copyright.html