Old Stone House Loop

• Best time to go: The ideal time to ride this route is between June and October. Waiting until June helps you avoid the wet spring months, when parts of the trail can be muddy or flooded. Finishing your ride before November is also recommended, as colder weather sets in and firearm deer hunting season begins on many of the public lands included in the route.
• Mosquitos and black flies are notoriously bad in Minnesota. We lucked out as they were nearly non-existent, but if riding in the summer, bring along plenty of bug spray.
• Singletrack and hike-a-bike: There are small sections of singletrack on day two and a hike-a-bike section on day three. See the Trail Notes section on how to avoid these if needed.
• Wild parsnip: If you choose to do the hike-a-bike section, be cautious of wild parsnip. The plant’s sap contains chemicals that can cause a skin reaction when exposed to sunlight. This can result in painful, burn-like blisters. The reaction is most likely to occur when the stalk is broken and the sap comes into contact with your skin, but even brushing against the plant can be risky. It can be easy to spot with its yellow, flat-topped clusters, and it’s best to avoid it.
• It is recommended to ride this route clockwise, starting in Millville, but you could also opt to start your ride in any number of locations.

• The Old Stone House is a dispersed camping location within the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest. Situated at the base of the historic limestone homestead built in 1875 by German immigrants Franz and Metta Cordes, the site offers a fire ring and picnic table. If the site is occupied, additional dispersed camping options are available along the singletrack trail leading away from the house, as well as spots along the river about two miles further along the route. Lastly, there are paid tent spots at the private Hey Creek Campground.
• Zumbro Bottoms, also located within the Richard J. Dorer State Forest, provides a semi-primitive camping experience with two campgrounds directly off the route. Primarily designed for equestrian use, these campgrounds are open to all on a first-come, first-served basis. Amenities include picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilet, and hand-pumped water. I recommend the first and smallest campground, located just before the Zumbro River crossing. Payment can be mailed in after your stay. Dispersed camping is also available, but bikes are not allowed on the horse trails.
• Whitewater State Park offers a unique camping experience at its Gooseberry Glen Cart-in Campground. This secluded area features six cart-in sites, providing a more private experience compared to traditional drive-in sites. Each campsite includes a fire ring and picnic table. I recommend campsites two through four for their locations adjacent to the Middle Fork Whitewater River and their privacy. Raccoons are known to visit campsites, so be sure to secure your food by placing something heavy on the provided food box or by elevating your bags. Sites may be reserved online up to 120 days in advance.

• There is water to be had, but always be filling up bottles. Three bottles or two bottles and an additional small bladder for times when you know you’ll be without resupply is my recommendation. Especially if using water for cooking/breakfast. A water filter may not be necessary, but it is nice to know it is there just in case.
• For our four-day trip (Friday to Monday), I brought dehydrated meals for Friday lunch, Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast, Sunday lunch, and Monday breakfast. The remaining meals were enjoyed at local taverns and restaurants.

location Millville to Old Stone House

Day 1 (41 mi +2,669 ft)

Millville is about a 1.5-hour drive from Minneapolis. You can find on-street parking near the old Post Office, across from the veterans memorial. The route begins with a one-mile paved climb out of town before transitioning to gravel for the rest of the day.

Around mile 11, Zumbro Falls makes a great rest stop, with a gas station and two solid bar-and-grill options for lunch depending on how early or late you start. There are a handful of challenging climbs throughout the day, with the climb at mile 30 being one that stands out as you climb up alongside Wells Creek. The highlight of the ride comes near the end—a nearly two-mile downhill that’s fast, fun, and well-earned—followed by a final, steep, straight shot climb up to the Old Stone House site.

Before or after setting up camp, consider making the short trip to the Hay Creek Saloon for a cold drink, and if it’s Friday, go for the fish fry.

location Old Stone House to Zumbro Bottoms

Day 2 (41 mi +2,184 ft)

Begin your morning with 1.5 miles of twisting singletrack as you drop from the Old Stone House into the day’s first descent. If your timing is right and day two falls on a Saturday or Sunday, you can leave the stove packed and ride into the Hey Creek Saloon for their all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. Don’t skip on the country fried steak!

The morning ride brings a few solid challenges, including Wiebusch Hill Road—a Category 4 climb familiar to anyone who has raced the Ragnarok gravel event.

Stop in Lake City for pizza at Papa Tronnios, then restock your snacks at Kwik Trip before getting back on the road. Not much further ahead lies the fourth and biggest climb of the day, a tough ascent out of the Mississippi River Valley. But your effort is rewarded with a thrilling two-mile descent to finish the day into Zumbro Bottoms, where the road winds through the valley and the trees and walls slowly close in, guiding you toward camp.

location Zumbro Bottoms to Whitewater State Park

Day 3 (52 mi +2,346 ft)

Day three covers the longest distance of the route—just over 51 miles—but it also includes two of my favorite gravel descents in the entire state.

I recommend breaking camp early and being on the bike by 9 a.m. You’ll be greeted almost immediately by a challenging 1.5-mile climb that gains over 400 feet of elevation as you leave Zumbro Bottoms behind. With your heart rate spiked, you’re then treated to a relatively easy—depending on the wind—15-mile stretch of blufftop gravel.

After one of those signature descents, you’ll reach an intersection at mile 21 that leads you down the Whitewater River valley toward the town of Weaver and the Mississippi River. Take your time on the way; several two-track offshoots snake between a series of man-made ponds. Explore these short in-and-out detours if you’re up for a little extra.

A few miles later—and up a substantial gravel climb—you’ll reach Whitewater Wines, perched atop the bluff. On a hot day, nothing hits the spot like a big glass of sangria or one of their signature wine slushies. Even if you’re not a wine person, it’s worth a quick stop for the view and atmosphere.

From there, it’s another screaming-fast descent into Elba, which makes a great spot for dinner at Mauer Brothers Tavern (get the pickled egg) or a quick resupply at the local convenience store. The final stretch to Whitewater State Park is flat and easy. Before you know it, you’ll be pitching your tent and settling in for the night.

location Whitewater State Park to Millville

Day 4 (38 mi +1,875 ft)

The final day of riding is the shortest on the route at just 38 miles, giving you time for a morning hike to Chimney Rock in Whitewater State Park.

After you exit the park, you head west and start to climb. Keep an eye out for an American flag perched atop a bluff, marking the start of the Old Glory Bluff climb. Once at the top, you’ll follow rolling gravel roads that rise and fall until you reach Plainview, a perfect spot to stop for lunch.

From there, the route heads north, tackling one last big climb before a thrilling descent into the Zumbro River Valley. The final stretch hugs the river, winding gently until you arrive back in Millville.

If it’s a hot day, take a right under the bridge and cool off with a swim in the river, a refreshing end to what hopefully has been a memorable journey.