Red Jacket Trail Mankato, Minnesota
The Red Jacket Trail begins along the banks of the Minnesota River west of downtown Mankato and runs to the village of Rapidan. The popular route utilizes three converted railroad trestles, including the stunning Red Jacket Trestle—more than 80 feet high and 550 feet long—over the Le Sueur River and busy State Route 66 near the trail's southern end.
The Red Jacket Trail extends southward away from downtown Mankato, passing commercial properties before cutting directly through one of the city's older neighborhoods. After about 1 mile, the scenery changes to heavily-wooded forest; this landscape continues for the rest of the trek to Rapidan.
Red Jacket Trail
Hundreds of cyclists, walkers, and joggers use the Red Jacket Trail daily.
The Red Jacket Trail is connected to other bike trails including the Sakatah Singing Hills Trail. With this web of bike trails a bike rider can spend hours viewing the majestic scenery of Southern Minnesota.
Red Jacket Trestle
This is the Red Jacket Trestle. It has seen everything in it's long life. From standing alone high in the woods, to standing next to a concrete arch highway bridge, from seeing the highway bridge get washed out to seeing it's own pier get washed out.
Top Left: Damage cause by debris in the river.
Bottom Left: Repair being done on Pier #2 of the Red Jacket Trestle
Right: Monument of the repairs done to the trestle