St. Albans Bay Bridge – Arcola Trestle Bridge loop from Bayswater Rd

Bike touring routes & trails

St. Albans Bay Bridge – Arcola Trestle Bridge loop from Bayswater Rd

Easy

4.7

(5009)

9,303

riders

St. Albans Bay Bridge – Arcola Trestle Bridge loop from Bayswater Rd

01:57

32.9km

140m

Cycling

Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: September 23, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

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7.51 km

St. Albans Bay Bridge

Highlight (Segment) • Bridge

The St. Albans Bay Bridge carries Minnetonka Boulevard over St. Albans Bay, an inlet of Lake Minnetonka, connecting the cities of Excelsior and Greenwood in Minnesota. From the bridge you get great views over the bay, making it a pleasant place to stop and take in the views as you ride around the area.

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8.11 km

Excelsior Streetcar Line

Highlight • Museum

The storage area where the street cars rest. Don't know much about this line, but it looks like maybe it runs again?

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8.64 km

Excelsior Brewing

Highlight • Pub

Great place to stop for a quick beer, it was there several year birthday today!

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17.2 km

Dakota Rail Regional Trail – Minnetonka Beach Section

Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway

This portion of the Dakota Rail Regional Trail near Minnetonka Beach offers scenic views along the shores of Lake Minnetonka. This section of the 29-mile paved trail is popular due to its proximity to the water; you get nearly continuous lake vistas and pass by buildings and attractions that reflect the area’s history as a 19th-century resort destination. The trail is open for walking, running, and cycling, with easy access to parking and facilities along its route.

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18.2 km

Arcola Trestle Bridge

Highlight • Bridge

Enjoy a spectacular view of the bay between Crystal Bay and Lake Minnetonka on the Dakota Regional Trail. A bonus is when you're there during sunrise or sunset.

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22.3 km

Ferndale Marsh

Highlight • Natural

Ferndale Marsh is a 585-acre wetland complex. It features a mosaic of habitats including marshland, open water, grasslands, and wooded areas, providing a haven for various plant and animal species.

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24.8 km

The Wayzata Historic Train Depot

Highlight • Historical Site

The Wayzata Railroad Depot has a rich and contentious history. The first train arrived in Wayzata in 1867, when the town was considered the "end of the road." The original depot was located about a block east of the current depot.
As the railroad expanded westward, more tracks were laid between Lake Minnetonka and Main Street in Wayzata.

This decision led to protests from citizens due to issues such as noise, cinders, sparks, and the feeling of being cut off from the lake. Residents demanded that the railroad owner, James J. Hill, relocate the tracks further north, away from the lakeshore. Hill refused, resulting in the town filing a lawsuit. In 1881, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that Hill was trespassing on village property.

Known for his stubborn and powerful nature, Hill was infuriated. Instead of moving the tracks north, he tore down the existing Wayzata depot and built a new, smaller depot a mile east of town. This action effectively made Wayzata "off the map" for rail service, forcing residents to walk a mile through marshy terrain to catch a train. Hill famously declared that Wayzata residents could "walk a mile for the next twenty years."

Eventually, the city of Wayzata reconciled with Hill. As part of this agreement, Hill commissioned the construction of the current magnificent Wayzata Depot in 1906. This new depot was built in a more convenient location, closer to the downtown business district and on the shores of Lake Minnetonka, officially putting Wayzata "back on the map." The tracks were never moved, and trains still operate between the lakeshore and the town of Wayzata.

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27.7 km

Views between Grays Bay and Wayzata Bay

Highlight (Segment) • Viewpoint

Following the paved bike lane alongside Bushaway Road, in this lovely stretch, you can enjoy views on both sides of the path as it runs between these two bays of Lake Minnetonka. At one end, you will also cross the Gray's Bay Bridge.

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