Mound's Winter Trail Closure Misses the Stretch That Gets Plowed

Since October 15, about 2.5 miles of the Dakota Rail Regional Trail have been closed between Shoreline Drive in Mound and Westonka Recreation Park in Minnetrista. That stretch runs west of downtown and past Gale Woods Farm. Xcel Energy is replacing the high-voltage transmission line that runs alongside the trail, and Three Rivers Park District says the section stays closed through the end of February. There is no posted detour.

Three Rivers plows the Dakota Rail in Mound only from County Road 110 to Seton Channel. It also plows Spring Park, Minnetonka Beach, Wayzata and Orono, and it doesn't maintain the other segments in winter. The closed section west of downtown isn't on that plowed list. The stretch that is plowed is still open.

The plowed stretch starts at Commerce Boulevard

County Road 110 is Commerce Boulevard, and that's where Mound's maintained winter trail begins. It runs from that crossing east to Seton Channel, then continues as plowed trail through Spring Park. This fall, the trailhead itself has been a construction zone. Hennepin County closed Commerce Boulevard and the trail crossing on October 5 to bring the pedestrian ramps up to Americans with Disabilities Act standards, with work scheduled through early November. During the closure, drivers have detoured via Shoreline Drive, Wilshire Boulevard and Bartlett Boulevard, and trail users have followed a posted detour around the work area. Hennepin County's project page has the current status of the crossing.

The city's own utility work is also wrapping up along that corridor. Mound's Phase 2 water main project runs from Evergreen Road east to Bartlett Boulevard and along County Road 110/Commerce Boulevard toward Old Shoreline Drive. The city's update for the week of October 19 said service connections were done, with paving prep, cleanup and punch-list work still to go.

From Commerce Boulevard, the open trail heads east toward the channel and Spring Park, which is also the direction of most places to stop along the way.

Gale Woods is a drive this winter, not a ride

The closed 2.5 miles run past Gale Woods Farm, so the trail route from downtown Mound to the farm is out until March. The farm is still open. You get there by car, at 7210 County Road 110 W in Minnetrista.

Gale Woods Farm keeps its grounds open daily from 5 AM to 10 PM. The Farm Store is open Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from noon to 5 PM. The barn opens only during select public programs. Once snow is down, the farm has 4.2 miles of ungroomed snowshoe trails. Rentals depend on conditions and can be reserved up to seven days ahead, with limited walk-up availability.

The farm also changed this year. Three Rivers installed solar panels in the pasture directly west of the Pavilion building in summer 2026, and they're now running. A second array is part of the same project. Together the panels are expected to offset about 75 percent of the farm's electricity, and the farm and all its buildings stay open during construction.

The holiday programs have already been posted. Three Rivers' program listings at Gale Woods include Saori weaving, needle felting, sheep shearing and holiday gifts, and a felted stocking class in November. December brings wreath-making, holiday needle felting and Tomte Solstice Magic.

When a walk needs more than the plowed stretch

The plowed stretch from Commerce Boulevard to Seton Channel works for an everyday loop. For longer outings, or ones that need snow, the nearest options are two Three Rivers parks, each with its own kind of winter trail:

• Lake Minnetonka Regional Park, 4610 County Road 44 in Minnetrista, is open 6 AM to 10 PM and keeps nearly a mile of walking trail plowed in winter. Snowshoeing is also allowed there. The park listing shows no programs scheduled for now.
• Carver Park Reserve, 7400 Grimm Road in Victoria, is the skiing option. It has 11.3 miles of groomed classic and skate trail from the Carver Winter Trailhead, plus 3.9 miles of snowshoe trail near Lowry Nature Center. Walking is not allowed on the ski trails in winter, and a 1.45-mile multi-use trail allows skijoring. There's a sledding hill near the nature center.

Carver also has the busiest December calendar of the three parks. Lowry Nature Center hosts Winter Fire Building and Hot Cocoa on Saturday, December 12, and a winter bird count on Saturday, December 19.

Where the open stretch leads

The plowed corridor runs past several year-round stops. Near the Commerce Boulevard trailhead, Surfside Bar & Grill at 2544 Commerce Blvd describes itself as locally owned and family-operated. For an early start, Caribou Coffee at 5401 Shoreline Drive opens at 5:30 AM on weekdays and 6 AM on weekends and closes at 6 PM every day, with indoor seating and a drive-through.

At the Spring Park end, Back Channel Brewing has its taproom at 4787 Shoreline Drive and posts weekly hours on its site. Down the road, Minnetonka Drive In at 4658 Shoreline Drive is closed for the 2026 season.

Lost Lake Commons Park is the other downtown stop this month, and it's where the season officially starts. Connect Westonka's 43rd annual tree lighting is Thursday, November 19, from 6 to 8 PM. Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive with a police and fire escort, and the evening includes local choirs, kids' crafts, cookies, hot cocoa, candy canes and fire troughs. Local business sponsors keep it free for families. Details are on Connect Westonka's event page.

A few days later, the Gillespie Center Holiday Boutique runs November 23 through 28 at 2590 Commerce Blvd. Vendors sell handmade and local gifts, including honey, soaps, scarves, candles and jewelry. Check the center's page for daily hours. The Gillespie Center also runs a walking club among its regular November and December offerings.

The dates between now and the thaw

1. Early November: The Commerce Boulevard trail crossing closure is scheduled to end.
2. November 15: Mound's winter overnight parking ban begins. Parking on city streets is prohibited from 2 to 6 AM through April 15, and no vehicle may stay in one spot for more than 24 hours, according to the city's 2026 first-quarter newsletter.
3. November 19: Tree lighting at Lost Lake Commons Park, 6 to 8 PM.
4. November 23 to 28: Gillespie Center Holiday Boutique.
5. December 1: A second Dakota Rail closure begins in Orono, near Orono Orchard Road, so Metropolitan Council Environmental Services can replace sewer lines. It runs through March 31, 2027, with no detour.
6. December 12 and 19: Winter fire building and the winter bird count at Carver Park Reserve.
7. End of February: The Xcel closure between Shoreline Drive and Westonka Recreation Park is scheduled to end, reopening the trail route to Gale Woods.
8. Spring 2027: Shorter closures follow in Orono for trail reconstruction and site repair, and the rebuilt sections there will be repaved.

If you own a home near the Dakota Rail corridor in Mound and want to know where it stands this winter, Ewing Real Estate Group can put together a complimentary market valuation for you.