more stats
2.0 miles
Distance
74 ft
Climb
-75 ft
Descent
00:12:32
Avg time
1,031 ft
Altitude min
1,057 ft
Altitude max
1,056 ft
Altitude start
1,056 ft
Altitude end
-8.1%
Grade max
8%
Grade min
1,657 ft
Distance climb
1,837 ft
Distance down
1 mile
Distance flat
00:12:32
Avg time

Main Loop Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Winter Fat Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    North Loop (Jail Trail)
    Saint Cloud, Minnesota
  • AKA
    Jail Trail
  • Difficulty Rating
    Green Rate
  • Local Popularity
    55 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 60 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
    • 5 in Winter Fat Biking
  • Global Ranking
    #81719 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #97211 in Trail Running
    • #286759 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    XC, Fat, CX
  • Direction
    One Direction
  • Climb Difficulty
    Green
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Season
    Summer / dry season only
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • Land Owner
    Mid Minnesota Cycling Club

The name of the trail stems from its close proximity to one of Minnesota's correctional facilities, but don't let that stop you from tearing up the singletrack. Small drops, a few short climbs, tight turns, rock gardens and narrow tree lined sections await on this fun little trail, don't let its size fool you.

Land is owned by the Minnesota Department of Corrections and is immediately adjacent to a Minnesota State Prison Facility. Use of these trails is through permission and cooperation between the Mid-Minnesota Cycling Club and the MN Department of Corrections. Please be a responsible and respectful trail user.

Access Info

From the intersection of Hwy 301 (a.k.a. Minnesota Blvd) and 15th Ave SE, you can see the dirt parking lot and trailhead. Access to the parking lot is by dirt two-track, across a grassy field, off of Minnesota Blvd (do not access the parking lot from 15th Ave SE).

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 45 rides
  • 8 miles avg distance
All
  • 282 rides
  • Last: Sep 17, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Main Loop Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
May 31, 2025 @ 10:08am
May 31, 2025
Jan 16, 2025 @ 6:21pm
Jan 16, 2025
Sep 1, 2024 @ 4:45pm
Sep 1, 2024
May 7, 2023 @ 9:52am
May 7, 2023
 Very clean. Ground was damp but not muddy.
Nov 19, 2022 @ 11:08am
Nov 19, 2022
more »
Status:
on May 31, 2025
Ideal
Avg: 3.53 (8 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (2,048)
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      Directions to main-loop-26153 trailhead (45.543470, -94.130920)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      5 more »
      mtb
      13 |
      Aug 9, 2026 @ 7:54am
      Aug 9, 2026
      mtb
      13 |
      Aug 9, 2026 @ 7:53am
      Aug 9, 2026
      mtb
      107 |
      Aug 5, 2020 @ 6:04pm
      Aug 5, 2020
      mtb
      131 |
      Aug 5, 2020 @ 6:03pm
      Aug 5, 2020

      Videos

      1 more »
      youtuber Going to Jail | Jail trail in St. Cloud, MN
      mtb
      8:40 | 909 | Mar 4, 2020 , Saint Cloud

      Routes with this trail

      5
      2024 MCA Race #3 - Jail Trail
      4 miles • 184 ft • 9 • Race •
      Wind through the trees on this twisty race course that’s light on climbing and heavy on fun!
      3.4 ★★★★★
      8 Ratings
      5 ★ 25%
      4 ★ 13%
      3 ★ 38%
      2 ★ 25%
      1 ★

      4 Reviews & Comments

      JasonerwY90
      99.9% of the green trail is smoother than a city sidewalk, remarkably smooth and flowy.

      there are a couple spots with roots you can't entirely go around, but it's only 10 seconds of riding.

      the rest of it is super smooth and easy to pick a line around roots, almost every turn is banked in a little bit and it rides really nice.

      great spot to learn!
      Lauradog
      Relatively flat (albeit pretty narrow with tight turns) but great for kids.
      acdot42
      Nice trail. Nothing too crazy. But tight enough that if you pin the gas it makes it fun!

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      Nearby Trails

      North Loop (Jail Trail)

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Main Loop located?
      Main Loop is located in North Loop (Jail Trail), Saint Cloud, Minnesota, United States. It is part of the North Loop (Jail Trail) trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 45.54347, -94.13092.
      ▼ How hard is Main Loop?
      Main Loop is rated as Green difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The climb difficulty is rated Green.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Main Loop?
      Main Loop has 74 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 75 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 1,031 ft to 1,057 ft.
      ▼ Is Main Loop a point to point trail?
      Yes, Main Loop is a point to point trail. The direction is One Direction. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Main Loop?
      Main Loop is 2.0 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Main Loop?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Main Loop. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Main Loop?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Main Loop are:
      • July (46 activities)
      • September (36 activities)
      • August (30 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      ▼ How do I access Main Loop? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Main Loop are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Main Loop?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 37 minutes to ride Main Loop. The trail is 2.0 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Main Loop?
      Main Loop is a moderately popular trail. There have been 1,553 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 2,048 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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