Photo by Karen Reisner
More than 50 people turned out on May 3, 2024, on a beautiful spring afternoon for the groundbreaking ceremony. Construction on the Harmony-Preston Valley Trail extension to the Iowa state line will begin next week. It will include a half mile spur to Niagara Cave. The Stateline Trail will be ADA compliant.
The Harmony-Preston Valley Trail (completed in 1998) is about 18 miles long and connects both communities to the Root River State Trail which meanders for 42 miles alongside the Root River from Fountain to Houston. The new Stateline Trail will be a 10-foot wide paved trail which will run for approximately six miles from just south of Harmony city limits to the Iowa state line. Minnowa Construction will be building the trail which is expected to be completed in 2025.
For 35 years the Harmony Trail Commission volunteers have continued to set their sights on extending Minnesota’s state trail network. Vicky Tribon has been pivotal starting the process and keeping it going through the years. The efforts of the volunteers along with state legislators and the Harmony City Council contributed to making the trail extension a reality.
Tribon, with the help of attorney Greg Schieber, worked with landowners who were willing to cooperate to plan a route for the trail. The generosity/cooperation of landowners is essential for the construction of a new trail.
EDA Director Chris Giesen explained the Stateline Trail will connect eventually with a trail that goes to Cresco and Decorah when Iowa finishes its connection to the Stateline Trail. The trail will be built in two phases. The first phase will start near CR 30 to Harmony and include a spur to Niagara Cave, a popular tourist attraction in Fillmore County. Giesen said extending the trail should be a plus for Harmony’s economy by providing one more element to add to local tourism.
Giesen thanked the volunteers for their many hours of work and the cooperation of landowners along the trail route. He offered a special thanks to Vicky Tribon; it could not have happened without her efforts.
The trail is expected to cost between $5 and $6 million. Funding includes $5.5 million from the state, $235,000 from Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, and $15,000 from the Harmony Area Community Foundation.
Jay Jermier, Minnowa Construction of Harmony, noted the construction of the trail will all be done using local businesses including Bruening Rock Products and Skyline Materials. G-Cubed is doing the survey work.
Future trail plans could connect through Chatfield to state trails in Rochester to the north and east to La Crosse, Wis. The Harmony Trail Commission will put its efforts next on an extension east to Canton.
Anne Kapler McCallum says
Awesome! Man–how I wish I was still a teenager living in Cresco instead of a 77-year-old living in Georgia!!
Connie Schmitt Newgard says
I’m almost a 67 year old Howard County native walking, exploring and hiking these trails every year for the last 5 years. You don’t know what you are missing! Leafy shade with trout streams and bridges besides the beautiful limestone bluffs. Come on up!