Minnesota River Valley Historic Military Road

This historic military road traces the original 1850s supply route through the Minnesota River Valley, connecting New Ulm to Fort Ridgely State Park through rolling prairie and hardwood draws. The route follows sections of the original wagon road that supplied frontier military posts, crossing multiple creek bottoms and climbing through oak savanna to panoramic bluff-top views. Key waypoints include the Cottonwood River crossing and the steep climb up Ridgely Ridge where the original road grade is still visible in the grass.

Mostly gravel and dirt two-track suitable for stock high-clearance vehicles, though spring conditions can create muddy approaches to creek crossings. A few steep grades require momentum and good tires. Best driven April through October when roads are maintained. The route connects to established campgrounds at Fort Ridgely, plus several primitive sites along the river bottoms. You’ll get a genuine taste of frontier Minnesota history while enjoying some of the state’s best prairie and river valley scenery.