Thief River Falls: River Routes, Cycling Trails and Winter Activities

Active days in Thief River Falls

Thief River Falls offers a range of recreational activities, from river routes and cycling trails to winter activities. If you’re looking for a hotel in Thief River Falls, this mix can help you decide what to focus on during your trip: Would you like to explore a longer route by the water, discover a wooded trail system, or plan for ice skating and snowmobile trails? The options offer different ways to shape your plans.

River Walk and wooded trails

The River Walk is seven miles long and follows the Red Lake River and Thief River through scenic landscapes. It passes through nine parks and three wooded trails. Fifteen interpretive panels show what the views along the rivers looked like many years ago, adding a historical perspective on the river landscape. Its length is a concrete reference point when deciding how to fit the River Walk into your stay.

Greenwood Trails Recreation Area offers something different: this 48-acre wooded trail system is located along the Red Lake River and Greenwood Street. Cross-country ski trails are regularly groomed there. So, in addition to the river route, there is a winter trail option in a wooded setting.

Northland Trails are located next to Northland Community & Technical College in Thief River Falls. Together with River Walk and Greenwood Trails, they are three named trail options with different points of interest: the river route at River Walk, the wooded setting at Greenwood Trails Recreation Area, and the location next to the college at Northland Trails.

Cycling and winter activities

Thief River Falls has paved multi-use trails, unpaved trails and shared-use bike lanes for cycling. The different types of routes can be taken into account when planning cycling days.

More than 500 miles of groomed snowmobile trails are accessible from Thief River Falls, and five snowmobile trails lead out of the city. This presents two different planning scales: the River Walk as a single, seven-mile route and the snowmobile network with its wider reach.

Ralph Engelstad Arena offers public recreational ice skating. Together with the regularly groomed cross-country ski trails, these are two different winter activities: ice skating at the arena and cross-country skiing at Greenwood Trails Recreation Area.

Water and birdwatching

Fishing on the Red Lake River is possible while wearing waders, from an inner tube, from a canoe or from the shore. Access to the river includes two boat launches within the city limits. Kayaking is also one of the outdoor activities in Thief River Falls. Fishing, boat launches and kayaking offer different ways to enjoy days on the water.

Thief River Falls is also located along the Pine to Prairie Birding Trail, Minnesota’s first birding trail, which connects with Manitoba to form an international birding trail. Birdwatching adds a distinct nature-focused activity to the range of trail and water activities.

Walking tour and event date

The free, 60-minute guided “Footsteps Through History” walking tour passes through various areas of downtown Thief River Falls. Its set duration makes it easy to fit in as a single activity.

The Fourth of July Boat Parade takes place annually in Thief River Falls. The date listed for 2027 is July 1. Check the event date before your trip if the parade is part of your plans.

Discover more destinations: St Hilaire

For the broader travel overview: Pennington County.