Otter Tail County's Heart of the Lakes Trail Wins 2025 MCEA Award

Otter Tail County was named the winner of the 2025 Minnesota County Engineers Association Special Project of the Year award for its work on the Heart of the Lakes Trail, a paved, fully separated corridor the county says connects Perham and Pelican Rapids through Maplewood State Park. The recognition spotlights new active-transportation infrastructure in a county known for its lake country scenery and recreational tourism.

County Commissioner Wayne Johnson framed the project as a community achievement: “Otter Tail County staff and our communities showed determination in completing this project. This trail connects our communities and gives families a safe place to be active outdoors. It is truly a gem in our county.” The county also posted on social media that it was “honored to receive the 2025 Minnesota County Engineers Association Special Project of the Year award for the Heart of the Lakes Trail.”

The trail is described by county officials as paved and fully separated from vehicle traffic, intended for biking, hiking, running, jogging, dog walking and skating, with snowmobiling allowed on select segments in winter months. Funding for construction came from state grant programs including the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) and the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC). Houston Engineering provided design, permitting, wetland work, construction inspection, railroad coordination and public engagement through the project.

Locally significant routing and amenities include passage near the McDonald Lakes chain, vistas along Maplewood Ridge, and sections that follow the Otter Tail Scenic Byway. TrailLink maps divide the corridor into five segments and list four by name and mileage: Pelican Rapids Segment (7.0 miles), Silent Lake Segment (8.1 miles), McDonald Lake Segment (5.8 miles) and Perham Segment (6.2 miles). TrailLink notes four of five segments were open at the time of its listing and identifies benches and wildlife areas such as the Grunewald Waterfowl Production Area along the route. The Parks & Trails Council described the trail as restoring a missing link between communities and Maplewood State Park and noted most segments were already open while a 3.8-mile park segment remained partially open and was expected to be completed later that season.

Some published sources differ on total mileage. Otter Tail County’s announcement describes the project as a 30-mile trail; regional listings have used 31 miles or, in one instance, a 13-mile figure that appears to reference a particular corridor. For readers and cyclists seeking exact distances and current segment openings, contact Otter Tail County Parks & Trails or the county highway office for the latest measurements and access status. County government offices are at 500 W Fir Ave, Fergus Falls, and the main line is 218-998-8000.

The MCEA award cements the trail’s role as infrastructure not just for recreation but for community connection and safe, nonmotorized travel between Perham, Pelican Rapids and Maplewood State Park. For residents, the next steps are practical: confirm which segments are open for your chosen activity, plan routes around seasonal snowmobile allowances, and use county contacts for maps, parking and any construction updates.