* The Glacial Lakes State Trail is located on a former Burlington Northern Railroad grade, and is generally level and wheelchair accessible. The trail is paved with asphalt for 12 miles between Willmar, Spicer, and New London. This segment has a parallel grass tread way for horseback riding. From New London to Hawick is a 6 mile long trail surfaced with crushed granite for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

The remaining 22 miles, between Hawick and just past Richmond, is undeveloped and has the original railroad stones as a surface. Some railroad bridges have been removed.

The gently rolling topography of Central Minnesota was created by glaciers retreating 10,000 years ago. The trail cuts across the border between Minnesota's western tall grass prairie and eastern deciduous forest. Though much of the area has been cultivated, remnants of virgin prairie, wetlands, and scattered woodlots can still be found along the railroad right-of-way. Whitetail deer, numerous small mammals, birds, reptiles and butterflies can be seen along the trail.

The many lakes make this area a popular tourist destination. The towns along the trail provide access points, rest stops and other services to trail users.

Primary summer use of the developed trail includes, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding and in-line skating. Within Kandiyohi County, the trail is groomed for winter snowmobile use, however studded tracks are prohibited on the asphalt surface. No snowmobile use is allowed on the future trail in Stearns County at this time. The Glacial Lakes State Trail connects to Sibley State Park via 3 miles of paved shoulder along County Road 148. The trail also connects with many miles of groomed snowmobile trails in the Kandiyohi County Grant-in-Aid trail system.