Minnesota received much-deserved recognition Wednesday when the group American Trails honored it as "Best Trails State."

Without fanfare, the state, led over the years by the DNR and various trails advocacy groups, and supported by the Legislature, has built a web of trails statewide serving hikers, bike riders, horse lovers, snowmobilers and others.

I've long been a big fan of Minnesota's trail system, particularly its biking trails, as well as its multi-use trails on which biking is allowed.

Trails in and around the Twin Cities are great, the Gateway particularly, in my view. The trail connecting Red Wing with Cannon Falls (the Cannon Valley Trail) is exceptional as well, and there's great riding also out of Jay Cooke State Park along the Willard Munger, as well as north of Duluth along the North Shore.

Trails managed by the DNR include more than 600 miles of paved trails for biking, 1,000 miles of horseback trails, 1,300 miles of cross-country skiing trails, 1,000 miles of off-highway vehicle trails, 4,400 miles of water trails, 1,000 miles of snowmobile trails, and several thousand miles of hiking trails.

Trails managed through a grant-in-aid system by local units of government and local clubs include more than 21,000 miles of snowmobile trails, 700 miles of cross-country ski trails, and 1,300 miles of off-highway vehicle trails.

Minnesota's bike and other trails are the envy of many states.

Work is far from complete on the state's trails, as both the DNR and groups that push for more and better trails in the state agree.

Some trails are in need of maintenance and upgrades, and considerable work remains to complete an ATV friendly trail system that gives people who own these machines a place to ride, while also protecting the environment and the rights and interests of other trail users.

The rightful assignment of significant Legacy Amendment funds to this and other trails projects should help the state improve its statewide system even more.