Preston Minnesota is located along the Root River in scenic Historic Bluff Country! Also known as “Minnesota’s Trout Capital”
Preston is a family-fun destination offering visitors a variety of entertaining, educational, and recreational activities to choose from. We are home to the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery and we are the future home of a Minnesota State Veterans Home. We pride ourselves in being a Veteran Friendly Community. Visit us for a day, weekend or better yet, make Preston your home!
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Preston is known as the “Minnesota’s Trout Capital”, and yes the trout fishing is great here! Preston has much to offer when you visit! The two state bike trails come together in Preston. You can bike to Fountain, Harmony, Lanesboro, Whalan, Peterson, and beyond, visit Forestville State Park and Mystery Cave, take an Amish Tour, check out our historic campus at the Trailhead, take a historic walk through our downtown, bring the family swimming in the warmer months, tube/kayak/canoe down the mighty Root River and MORE! Preston kicks off the annual trout opener with Trout Days in May and every July is the Fillmore County Fair. Visit us in the Fall for some of the best colors around PLUS we have two apple orchards! The fun is endless no matter what season you visit.
Attractions
Preston is central to many local attractions! We are a beautiful river town with the Root River flowing through it, we are home to the National Trout Center and we are the county seat for Fillmore County. Take a walking tour through town and see many of our historical buildings and visit our local shops. We are also home to the Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park where you can enjoy camping, hiking, horseback riding, and so much more. In 2016, the 2nd Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery opened dedicated to honoring those who have served our country. We are also currently in the progress of getting a State Veteran Home. We have made it our mission to become a Veteran Friendly destination for our nation’s heroes.
Nearby, Lanesboro is home to the Commonweal Theatre and St. Mane Theatre. Visit Niagara Cave in Harmony. There are a variety of places that offer Amish Tours or you can drive the countryside and visit many of their farms where you can buy Amish furniture, baskets and goods.
The options really are endless. Make it a long weekend or travel along the Root River Trail Towns and make your trip an entire week! There truly is something for everyone.
Trails and Recreation
There is plenty to do in the Preston area for the entire family. There are many outdoor activities including the two state trails where you can bike, walk, skate and ski, hiking and fossil hunting at Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park, golfing, hunting and fishing opportunities, snowmobile, geocaching, tennis, swimming, ice skating and city parks. Also enjoy some family activities such as bowling, plays and movies.
Fishing & Wildlife
The Root River offers trout fishing, as seen on Northland Adventures and ESPN-TV, Browns, Brookies & rainbows. It’s also one of the top 10 trout waters in the Midwest by “Outdoor Life Magazine.” Preston has some of the finest trout streams in the state. Three fishing platforms provide access to trout fishing in Camp Creek just outside of Preston. Brown Trout are the best suited to the southeast streams. Also, some small southeast tributaries support Wild Brook Trout, while other streams are stocked with Brookies. There are many species of fish inhabiting the river including: Brown, Rainbow and Brook Trout, Small Mouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rock Bass, Sunfish, Crappies and Rough Fish.
The Root River supports over 40 species of birds. It is quite common to see Blue Herons, Egrets and Wood Ducks moving about the river’s edge. Raptors in the area include Red-tailed Hawks, Osprey, Turkey Vultures and Bald Eagles.
Hunters love the wooded hilly area as the wooded shores and farm land harbor other animals such as White Tail Deer, Wild Turkey, Pheasants, Partridge, Grouse, Gray Fox, Red Fox, Coyotes, Raccoon’s Woodchucks, Squirrels, Weasels, Badgers and rabbits.
Root River
The Root River runs right through Preston and offers many activities in and around the river. Bring or rent a canoe or tube and float the river to the edge of town at Hwy 52, to The Old Barn Resort and even Lanesboro. Fish, swim and play in the river, or enjoy a walk or bike ride on the Root River Trail that goes along the river.
Preston Bike Share
With funding from the Fillmore County Statement Health Improvement Program, the Root River Trail Towns organization has partnered with several cities to create a Bike Share program. Participating communities include Harmony, Preston, Fountain, Peterson and Rushford. Each community was granted five to seven adult bicycles, helmets, locks and a bicycle rack; however, each community has a slightly different means of lending out the bicycles and helmets.
Gabby Kinneberg, Preston Root River Trail Towns Representative, and Fillmore County Public Health Educator, Brenda Pohlman, are coordinating the effort in Preston. The Bike Share of Preston will operate out of City Hall—during the hours of operations of the city office (8am-4:30pm) during warm-weather months, typically April through October. Bicycles will be issued to people over the age of 18 with a state-issued driver’s license or identification card and upon completing the required lending documents. Participants may use the bikes free of charge and they can bring their own helmet or if they do not have one, one will be lent to them with their bike.
The intent of the Bike Share program is to offer residents and visitors the opportunity to use a bicycle, free of charge, to explore our cities and the Root River Trail. The roll-out of the program in Preston was held on July 31st at the “Pitch the Commissioner” event at the Preston Pool/Shelter. The Minnesota Health Commissioner was there to take ideas on how to make Fillmore County a healthier place to live. There was a short program and ribbon cutting for the launch of the Bike Share Program of Preston as well.
The Root River Trail Towns is a non-profit organization that promotes the towns and their businesses along the Root River Trail. The group’s representatives from Houston, Rushford, Rushford Village, Peterson, Whalan, Lanesboro, Fountain, Preston and Harmony work together to showcase our area as a regional destination for travelers.
Shop
Preston offers a variety of shopping choices that range from grocery and general store shops to unique furniture/gift shops! Plus in the warmer months you may be able to catch a pop-up market in the courthouse square!
Dine
There are a variety of dining choices in and around Preston. Whether you want a quick lunch to take on the trail, a juicy burger and fries, pizza, or a delicious steak, we have it all. You can even find “Pizza on the Farm” on the weekends or tasty fried chicken for lunch! The options are endless!
Stay
Preston lodging choices are as unique and various as the reasons why people visit the Preston area. One of them is sure to meet your accommodation needs. While here enjoy several recreational, cultural, and educational activities. A stay in Preston means you are minutes away from paved bike trails, trout fishing streams, state park activities, Amish tours, Caving tours, and much more.
Hotels and Lodging
Stay in a cozy cabin, a lodge near the trail, or an Historic B&B. Preston offers a wide range of lodging suitable for every need. Contact the following listings or for more information contact the Preston Visitors Center directly.
Camping
Get into the great outdoors. Camp under the stars, sit by a blazing campfire and enjoy all the natural world has to offer you. Choose from rustic tent only camping to fully equipped sites with water, electric and sewer hookups.
