Check out our favorite local hikes right in the Twin Cities!
In the last year, we've learned that you don't have to drive that far to go on a great hike in Minnesota & not every hike has to be "North Shore cool". We also think you should be rewarded for going on a hike, so we've listed nearby breweries to grab a pint at, because you've earned it!
1) Stone Arch Bridge to Boom Island Loop:
I'm not sure if there is an actual name for this trail, the only thing I can find is the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail, which is similar, but not quite the full trail we like to hike (see below for Map.) What makes our hike different than the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail is, instead of crossing over the Mississippi River at the Hennepin Avenue Bridge, we walk further North on West River Parkway and crossover at the Plymouth/8th Ave Bridge that brings you to Boom Island Park. From here, you just need to follow the path along the river which takes you to Nicollet Island and back to St. Anthony Main. In total you will cross 5 bridges. The Heritage Trail is just under 2 miles, our trail is estimated at 3.5 miles.
Why we love it here? It's in the heart of Minneapolis with a beautiful view of the skyline. It passes some of our favorite spots in Minneapolis, including the Historic Mill District, Stone Arch Bridge & the charming St. Anthony Main. It doesn't feel like you're in the middle of a bustling city! There are so many things to do in the area that you could spend a whole day hopping around.
Brewery Stop: If you wanted to break up the hike, make a stop at Pryes Brewing Co. See the top, left corner of the map for location. It's honestly just a few steps off the trail!
If you're looking for a pint after your hike is complete, there are a TON of Northeast Breweries to choose from like Bauhaus Brewlabs, Headflyer and Indeed.
2) Minnehaha Regional Park:
Minnehaha Falls is no secret, however I find that most people just stop at the Falls, but we'd recommend taking a hike as well. Here are a few options:
Hike to the Mississippi River via the Minnehaha Creek Trail. This is an easy & very enjoyable 1.8 mile walk from the pool of the Falls alongside the Minnehaha Creek. Look out for the huge carved out side of cliff wall once you reach the River.
Hike to Fort Snelling State Park via the Minnehaha Trail by the Dog Park. We usually bike this 3.6 mile path & ride around Picnic Island, but it can definitely be done on foot too!
Hike to Lake Hiawatha or Lake Nokomis by following the Minnehaha Creek West about 2 miles.
Why we love it here? We live in the area & you can find us here a lot. We especially love riding our bikes over with a cooler & blanket for Music in the Park.
Brewery Stop: Not a brewery, but one of my favorite seasonal spots - Seasalt Eatery, which is right inside Minnehaha Falls Regional Park. They serve seafood bites from April to October & have a great beer & wine selection. They often have live music outside, but our favorite is going for Music in the Park.
Venn Brewing is right across Hiawatha while Arbeiter Brewing is a little further down Minnehaha Avenue, both have awesome beer!
3) Winchell Trail:
Just down the street from Minnehaha Regional Park is the Winchell Trail off West River Parkway. This is probably our favorite Fall hike in the city because the leaves seem to engulf you, but beautiful all year-round! Be sure to take the Winchell Trail & not the bike trail along the road.
Why we love it here? Aside from it being our favorite fall hike, the trail is 5.4 miles long, but you can make it what you want it since it's out & back.
Brewery Stop: See #2 recommendations.
4) Fort Snelling State Park:
Fort Snelling State Park sits at the confluence of the Mississippi & Minnesota Rivers. It borders Minneapolis, St. Paul & Mendota Heights. We typically ride our bikes here, but it's a great spot for hiking & home to the quietest beach in the cities, Snelling Lake Beach. Since we always visit on 2 wheels, we have never ventured around Pike Island, which doesn't allow bikes.
Why we love it here? Every time we visit, it always surprises us how quiet it is. We've even seen an owl in the trees! Since it's a State Park, if you drive, you will need to pay the entrance fee if you don't have a State Park sticker.
Brewery Stop: See #2 recommendations or another great spot is Wild Minds Artisan Ales, who also now serves coffee, known as Wild Grind!
5) Chain of Lakes:
The Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, from North to South are, Lake of the Isles, Bde Maka Ska and Lake Harriet. The loop around all 3 lakes is about 10 miles, which is quite the distance! For a shorter distance, just choose 1 of the 3 lakes to walk around.
Lake of the Isles is the smallest of the three lakes, it's about 2.5 miles around, surrounded by beautiful multi-million dollar homes.
Bde Maka Ska is the largest lake, just over 3 miles around. You will find a ton of happenings on and around this lake from all kinds of outdoor & water activities, three beaches & much more.
Lake Harriet is 2.8 miles around & my favorite of the three. It's home to the Lyndale Park Rose Garden, my favorite time to visit is when the Lilacs, Tulips & Peonies are in bloom. Lake Harriet is also home to the Bandshell where they host Music & Movies in the Park as well as Bread & Pickle a quick bite eatery right on the lake.
Why we love it here? Can you think of any other major city that has as many lakes as we do in Minnesota? Minnesota lake life is real, even if you are just admiring it from the trails.
Brewery Stop: LynLake Brewery is located inside an old theatre & one of the only breweries with rooftop seating! EastLake Brewing is inside Midtown Global Market, perfect for those days you and your partner are craving something different. Insider tip, there's a new brewery opening called Wooden Ship Brewing Co, West of the Lakes. Can you tell we love our Lakes in MN?
6) Theodore Wirth Regional Park:
Theo Wirth is the largest park in the Minneapolis Park system, at 759 acres, it's almost as big as Central Park in NYC (843 acres)! Not only is Theo Wirth home to miles of hiking trails, there is something for everyone, including Golf Courses, Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Biking trails, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden & more. Since this park is so extensive, we don't have a favorite trail yet, but we sure have gotten lost on these paths!
Why we love it here? Theo Wirth is home to The Loppet Foundation, who's mission is to "...create a shared passion for year-round outdoor adventure in the Minneapolis area, focusing on underserved youth and families." You can become a member or donate to contribute to this great cause.
Brewery Stop: Not a brewery, but inside Theo Wirth Park is Mill Valley Market, they have a rotating tap list, mimosas, coffee & food! Definitely a place worth checking out. Breweries in close proximity are Utepils Brewing & La Doña Cervecería.
7) Lake Nokomis:
If you've been following us for a while, you know how much we love Lake Nokomis. We live blocks away so you can find us here on most weeks either walking the trails, watching the sunset or paddle boarding on the lake. It's about 3 miles around Lake Nokomis the long way or 2.5 miles if you don't cross Cedar Ave. Lake Hiawatha is just across Minnehaha Ave if you're looking for a longer trek.
Why we love it here? For us, it feels like home, but I truly believe it's the best lake in Minneapolis, It's quieter than some of the other lakes, but that's how we like it :)
Brewery Stop: Not a brewery, but located at Lake Nokomis's beach is Sandcastle, a counter service cafe for quick bites & local brews! Venn Brewing, as mentioned previously, is also a quick stop away.
8) MN Valley Wildlife Refuge:
The MN Valley Wildlife Refuge is our new favorite place to explore! Located just South of Minneapolis, at the confluence of Hwy-77 & the Minnesota River. We park at the "Old Cedar Avenue Bridge Trailhead." We haven't gone on every trail in the area, but we love the:
Bass Pond & Old Cedar Bridge Trail - Walk towards the Hwy-77 Bridge as if you were going to cross it, but there's a path that goes under the bridge. It'll take you past a few different lakes and ponds full of ducks & Trumpeter Swans. We usually go into the wooded area as well, which makes it slightly longer than the trail's 2.5 miles.
The Wandering Trail - not an actual trail, but it's so easy to wander here as well. Our first time here we didn't have a plan so we just wandered across the Old Cedar Bridge up along the Hwy-77 Bridge over to technically Fort Snelling State Park, I think this is called the Kelly Trail. There's also a long bridge right off the parking lot along the Bluff Trail which is worth checking out for more wildlife sightings.
Old Cedar Avenue Bridge, Long Meadow Lake and Bluff Trail - We had planned to do this, but the trail was closed for maintenance, we'll have to venture back to check out this 7 mile trail soon!
Why we love it here? There's a lot of history in the Old Cedar Ave Bridge, it used to be the main road to cross the river, now it's open to hikers, bikers, photographers and lots of different wildlife. Why are there so many birds? The MN Valley Wildlife Refuge was created to protect the habitat of migratory birds and other species and to provide environmental education to citizens in the area.
Brewery Stop: The closest brewery stop is Bald Man Brewing, just over the bridge. Just a little further is Bricksworth Beer Co, home to our favorite pizza - Aloha Friday & delicious beer! This is one of the newest breweries in MN & surely becoming one of our favorites.
9) Centennial Lakes:
Centennial Lakes isn't for those seeking a tranquil, nature experience since this is a paved walking path in the middle of Edina, but it's a great choice if you're looking to grab some coffee & do some shopping afterwards. It's definitely a pleasant hike when it's not busy & it's fully equipped with music around the entire 1.5 mile path.
Why we love it here? More than the walk, the other activities are what intrigue me a little more. They offer Ice Skating in the Winter & a Putting Golf Course (it's like real golf greens, but smaller & not mini golf either) during the Summer. Also, Pinstripes is next door if you're looking for a place for bowling.
Brewery Stop: Wooden Hill Brewing Co is Edina's only brewery that also serves food!
10) Elm Creek Park Preserve:
I list Elm Creek Park Preserve last because it's the furthest from the cities, but not because it's last on our list. Also we know very little about all the trails since we've only visited once, but it definitely won't be our last visit there. Elm Creek is part of the Three Rivers Parks system and is their largest Park at 4,900 acres big! It has every activity you can think of, including Archery, Biking, Camping, Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Disc Golf, Skiing, Snowboarding, Sledding, Dog Sledding, Mountain Biking, Hiking, Swimming...should I keep going on? There are over 50 miles of hiking trails, more information can be found here.
Why we love it here? With endless activities & trails, how could you get bored?
Brewery Stop: Elm Creek Brewing is another MN new brewery! We haven't been to the taproom, but we've had their beer and we are so impressed, we can't wait to check out their place soon.
Hope you find this post useful when planning your next adventure!