Minneapolis Micro Trail

Whether you're a Minneapolis resident looking for new views or a tourist eager to find the city's spirit, this trail beckons with the promise of discovery and fun. It's the perfect way to get small, captivating doses of the city's soul.

Minneapolis Micro Trail

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With the Minneapolis Micro Trail, you can start a trip through Minneapolis and see its secret gems and beautiful scenery. You can see a lot of different parts of this city’s culture, history, and natural beauty as you walk along this one-of-a-kind path. From well-known sites to hidden places, the Minneapolis micro trail is a fun adventure that shows off the charm. Whether you’re a Minneapolis resident looking for new views or a tourist eager to find the city’s spirit, this trail beckons with the promise of discovery and fun. It’s the perfect way to get small, captivating doses of the city’s soul.

Minneapolis Micro Trail

Quaking Bog

Visit the beautiful Quaking Bog, which is the last tamarack bog in Minneapolis and has a unique wetland on top of a large peat layer. This short loop lets you take a walk through an interesting landscape. Cross the bog and enjoy the unique feel of the ground, which makes it one of the best places to walk near Minneapolis. Enjoy peace in this out-of-the-way place where the sounds of nature and a wide range of animals, plants, and fungi can be heard. This Minneapolis micro trail is mostly well-kept, but there may be parts that need better signs to make them easier to find. Bring shoes that won’t get wet, because the bog naturally has some wet spots. You can get to Quaking Bog from Theodore Wirth Parkway, where you can also pay to park. It’s a great place to relax, and it’s easy to connect to other walks in the Minneapolis area for those who want to see more.

Hidden Falls Regional Park

Hidden Falls Regional Park has 6.7 miles of paved, shaded trails that run along the Mississippi River. It’s a great place for families to go hiking near Minneapolis. The park has bathrooms, a boat launch, benches, fire pits, barbecues, and other amenities that can turn your stay into an adventure-filled day. After your walk, take it easy with a lunch at one of the covered picnic tables in a beautiful area.

 

You can ride your bike or go swimming for extra fun. The park allows dogs on leashes so the whole family can enjoy themselves. In the summer, they offer a free public exercise program that is open to people of all hobbies. This makes it one of the best places near Minneapolis to go hiking.

Minneapolis Micro Trail

Pay attention to the Minneapolis Micro Trail—it’s one of the most unique walks near Minneapolis and something you should definitely do! This path, which is only 0.02 miles long, is a hidden gem that draws people who want to quickly get away to nature during lunch breaks or before or after work. Located in a lovely pollinator garden, the Minneapolis Micro Trail is often called cute and quirky, making for a fun experience. Wildflowers along the trail are beautiful and attract many insects, such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. This small but beautiful spot is at 3204 E 25th Street. It is privately owned and can only be reached during the day. The owners are very proud of how well they take care of this little haven, which is a breath of fresh air for people who want a short but lovely nature getaway.

Lake Independence Regional Trail

In the Minneapolis area, the Lake Independence Regional Trail is the best place to go hiking for a long time. This road goes for 15.9 miles and connects to the Crow-Hassan Park Reserve, the Baker Park Reserve, and the Luce Line State road. This makes it easy to go on longer adventures. You can choose the amount of difficulty of your hike based on whether you want to walk on paved or unpaved paths. Bicyclists and inline skaters can use the paved parts, and horses can use the unpaved paths, so everyone can have a variety of outdoor activities. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Lake Independence Regional Trail in the woods with your leashed dog. This trail is perfect for people looking for a longer and more varied hike trip near Minneapolis.

Mississippi Walking Trail

The Mississippi Walking Trail is a great choice for hikers of all skill levels in the Minneapolis area because it has a variety of landscapes and beautiful views. You can hike this trail in a number of different ways, as it has paved walking tracks, dirt trails, and gravel routes. Bridges and stairs make the trail more interesting and challenging by adding new features. Get away from the crowds and enjoy this quiet walk that runs along the beautiful Mississippi River. There are playground equipment, picnic tables, and charcoal grills for your use. This is a great place to spend a relaxing day outside. Visitors can use the port-a-potties for their comfort. The Mississippi Walking Trail is easy to get to from the Great River Road. There is a large, paid parking lot nearby that makes the trail even better, and you can enjoy the natural beauty along the river.

Brownie Lake Park

Enjoy the many beautiful aspects of Brownie Lake Park, which is not only a great place to go camping but also a hub for many other activities close to Minneapolis. Take a beautiful one-mile walk around Brownie Lake or check out the trails that lead to Theodore Wirth, Greenway, and Cedar Lake, which offer a range of scenery and connections. There are both developed and undeveloped parts in the park, and they are all well taken care of so that hiking is a pleasure. Brownie Lake Park has a peaceful atmosphere even though it is close to downtown. It has been called a “hidden treasure” and a “urban oasis.” People who visit like how surprisingly remote it feels, which makes it a great place for nature lovers to get away. Dogs on leashes are allowed, which makes this versatile and popular Minneapolis spot even more appealing.

Fort Snelling State Park

Explore the natural beauty of Fort Snelling State Park, a haven for wildlife lovers looking for interesting hikes close to Minneapolis. The park has 18 miles of different trails of different lengths to suit everyone’s tastes. The tracks are mostly made of hard-packed gravel and are easy to moderate in difficulty. There are one-, two-, and three-mile loops around Pike Island on the hour-long walk around Snelling Lake. If you want to keep exploring, take the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway or the Big Rivers Regional Trail. Enjoy wide views of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers while keeping an eye out for bald eagles and other animals. During the summer, you can enjoy mountain riding on trails in Dakota County that you can rent. You can fish without a license on Snelling Lake and use free gear. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing can be done on paths that are changed by winter. This means that people can enjoy nature all year long.

Old Cedar Avenue Bridge, Long Meadow Lake, and Bluff Trail

The Old Cedar Bridge, Long Meadow Lake, and Bluff Trail are all in the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and offer beautiful views of nature. This 7-mile hike through beautiful scenery is the right mix of hard and fun, and most people can finish it in less than two and a half hours. In this interesting place, you can walk through a variety of landscapes and see amazing plants and animals. When you go into the woods, keep in mind that the trail doesn’t have any signs and that some parts may get narrow, which makes them popular with runners. This trail is best explored from March to October, but it may close sometimes depending on the time of year. Even though it’s busy, there are times of the day when it’s not as busy. Bring your leashed dog with you to enjoy the beauty of Long Meadow Lake and the Bluff Trail. This Minnesota hike is a must for nature lovers.

Minnehaha Falls Lower Glen Trail

Take your hiking to a new level with the Minnehaha Falls Lower Glen Trail, which is close to Minneapolis and offers a satisfying challenge. Starting and finishing at Minnehaha Falls, this 2.1-mile loop has different levels of difficulty, especially on the tougher south side of the creek. The main way to get there is up a stairs in the glen; keep in mind that it’s closed for safety reasons in the winter. Walk on boardwalks that go over wet areas and on bridges that go over ponds and the creek. As you walk along the path, stop to look at the walls, ruins of Godfrey Mill, and a stone bridge. Appreciate local wildlife, and don’t miss the sandy beach and wading pool for a nice break. This trail is in Minnehaha Regional Park at 4801 South Minnehaha Drive. It looks like a fun and beautiful adventure for hikers near Minneapolis who want a bit more challenge.

Shadow Falls Park

Shadow Falls Park is one of the best places to walk in the Minneapolis area. It is close to St. Thomas University. This trail is right in the middle of the city and has a monument lookout, beautiful views of the Mississippi River, waterfalls, and scenic cliff overlooks where you can stop and take it all in. Some tourists say there are steep parts of the trail, and they recommend that hikers go when it’s not raining because the trail can get muddy and slippery. There are clear but not marked tracks through the park, and there are both paved and rough hiking trails for different tastes. Because bikes aren’t allowed in this park, it’s very quiet, so you can enjoy the natural beauty without any disturbances. Shadow Falls Park at 30 North Mississippi River Boulevard in St. Paul is a secret gem that you should check out.

Winchell Trail

Winchell Trail is one of the best hikes near Minneapolis because it is easy to get to and has beautiful views. It has several access points, and many of them have parking for your comfort. This trail goes along the west side of the Mississippi River near Minnehaha Falls, connecting Franklin Avenue to East 4th Street. It’s a beautiful walk with interesting views. The area has a lot of different animals and beaches that are great for bird lovers and naturalists. You can find some partially paved parts on the Winchell Trail, but there are also rocky and steep sections that make the moderately difficult 5-mile round trip more fun. Even though the path isn’t too crowded, the narrow parts may bring you closer to other hikers, giving you a sense of adventure that you can share. Dogs on leashes are allowed on this trail, which is only for walking. It’s a great place to start a hiking adventure that’s also easy to get to.

West River Parkway Trail

The West River Parkway Minneapolis micro trail is a great place to go on a trip in the fall because it is both beautiful and interesting. This path is the perfect way to enjoy both views of the city and nature. You can find this path in Minnehaha Regional Falls. It goes from Plymouth Avenue North (across from Boom Island) to Ford Parkway and leads to some of the most beautiful places in the area. Beautiful views of cities await you as you walk along the trail. You can see the University of Minnesota, the Dinkytown Greenway, the Midtown Greenway, and the famous skyline of downtown Minneapolis. The trailheads for the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail, James I. Rice Park, and Godfrey Park are great for people who love being outside. Everyone will enjoy the event more this way.

Cedar Lake Trail

At the Cedar Lake Trail, a paved road that starts in the heart of Minneapolis and extends all the way to Saint Louis Park, you can take pleasure in the breathtaking scenery the trail offers. People with strollers, cyclists, and people walking their dogs can all enjoy a pleasant ride on this well-marked path. For five hours in the morning to ten at night, the path is open to everyone. It follows the old tracks of the Great Northern, Minneapolis, and St. Louis trains. There are an extra 4.2 miles on the path that lead to Hopkins, Minnesota. From there, walkers can easily connect to the North Cedar Lake Regional path for a longer trip. When the leaves change colors in the fall, this trail becomes a tempting way for people from nearby towns to take a beautiful hike to downtown Minneapolis.

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9 Mile Creek Cir

It is a beautiful hiking trail that goes around a four-mile loop along the Mississippi River until it meets Nine Mile Creek. As you travel along this road, you’ll be able to enjoy its luring beauty. The path is even more interesting because it has several bridges that make crossing rivers easier. These bridges connect the outdoors and the city. There is a part of the trail that goes to a beautiful cliff that is especially stunning in the fall. A lot of walkers like this part of the trail. While you are climbing, you will notice that you are going through a beautiful oak forest. On some parts of this beautiful Minneapolis micro trail, only walkers are allowed. However, you should be ready for big changes in elevation, which make the experience more exciting.

Bde Maka Ska

Check out the beautiful scenery on the Bde Maka Ska trail loop, which used to be called Lake Calhoun. This loop of trails is a popular place for walkers, bikers, and runners to go in the fall. This paved and mostly flat road makes it easy to walk around the lake, which makes it a great place to enjoy the fall colors. This spot is great because it has three beautiful beaches in a row. If you want to see the beautiful fall colors mirrored in the water, this is the place to go.

 

Some excellent amenities are available in this region, such as a boat dock, a fishing pier, a volleyball court, a softball and soccer field, water fountains, restrooms, and a parking lot that needs payment. This trail, which is easily located next to the chain of lakes, lets you enjoy the changing seasons and look around at the beautiful scenery around Bde Maka Ska.

Conclusion

Minneapolis is a great place for nature lovers because it has many hiking tracks that suit different tastes. The trails in the city show off the beauty of marshes, rivers, lakes, and urban oasis. They go from the peaceful Quaking Bog to the family-friendly Hidden Falls Regional Park. The Minneapolis Micro Trail is a small escape, and the Minnehaha Falls Lower Glen Trail is a challenging hike. Each offers a different mix of nature wonders. Large scenery can be found in Fort Snelling State Park and Brownie Lake Park. Beautiful views can be found at Shadow Falls Park and Winchell Trail. The hiking trails in Minneapolis are colorful ways to see the city’s natural beauty.

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