The easiest way for you to find and use our local parks and trails
Find a Trail or Park
We make it easy for you to find parks and trails in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul metro area for all your nature-based activities:
Hiking and running trails ~ bike trails ~ waterways to kayak, canoe and paddle board ~ campgrounds ~ cross country ski and snowshoe trails
Simply click on your preferred activity in the navigation menu and find your county in the drop-down menu to get started.
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Read Our Latest Blog Posts
New Winter Gear: How Do These Perform?
Lots of us walk and hike outside all year, so we love good cold-weather gear that keeps us warm through our long Minnesota winters! Snow, wind and cold temperatures are all part of the weather here, so we need gear that can deal with them all. Gear that keeps us…
Paddle North: SUPs, Kayaks and More
Paddle North is a Twin Cities-based company that makes solid and inflatable paddle boards, kayaks, utility docks and more. “We sell water products to Minnesotans,” said co-founder Peter Mogck during an interview I had with him and Digital Marketing Manager Brennan Mogck (yes, they’re related—cousins). “It’s not really a hard…
2023 Holiday Gift Guide for Outdoor Lovers
These Minneapolis/Saint Paul (and vicinity) independent outdoor businesses have something for every outdoor lover on your gift list! While we appreciate all the Twin Cities’ outdoor businesses that support human-powered recreation, we love to feature those that are locally owned and operated. Some of these are well-established, some are newer….
Hiking at Lake McCarrons County Park
Roseville/Ramsey County • No fee This short but beautiful loop trail in Lake McCarrons County Park proves you don’t have to go far to feel immersed in Minnesota’s beautiful natural resources! A Hidden Treasure Minnesota has so many little lakes and parks scattered through neighborhoods. There are hidden treasures when…
Hiking Big Rivers Regional Trail
Mendota Heights/Dakota County Big Rivers Regional Trail is a very scenic paved multi-use trail that follows the east/south shoreline of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers. The trail is part of the Dakota County Parks system. It’s popular with hikers, runners and bikers, and you might see roller skiers, inline skaters…
Hike Tony Schmidt Regional Park
Arden Hills/Ramsey County • No vehicle permit needed While you won’t find lots of miles in Tony Schmidt Regional Park, the trails there offer a lovely hour’s worth of hiking. Almost all of it is wooded or along wetlands. This park is more well-known for its access to Lake Johanna…
7 Super Local Trails along the St Croix River
The St. Croix River is one of eastern Minnesota’s most beautiful natural features. And the river valley has many beautiful hiking and biking trails. This 169-mile river forms part of the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. The confluence is where Hastings, Minnesota…