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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Regan MOVES: Nutrition & Gentle Exercise for Overall Health
Regan MOVES is an online fitness and nutrition program designed for people with chronic conditions to increase their energy and decrease their pain. Even though this isn’t specifically an outdoor business, I wanted to share Regan MOVES with you for this very important reason: Some people who want to be…
Hike the Winchell Trail • Mississippi Gorge Regional Park
Minneapolis/Hennepin County The Winchell Trail in Mississippi Gorge Regional Park takes you through a mature hardwood forest on paved and dirt trails within a (high) stone’s throw of the Mississippi River. It’s easy to forget you’re in the middle of the City! Mississippi Gorge is 132 acres of woods on…
6 Key Ways Outdoor Recreation Boosts Mental Health
We talk about the health benefits of outdoor recreation all the time here on Twin Cities Outdoors. Clinical Counselor Karin Lyon helps us understand why our activities outside in nature are so beneficial—specifically for our mental health. While this will get a little clinical, stick with us. You’ll be fascinated…
Where are the Twin Cities’ Giant Trees?
Sure, our giant trees aren’t anything like those in California…but they’re giant to us! And it’s super cool to bike, hike, ski or paddle by them. Ever since I started taking pictures for Twin Cities Outdoors in our local parks, I’ve noticed and photographed the giant trees I see. If…
Bike Our Twin Cities’ Rail-Trails
“Rail-trails” are multi-use trails built on former railroad beds. Here in the Twin Cities, we have an entire network of rail-trails that are popular for biking, hiking and other activities. These now-unused railroad routes make ideal foundations for bike trails for a couple of reasons: They have a gentle grade…
Gear Review: Hybrid Beach SUP-Yak by TAHE
I’ve used my TAHE 10′-6″ Beach SUP-Yak for one season so far, and am happy with my purchase. This inflatable paddle board doubles as a kayak so you get a lot of bang for your buck. I tried paddle boarding (also known as stand-up paddle boarding or SUP) three years…
A Spring Hike in Silverwood Park
St. Anthony, Hennepin County • No fee Silverwood Park is a small but lovely park embedded in urban St. Anthony with attractions for hikers, bikers and paddlers. Hikers are welcome all year long. In this March of 2023 there was still plenty of snow on the ground (a high-volume year…