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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The Surprising Health Benefits of Thankfulness
A habit of thankfulness—not just at Thanksgiving but throughout the year—gives us wonderful health benefits. Some of them may surprise you! Thankfulness is very closely related to gratitude. In fact, for our purposes here, I’ll consider them two sides of the same coin, and interchange them freely. When we develop…
Fresh Air FLØRT: A Fun Way to Find New Friends Outdoors
Fresh Air FLØRT is a new woman-owned local business based in Minneapolis that seeks to help outdoorsy folks find friendship in the parks and on the trails. I sat down with founder, Andrea Bungum, and one of two business partners, Jenna Fletcher, at a local coffee shop recently to hear…
Holiday Gift Guide 2022
These Twin Cities local independent outdoor companies have products and services for all the outdoor lovers on your gift list. Our main mission at Twin Cities outdoors is to get more people outside more often, especially in our local parks and campgrounds, and on our local trails and waterways. Our…
Favorite Local Fall Color Trails
When asked what their favorite fall color trail is in the Twin Cities metro, several readers put in their vote, along with some photos. Minnesota is so beautiful in autumn. You can go almost anywhere in the state in mid-late September through mid-late October to find it—including right here in…
Hiking Sunfish Lake Park, Lake Elmo
Lake Elmo, Washington County • No vehicle permit needed Sunfish Lake Park is a hidden gem for those seeking a tranquil and natural hiking experience. It’s an oasis nestled in the woods, about 4 miles from downtown Lake Elmo. A recharge of the mind and soul was just what I…
Minnesota DNR’s Fall Color Finder
Want to know where the fall colors are peaking around the Twin Cities and even statewide? The best online resource we know of to keep tabs on the fall colors in our state is the Minnesota DNR’s Fall Color Finder. No matter which part of Minnesota you’re in, this should…
Hiking in Banning State Park
Sandstone/Pine County • State park daily or annual pass needed Banning State Park is just under 100 miles from either downtown Minneapolis or downtown Saint Paul. This 6,200-acre park is bisected by the beautiful Kettle River and hosts 17 miles of forested hiking trails. In both my day trips to…
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