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.
Subscribe to “Outdoorsy Stuff” Newsletter
Read Our Latest Blog Posts
Lake Elmo Park Reserve: Nordic Ski Overview
We have many options to cross country ski in the Twin Cities, and one of my favorites is Lake Elmo Park Reserve. Cross country (or Nordic) skiing is a fantastic winter activity to enjoy, either as a fun outing or as an incredible workout. Whether you ski for fun or…
Best Hikes in the Twin Cities for a Great Workout
Here’s our pick of the top 10 hikes in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul metro area for a great workout. Whether you simply enjoy a challenge or you’re training for a race or hiking adventure, there are several great spots in the Twin Cities to choose from. What did we look for?…
Which Ski Pass do You Need Where?
The cross country ski pass you need to ski in the Twin Cities depends on the county where you want to ski, and sometimes the park itself. There have been some major changes in the ski pass area the past couple years. I imagine the various counties have made these…
Cross Country Ski at Battle Creek East
Have you been looking for a convenient cross country ski trail, that’s beautiful, peaceful and right in the middle of the city? I found such a trail. It’s an easy loop that includes a variety of scenery, is sheltered from the wind, and has just enough hills to be fun…
Recumbent Trikes offer a Unique and Easy Ride
When Twin Cities Outdoors readers Bonny and John Skovbroten reached out to me about their recumbent trike passion, I knew I was in for an education. I had heard of these trikes, but that was all. Bonny and John generously spent some time with me on a video call, then…
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…