There are so many miles of trails in Minnesota, it’s not possible to explore them all – at least not in one summer. But if you have to pick and choose, why not try a trail that comes with an added bonus? In southern Minnesota, the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail between Mankato and Faribault brings hikers and bikers right to the doors of a tasty ice cream shop. Take a look:

Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail is a 40-mile trail that meanders through southern Minnesota, from Mankato to Faribault.
Maggie Tacheny/Flickr
Many hikers and bikers make use of the nicely paved trail each year.
Maggie Tacheny/Flickr
It may be long, but there are many places to enter and exit the trail. You can plan your route to stop and start wherever you want.
Matthew Lauterbach/Flickr
And because the trail passes through such a scenic area, there are many stopping points. One favorite is the beautiful but little-known Sakatah Lake State Park.
McGhiever/Wikimedia Commons

Related Stories

The Hiking Trail Hiding In Minnesota That Will Transport You To Another World

The Hiking Trail Hiding In Minnesota That Will Transport You To Another World

 The Awesome Hike In Minnesota That Will Take You Straight To An Abandoned Lighthouse

The Awesome Hike In Minnesota That Will Take You Straight To An Abandoned Lighthouse

 The One Trail On Minnesota's North Shore That Leads To Incredible Views

The One Trail On Minnesota's North Shore That Leads To Incredible Views
The trail also passes through many small towns along the way.
Maggie Tacheny/Flickr
One of those small towns is Elysian, a tiny place with a population just under 500 people.
Andrew Filer/Flickr
But don't let Elysian's size fool you. This small town is just about the halfway point of the trail, so it's a great pitstop on your journey no matter where you start.
Scoops Elysian/Facebook
What makes Elysian such a great stop? The ice cream shop, of course. Elysian Scoop is right on the trail, making it a convenient and delicious place to take a break.
Scoops Elysian/Facebook
The shop offers 16 flavors of hand-scooped ice cream, plus soft serve, shakes, malts, and more! Whatever you get, it'll be sure to cool you down after a long day on the trail.
Scoops Elysian/Facebook
A hike or bike ride along the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail makes for a beautiful journey through rural Minnesota. For more information about the trail and to download a trail map, click here.

Do you have any other favorite trails? We do! Here’s our list of 11 of the most beautiful little-known trails in Minnesota.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles

Explore Minnesota