It seems as if everyone in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area are really all about the great outdoors. Twin Cities residents love to bike, swim, and hike their way through their springs, summers, and autumns since winters are so entirely wretched. Hiking in Minnesota is an easy and accessible activity for most people. For beginners, these short hikes all under three miles long will be perfect! Check out some of the best hikes in Minneapolis-Saint Paul for yourself:

1. Hidden Falls Regional Park (Saint Paul)
Hidden Falls Regional Park, 7587 Mears Pl, Auburn, CA 95603, USA
Flickr/Ray Bouknight
Hidden Falls Regional Park and Crosby Farm are interconnected on the east bank of the Mississippi River in Saint Paul, which means there are a variety of trails that will either take you to the riverbanks, or to the waterfall if you want to walk a bit farther and deeper into the park.
2. Lebanon Hills Regional Park (Eagan)
Lebanon Hills Regional Trail, Eagan, MN 55123, USA
Flickr/Kent Landerholm
Occasionally, the most gorgeous and serene trails are in the suburbs of Minneapolis-Saint Paul and there's no shame in that. Make a quick drive out to Eagan to explore woods, marshes, and other wetlands. You'll be sure to soak in the beauty of nature on any of the park's trails. Hear that? It's Lebanon Hills Regional Park whispering your name.
3. Battle Creek Regional Park (Saint Paul)
Battle Creek Regional Park, 2300 Upper Afton Rd, Maplewood, MN 55119, USA
Flickr/Teresa Boardman
Battle Creek Park is famously pet friendly, which makes any hike a special one when man's best friend is included. The trails are particularly stunning in the fall.
4. Elm Creek Park Reserve (Maple Grove)
Elm Creek Park Reserve, 12400 James Deane Pkwy, Maple Grove, MN 55369, USA
Facebook/Elm Creek Park Reserve - Three Rivers Districr
We don't appreciate Minneapolis' suburbs enough, so let's show some love to the beautiful and expansive Elm Creek Park Reserve. Not only does this park have a man-made swimming pond and places to tube and snowboard in the winter, the park's expansive acreage is full of a variety of trails for hikers, bikers, and more.

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5. Mississippi Gorge Regional Park (Minneapolis)
Mississippi Gorge Regional Park, 3349 W River Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55406, USA
Flickr/Tim Boyle
Since these trails are located on both the West and East banks of the Mississippi River, hikers get to pick and choose their adventure. The trails will be beautiful in any season, and if you don't want to walk more than three miles, you definitely don't have to. This is one of the best hiking trails in Minneapolis-Saint Paul and can't be missed.
6. Fort Snelling (Saint Paul)
Unorganized Territory of Fort Snelling, MN 55417, USA
Flickr/zjohnson16
What was once a great military outpost, is now a historical site in Saint Paul. While many abandoned buildings from Fort Snelling still exist for passersby to experience, Fort Snelling also has a variety of more rugged trails, including a longer five mile trail that will lead you to Minnehaha Falls.
7. Minnehaha Falls Regional Park (Minneapolis)
Minnehaha Falls, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA
Flickr/jpellgen (@1179_jp)
A simple walk through the main grounds of Minnehaha Park will lead you to hills or steps down to the most incredible natural waterfall in all of the Twin Cities. If that short hike isn't enough for you and you decide you want more, follow the trails along Minnehaha Creek, which will eventually lead you to Fort Snelling.
8. Theodore Wirth Park (Saint Paul)
Theodore Wirth Parkway, Theodore Wirth Pkwy, Golden Valley, MN, USA
Flickr/Joe Passe
This park is located along the border of Saint Paul and Maplewood. Not only does it have a beautiful lake and woodlands, the park features a clubhouse for you to relax post-hike. If you want to kick it up a notch in the winter, Theodore Wirth Park is an excellent spot to do some cross-country skiing, which is basically hiking with skis.
9. Swede Hollow Park (Saint Paul)
Swede Hollow Park, 665 Greenbrier St, St Paul, MN 55106, USA
Flickr/Nature Nerd (probably outside)
Along the northwest side of Dayton's Bluff, the Swede Hollow neighborhood was once one of the most impoverished areas of Saint Paul. It was basically a dumping grounds until the 1970s when it was converted into a nature center. Walk through the beautiful tree-lined trails and you'll hardly believe Swede Hollow Park was ever a dump.

There’s no better way to appreciate Minneapolis and Saint Paul’s natural beauty than through a hike along the best trails in the city. Even if you’re not a hardcore hiker, you can appreciate these stunning, short trails that are all less than three miles along. Where’s your favorite place to hike in the Twin Cities? Let us know in the comments.

Want to know about the best easy hike in Minneapolis? This One Easy Hike In Minneapolis Will Lead You To Someplace Unforgettable.

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More to Explore

Best Hikes in Minneapolis-Saint Paul

Tori Jane | July 07, 2022

Where are the best hiking trails near me?  

Sure, Minnesota might be famous for its incredible number of pristine, swimmable lakes, but don’t let the water distract you from the real show: there are tons of truly amazing hikes in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, and its surrounding area! There are so many that it’s tough to decide on only a few to mention, but we can try. First, head out to Lebanon Hills Regional Park and embark upon the two-mile delight known as Jensen Lake Trail. It’s one of our favorite scenic hikes in Minnesota, and it’ll be easy to see why as soon as you begin. Go to Fort Snelling State Park and do the nearly four-mile hike on Pike Island Trail, too – you won’t regret it!  

What are some of the most scenic hikes in Minneapolis-Saint Paul?  

So, that being said, what are some of the most scenic hikes in Minneapolis-Saint Paul? Let’s check out some of the most popular, highly rated scenic trails, like the Mississippi Gorge Loop Trail in Mississippi Gorge Park, a 5.6-mile, moderately challenging trek that rewards hikers with incredible views of the river and all the natural wonder that comes with it. We also love the short-and-sweet Minnehaha Creek and Falls hike, which is less than two miles long and features one of the most breathtakingly beautiful waterfalls in Minnesota!  

What are some wonderful easy hikes around Minneapolis-Saint Paul?  

Most of the trails mentioned above are pretty easy unless otherwise indicated, but there are plenty more than just these. Minnesota is a hiker’s paradise, with hundreds of miles of trails weaving all over the state, many of which are quite easy. Other favorite easy hikes around Minneapolis-Saint Paul that we can’t get enough of include ones like Hidden Falls Trail, at Hidden Falls Regional Park, the Lebanon Hills Blue Trail loop, at Lebanon Hills Regional Park, and if you like your hikes on the longer side, the 14.1-mile excursion on the Big Rivers Regional Trail can’t be skipped.  

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