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Minnesota

Looking for the best hiking in Minnesota? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Minnesota. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Hiking Spots in and near Minnesota

  • Minneapolis, Minnesota

    Minnehaha Falls

    4.1
    0.73 mi / 128 ft gain
    Named after a legendary Native American princess, Minnehaha Creek cascades over a cliff in these dramatic falls just minutes from the downtowns of both Minneapolis and St. Paul. A favorite place for summer picnickers, the falls are beautiful all year long. They are strongest in June after the Spr...
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  • Minneapolis, Minnesota

    Explore Frozen Minnehaha Falls

    3.8
    Minnehaha Falls Park in South Minneapolis is a big draw during the spring, summer and fall months. Experiencing an urban waterfall and scenic hiking trails in the middle of a major city is a treat. However, come wintertime, the falls freeze and a spectacular scene emerges. Many people flock to th...
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  • Taylors Falls, Minnesota

    Explore Interstate State Park

    4.3
    3 mi
    Situated on top of a series of craggy bluffs, Interstate State Park is a small park that offers amazing views of the St. Croix River gorge. With a pine forest ecosystem usually only found a hundred miles north of the park, the lichen encrusted rocks and spring wildflowers offer the Northwoods exp...
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  • Hastings, Minnesota

    Walk to Vermillion Falls

    4.5
    2 mi
    Begin in the Old Mills parking lot located on 18th Street E. Head south along the paved trail running parallel to the railroad tracks. This trail is part of a 10-mile loop that leads out of the park and past the banks of the Mississippi. In approximately ½ mile, you’ll cross a long, wooden bridge...
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  • Nerstrand, Minnesota

    Hike Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park

    3.3
    11 mi
    Curious about what Minnesota looked like in pre-settlement times?Then spend the day hiking through Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park, a botanical reserve for the temperate hardwood forest that once covered much of central Minnesota. Located 45 miles south of Minneapolis, the park offers the opportun...
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  • Silver Bay, Minnesota

    Hike to the Bear Lake Overlook

    4.5
    Leave from the carpark on Superior Hiking Trail. The trail climbs a little before descending into a valley and winding around the hills. In about 2.5 miles, you will reach a clearing with an overlook above Bean Lake. At around 3.6 miles you will see a communal campsite on the right, with a number...
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  • Mankato, Minnesota

    Explore Minneopa State Park

    4.3
    0.5 mi
    Located just five miles west of Mankato, Minnesota, Minneopa State Park is mostly known for its beautiful Minneopa Falls. The word "Minneopa" is derived from the Dakota language meaning "water falling twice". To access the falls, begin at the state park's visitor center/picnic area. The Upper F...
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  • Esko, Minnesota

    Hike the Carlton Trail at Jay Cooke State Park

    5.0
    4 mi
    Hike the trails at Jay Cooke State Park in the autumn to see a stunning display of red, gold, and orange foliage colors lining the banks of the St. Louis river. Beginning at the River Inn Visitors Center at the park's headquarters, head over to the newly rebuilt swinging suspension bridge crossin...
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  • Silver Bay, Minnesota

    Explore Palisade Head

    4.7
    Just an hour north of Duluth, Palisade Head is a go-to spot for artists, rock climbers and sight-seers in Northern Minnesota. The massive rock formation rises 932 feet above the North Shore of Lake Superior. The view from the top is both spectacular and spine-tingling. The cliff edge, which runs ...
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  • Hastings, Minnesota

    Hike the Afton State Park Trail

    3.6
    3.5 mi / 740 ft gain
    This diverse, 2,702-acre park has trails for both day hikers and backpackers – some with scenic views of the St. Croix River, others which drop into quiet ravines. For the best views of the valley, explore off-trail, where you may find hidden bluffs with panoramic views.The park also offers horse...
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  • Saint Charles, Minnesota

    Camp at Whitewater State Park

    Whitewater State Park is at the cusp of bluff country, straddling the Whitewater River, a small tributary of the Mississippi. Spring and Autumn are the best times to visit. In Spring you'll hit wildflower season when the forest glades in the depths of the valley folds are literally carpeted with ...
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  • Saint Paul, Minnesota

    Shadow Falls

    4.0
    0.58 mi / 256 ft gain
    This easy and accessible hike takes you to a nice little waterfall within a ravine. From the parking lot, walk over to the River Overlook, then continue along the trail to the falls. The trail will drop you down to the base of the falls, where you can walk behind the curtain of water. The flow is...
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  • Silver Bay, Minnesota

    Hike to High Falls and Two Step Falls

    5.0
    1.17 mi / 253 ft gain
    Located within Tettegouche State Park, High Falls of the Baptism river is the highest waterfall entirely in Minnesota (High Falls of the Pigeon River is higher, but half of it lies on the Ontario border). The High Falls are one of the major highlights of Tettegouche State Park. Depending on wh...
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  • Sandstone, Minnesota

    Wolf Creek Falls

    3.8
    1.63 mi / 180 ft gain
    Just off of Highway 35 near Sandstone, Minnesota, Banning State Park provides several areas to explore including the Kettle River, Historic Sandstone Quarry, and my favorite - Wolf Creek Falls. While the Kettle River is a popular attraction for hikers as well as kayakers, the scenic hike to Wolf...
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  • Taylors Falls, Minnesota

    River Trail Loop

    4.0
    4.32 mi / 285 ft gain
    Wild River State Park, located about 55 miles northeast of Minneapolis, is a fantastic getaway and caters to a wide-variety of visitors. If you have an afternoon and are looking for an easy hike through a variety of natural environments, take The River Trail north, then follow the Old Lodging Tra...
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  • Silver Bay, Minnesota

    Hike to Shovel Point at Tettagouche State Park

    5.0
    2 mi
    An easy hour along the North Shore Scenic Byway from Duluth, Tettagouche State Park is a rugged, 10,000 acre park on Lake Superior. Although the interior of the park offers miles of trails to waterfalls and mountain tops, the best way to see the coast is to take the easy hike to Shovel Point. Beg...
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