60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Minneapolis and St. Paul - Including Hikes In and Around the Twin Cities

It's Time to Take a Hike in the Twin Cities!

The best way to experience Minneapolis and St. Paul is by hiking them! Get outdoors with Minnesota author and naturalist Tom Watson as he helps you find and enjoy the top hikes within 60 miles of the Twin Cities. A perfect blend of popular trails and hidden gems, the selected trails transport you to scenic overlooks, wildlife hot spots, and historical settings that renew your spirit and recharge your body.

Marvel at the awe-inspiring waterways of the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers. Experience the breathtaking views at Afton State Park and Barn Bluff. Go bird-watching on the slopes and hills at Frontenac and Lake Maria state parks. Immerse yourself in history along the old railroad routes of the Douglas State Trail and Cannon Valley Trail. With an award-winning outdoors writer as your guide, you'll learn about the area and experience nature through 60 of the Twin Cities' best hikes!

Each hike description features key at-a-glance information on distance, difficulty, scenery, traffic, hiking time, and more, so you can quickly and easily learn about each trail. Detailed directions, GPS-based trail maps, and elevation profiles help to ensure that you know where you are and where you're going. Tips on nearby activities further enhance your enjoyment of every outing. Whether you're a local looking for new places to explore or a visitor to the area, 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Minneapolis and St. Paul provides plenty of options for a couple hours or a full day of adventure, all within about an hour from Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding communities.

List of contents

Overview Map

Map Legend

Acknowledgments

Foreword

Preface

60 Hikes by Category

Introduction

URBAN & SUBURBAN SAINT PAUL

• Battle Creek



• Big Rivers Regional Trail



• Bruce Vento Regional Trail



• Crosby Farm Regional Park



• Lake Elmo Park Reserve: Eagle Point Lake



• South Saint Paul Riverfront Trail



• Thompson County Park: Thompson Trail

URBAN & SUBURBAN MINNEAPOLIS

• Bass Ponds to Old Cedar Bridge



• Bryant Lake



• Bunker Hills Regional Park



• Carlos Avery Trail



• City Lakes Chain: Lake Harriet, Bde Maka Ska, and Lake of the Isles



• Coon Rapids Dam



• Fort Snelling State Park: Snelling Lake and Pike Island Trails



• Hyland Lake Park Reserve: Richardson Interpretive Trail



• Minnehaha Falls and Creek



• Mississippi Gorge Trail



• Rice Creek North Regional Trail



• Wood Lake Nature Center

SOUTHWEST

• Baylor Regional Park



• Carver Park Reserve, Lowry Nature Center: Tamarack Trail



• Cleary Lake Regional Park



• Lake Minnewashta Regional Park: Marsh Trail Loop



• Louisville Swamp: Mazomani Trail



• Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area: Lawrence Trail



• Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve



• Sakatah Lake State Park

SOUTHEAST

• Afton State Park



• Barn Bluff



• Cannon Valley Trail



• Cannon River Wilderness Area Trail



• Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park



• Douglas State Trail



• Frontenac State Park: Bluffside Trail



• Goodhue Pioneer State Trail



• Kinnickinnic State Park, Wisconsin



• Lebanon Hills Regional Park: Holland and Jensen Lakes Loop



• Miesville Ravine Park Reserve



• Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park: Big Woods Trail



• Red Cedar State Trail, Wisconsin



• Spring Lake Park Reserve: Schaar's Bluff Trail

NORTHWEST

• Baker Park Reserve



• Crow-Hassan Park Reserve



• Elm Creek Park Reserve



• Elm Creek Park Reserve: Eastman Nature Trail



• Lake Maria State Park



• Lake Rebecca Park Reserve



• Rum River North County Park



• Sand Dunes State Forest: Ann Lake



• Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge: Prairie's Edge Trail



• Snail Lake

NORTHEAST

• Brown's Creek State Trail



• Gateway State Trail



• Interstate State Park, Minnesota



• Interstate State Park, Wisconsin



• Pine Point Regional Park Trail



• Tamarack Nature Center



• Wild River State Park



• William O'Brien State Park: Upper Park Trail



• Willow River State Park, Wisconsin

APPENDIX: INFORMATION SOURCES

Index

About the Author

About the author

Tom Watson was born in California and moved to the Twin Cities from Missouri at age 7. He remained in Minnesota until he graduated from the University of Minnesota's College of Forestry with a B.S. in forest resource management and recreation. Then, in the mid-1980s, he moved to Kodiak, Alaska, where he spent 15 years operating a sea-kayak touring business and began working as a freelance writer and photographer. Published in several national magazines and an award-winning, active member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America and the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers, Tom is also the author of Best Minnesota Camper Cabins (Adventure Publications) and Best Tent Camping: Minnesota (Menasha Ridge Press). In addition to hiking, he enjoys photography, music, gardening, bird-watching, paddling, and camping.

Summary

Get outdoors with this guide to 60 of the best hikes within an hour or so from Minneapolis and St. Paul, leading you to scenic overlooks, wildlife hot spots, and historical settings.

Product details

• Authors: Tom Watson
• Publisher: Ingram Publishers Services
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.07.2018
• EAN: 9781634041669
• ISBN: 978-1-63404-166-9
• No. of pages: 328
• Dimensions: 152 mm x 229 mm x 19 mm
• Weight: 608 g
• Illustrations: 80 color photographs 65 maps; charts
• Series: 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles; 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles
• Subjects: Guides > Sport > Other sports disciplines; Travel > Travel guides > North and Central America; Minnesota, Minneapolis/St. Paul