Best Scenic Hiking Trails in Minnesota

Although outdoor enthusiasts think of ice fishing when they think of wintry Minnesota, the state also boasts an extensive network of hiking trails that are utterly enchanting when frost and snow-covered.  Hiking allows you to enjoy Minnesota's pristine natural areas and, while cold, are completely captivating for nature lovers nonetheless!  Discover some of the state's most revered trails and make time this season to get outside to enjoy a brisk woodland hike!

Mille Lacs Soo Line Trail

This is one of the newest trails in the state.  The trail boasts pavement as well as gravel for multi-type activities that include hiking, biking, and rollerblading.  Situated between Isle and Onamia, the trail runs for about eleven miles in the same corridor as the Soo Line Railroad.  You can also connect even further to hike to Father Hennepin State Park where you can view the scenery of the hardwood forest along Mille Lacs Lake.  For discovering the park's wildlife, this is a great trek to make!

Fort Snelling State Park

This is a convenient place for hiking as it's centrally located in the Twin Cities.  Families enjoy hiking to Fort Snelling as well as viewing the captivating scenery like Snelling Lake.  There are also other nearby attractions like Minnehaha Park and Pike Island.  With its extensive hiking trails and great scenery, this is a great winter location for getting in some outdoor time with family or friends.

Gooseberry Falls State Park

With its many trails, this northern locale is ideal for the year-round nature enthusiast.  With its waterfalls and multi-type trails, Gooseberry Falls State Park boasts gorgeous stands of birth and aspen.  The evergreens stretch skyward and seem to beckon hikers toward views of Gooseberry River as well as the colder shores of Lake Superior.  The Visitor Center can provide hikers with maps of historic sites as well as great scenic attractions to check out on their visit.

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park

This breathtaking locale is situated on the icy shores of Lake Superior.  Its picturesque lighthouse gives the park its name.  During the summer this is a popular hiking and picnicking destination for families and friends.  Fishing and cross-country skiing are also popular pastimes.  Hiking affords people of unforgettable views of the lake, lighthouse, and surrounding country.  The celebrated Gitchi-Gami State Trail is runs through this park and all the way to Beaver Bay which is well worth checking out too!

Cascade River State Park

The winter woods are truly magnificent as evidenced by this northern local that connects to the Superior Hiking Trail as well as the Northshore Hiking Trail.  Hikers and cross-country skiers favor this destination for its beautiful natural scenery and varied terrain.  There are great views of the lake as well as the Cascade River.  The waterfalls are lovely to behold during the cold season too!