The Mississippi Gorge Loop Trail In Minnesota Is An Urban Hidden Gem Worth Exploring

In a metro area of more than three and a half million people, you may not expect to find much in terms of nature - let alone almost six miles of it. But there's a 5.6-mile trail hidden in plain sight in the heart of Minneapolis-St. Paul that allows hikers, walkers, runners, and cyclists to forget (for the most part) that they're in the midst of a large urban area for a little while. That's why we think the Mississippi Gorge Loop Trail is the best hike near the Twin Cities in Minnesota and one of the overall best hikes in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

The section of the Mississippi River that divides Minneapolis and St. Paul runs through a high-bluffed, relatively-narrow (for the Mississippi) gorge.

The 5.6-mile Mississippi Gorge Loop trail runs along both sides of this stretch of river, crossing at the Lake St./Marshall Avenue bridge to the north and the 46th St./Ford Parkway bridge to the south.

Not only does this part of the river fall within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, which is a unit of the National Park Service, both of the cities manage park land on their respective sides of the river.

These include Mississippi Gorge Regional Park and on the St. Paul side, Shadow Falls Park.

Shadow Falls is definitely worth a stop during your hike.

The loop trail also passes Minnehaha Falls Regional Park.

If you're so inclined, you can detour into the park to see the iconic waterfall and even continue on to Coldwater Spring historic site (managed by the National Park Service) and Fort Snelling State Park and historic site.

The loop's river crossings will remind you that you're in the city, with the concrete bridges, main through streets, and inevitable traffic.

But the bridges also afford beautiful views up and down the tree-lined gorge.

Once you're back on trail, there are several places where you can, once again, forget you're in the city.

And you very well may encounter some friends along the way who think this part of the Twin Cities is just right.

That's why we think the Mississippi Gorge Loop trail may be the best hike near the Twin Cities, Minnesota. You can download detailed maps, see a route preview, and read reviews of the hike on All Trails Plus.

What do you think? Do you agree this is one of the best hikes in the Twin Cities? Let us know in the comments!