The Iconic Hiking Trail In Minnesota Is One Of The Coolest Outdoor Adventures You’ll Ever Take

The Matthew Lourey State Trail runs for 80 miles along the St. Croix River Valley, passing through three state forests and St. Croix State Park - some of the most iconic Northwoods landscapes in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Whether you're looking for a short day hike or a weeklong adventure, this Minnesota hiking trail has plenty of options to offer.

Named for a Minnesota Marine who was killed in combat when his helicopter was shot down over Iraq in 2005, this trail passes through the parts of the state that its namesake loved most.

The trail's southern terminus is located within the Chengwatana State Forest.

The northern terminus is located in the Nemadji State Forest near the Pine County/Carlton County line.

It's not far, in fact, from the southern terminus of the Superior Hiking Trail/North Country National Trail, so you could ostensibly keep going for quite some time if you choose!

In addition to tracking along the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, the trail crosses both the Snake River and the Kettle River, the latter of which is a state-designated Wild and Scenic River.

The Matthew Lourey State Trail is a multi-use trail.

The trail is a natural surface trail through the Chengwatana State Forest and St. Croix State Park, as well as its northern end in the Nemadji State Forest. Much of its route in the St. Croix State Forest and to the Nemadji State Forest is gravel surfaced. Its entire length is open to hiking, but in a few spots, you may share the trail with off-road vehicles, horses, or ATVs.

In the winter months, the entire length of the trail is open for snowmobiling.

You can also snowshoe the trail, but use caution, as you'll be sharing it with snowmobiles.

You'll find several developed campgrounds, as well as camping shelters, along the length of the trail.

They're available in all three state forests, as well as St. Croix State Park. The former are first-come, first served, but the park requires camping reservations.

This Minnesota hiking trail is one of my favorites. One of the things I enjoy most about it is that it tends to be less crowded than some of the other trails in St. Croix State Park - so you can get a good, long hike and often, have the woods to yourself. For more information on the Matthew Lourey State Trail, visit the trail's page on the Minnesota DNR website. AllTrails Plus, with its trail reviews and downloadable maps, is a great resource for hiking anywhere in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Have you hiked any of the Matthew Lourey State Trail? Let us know in the comments!