9 Amazing Minneapolis-Saint Paul Hikes Under 3 Miles You’ll Absolutely Love

It seems as if everyone in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area are really all about the great outdoors. Twin Cities residents love to bike, swim, and hike their way through their springs, summers, and autumns since winters are so entirely wretched. Hiking in Minnesota is an easy and accessible activity for most people. For beginners, these short hikes all under three miles long will be perfect! Check out some of the best hikes in Minneapolis-Saint Paul for yourself:

1. Hidden Falls Regional Park (Saint Paul)

Hidden Falls Regional Park and Crosby Farm are interconnected on the east bank of the Mississippi River in Saint Paul, which means there are a variety of trails that will either take you to the riverbanks, or to the waterfall if you want to walk a bit farther and deeper into the park.

2. Lebanon Hills Regional Park (Eagan)

Occasionally, the most gorgeous and serene trails are in the suburbs of Minneapolis-Saint Paul and there's no shame in that. Make a quick drive out to Eagan to explore woods, marshes, and other wetlands. You'll be sure to soak in the beauty of nature on any of the park's trails. Hear that? It's Lebanon Hills Regional Park whispering your name.

3. Battle Creek Regional Park (Saint Paul)

Battle Creek Park is famously pet friendly, which makes any hike a special one when man's best friend is included. The trails are particularly stunning in the fall.

4. Elm Creek Park Reserve (Maple Grove)

We don't appreciate Minneapolis' suburbs enough, so let's show some love to the beautiful and expansive Elm Creek Park Reserve. Not only does this park have a man-made swimming pond and places to tube and snowboard in the winter, the park's expansive acreage is full of a variety of trails for hikers, bikers, and more.

5. Mississippi Gorge Regional Park (Minneapolis)

Since these trails are located on both the West and East banks of the Mississippi River, hikers get to pick and choose their adventure. The trails will be beautiful in any season, and if you don't want to walk more than three miles, you definitely don't have to. This is one of the best hiking trails in Minneapolis-Saint Paul and can't be missed.

6. Fort Snelling (Saint Paul)

What was once a great military outpost, is now a historical site in Saint Paul. While many abandoned buildings from Fort Snelling still exist for passersby to experience, Fort Snelling also has a variety of more rugged trails, including a longer five mile trail that will lead you to Minnehaha Falls.

7. Minnehaha Falls Regional Park (Minneapolis)

A simple walk through the main grounds of Minnehaha Park will lead you to hills or steps down to the most incredible natural waterfall in all of the Twin Cities. If that short hike isn't enough for you and you decide you want more, follow the trails along Minnehaha Creek, which will eventually lead you to Fort Snelling.

8. Theodore Wirth Park (Saint Paul)

This park is located along the border of Saint Paul and Maplewood. Not only does it have a beautiful lake and woodlands, the park features a clubhouse for you to relax post-hike. If you want to kick it up a notch in the winter, Theodore Wirth Park is an excellent spot to do some cross-country skiing, which is basically hiking with skis.

9. Swede Hollow Park (Saint Paul)

Along the northwest side of Dayton's Bluff, the Swede Hollow neighborhood was once one of the most impoverished areas of Saint Paul. It was basically a dumping grounds until the 1970s when it was converted into a nature center. Walk through the beautiful tree-lined trails and you'll hardly believe Swede Hollow Park was ever a dump.

There's no better way to appreciate Minneapolis and Saint Paul's natural beauty than through a hike along the best trails in the city. Even if you're not a hardcore hiker, you can appreciate these stunning, short trails that are all less than three miles along. Where's your favorite place to hike in the Twin Cities? Let us know in the comments.

Want to know about the best easy hike in Minneapolis? This One Easy Hike In Minneapolis Will Lead You To Someplace Unforgettable.