Now that cold weather is all the rage, it’s tempting to cuddle up with your favorite blanket and pass the next few months indoors. But there are many places around Minnesota that are at their most beautiful under a fresh coat of snow. If you want to get outside this winter – but not for too long – this easy one-mile hike is just the thing to do. It’ll get you out of the house and into one of Minnesota’s nicest state parks. This might be one of the very best winter hikes in Minneapolis – and maybe the state!
Fort Snelling State Park is a large park in St. Paul that is brimming with outdoor activities - even in the winter.
Arah Bahn/Flickr
One of the best trails for winter hiking is the Pike Island Trail. You can do a 1-, 2-, or 3-mile loop.
Arah Bahn/Flickr
As you walk through the park, you’ll be blown away by how the snow dampens any sounds. It will be the most peaceful hike you’ll take all year.
zjohnson16/Flickr
The trail passes through some mixed forest. In winter, the bare trees offer a unique beauty that anyone who loves winter will appreciate.
Arah Bahn/Flickr
The Pike Island Trail passes alongside the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. You’ll catch a glimpse of where the two icy rivers meet.
USFWS Midwest Region/Flickr
Many have spotted wildlife along the trails at Fort Snelling.
Christa R./Flickr
You’re likely to see deer, owls, and maybe even coyotes.
Christa R./Flickr
All in all, Pike Island Trail through Fort Snelling State Park is a beautiful, peaceful place to spend an hour or two this winter.
zjohnson16/Flickr
What do you think about winter hiking? Besides Pike Island Trail, are there any other winter hikes you love? Let us know in the comments below!
Arah Bahn/Flickr
zjohnson16/Flickr
USFWS Midwest Region/Flickr
Christa R./Flickr
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Address: Fort Snelling State Trail, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Winter Hikes in Minneapolis February 02, 2022 Tori Jane Where can I go cold weather hiking in Minneapolis? Minneapolis is a wonderful city nestled in a beautiful state that just so happens to have all sorts of awesome hiking trails, including ones you can enjoy when there’s snow on the ground and a major chill in the air. Some of our favorite spots for winter hiking in Minneapolis include several of our amazing nearby state parks. For example, there’s the River Trail withing Wild River State Park, which is a 1.5 mile trek through some of Minnesota’s most scenic landscapes. You can also do some winter hiking at Gooseberry Falls State Park, on the Upper Falls Trail – it’s just a half-mile long, but it’s awesome! You’ll love it, we promise. At Jay Cooke State Park, there’s the unforgettable Thompson Trail, and we also love the River Trail located within Flandreau State Park, which is one of our lesser-known but totally awesome hikes in a hidden gem of a park. For some more ideas, check this article out! We love the winter hikes. What are some fun things to do in the winter in Minneapolis? Who says wintertime means you have to stay indoors all the time? We here at Only In Your State feel like winter is one of the BEST times to get out and enjoy life, nature, and the city of Minneapolis. Some of our favorite fun things to do in the winter in Minneapolis include many of the cold-weather classics, like ice skating or snowmobiling. You’d be amazed at how much fun a frozen lake can be – you can even try your hand at ice fishing in some of them! As outlined above, you can always embark upon an epic cold-weather hike, visit any of our amazing state parks, or participate in an ice carving competition. If you don’t know how to make ice castles, well, you can always watch those who do! Winter in Minnesota is a treat, especially in the big city.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Winter Hikes in Minneapolis
February 02, 2022
Tori Jane
Where can I go cold weather hiking in Minneapolis? Minneapolis is a wonderful city nestled in a beautiful state that just so happens to have all sorts of awesome hiking trails, including ones you can enjoy when there’s snow on the ground and a major chill in the air. Some of our favorite spots for winter hiking in Minneapolis include several of our amazing nearby state parks. For example, there’s the River Trail withing Wild River State Park, which is a 1.5 mile trek through some of Minnesota’s most scenic landscapes. You can also do some winter hiking at Gooseberry Falls State Park, on the Upper Falls Trail – it’s just a half-mile long, but it’s awesome! You’ll love it, we promise. At Jay Cooke State Park, there’s the unforgettable Thompson Trail, and we also love the River Trail located within Flandreau State Park, which is one of our lesser-known but totally awesome hikes in a hidden gem of a park. For some more ideas, check this article out! We love the winter hikes. What are some fun things to do in the winter in Minneapolis? Who says wintertime means you have to stay indoors all the time? We here at Only In Your State feel like winter is one of the BEST times to get out and enjoy life, nature, and the city of Minneapolis. Some of our favorite fun things to do in the winter in Minneapolis include many of the cold-weather classics, like ice skating or snowmobiling. You’d be amazed at how much fun a frozen lake can be – you can even try your hand at ice fishing in some of them! As outlined above, you can always embark upon an epic cold-weather hike, visit any of our amazing state parks, or participate in an ice carving competition. If you don’t know how to make ice castles, well, you can always watch those who do! Winter in Minnesota is a treat, especially in the big city.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Minneapolis is a wonderful city nestled in a beautiful state that just so happens to have all sorts of awesome hiking trails, including ones you can enjoy when there’s snow on the ground and a major chill in the air. Some of our favorite spots for winter hiking in Minneapolis include several of our amazing nearby state parks. For example, there’s the River Trail withing Wild River State Park, which is a 1.5 mile trek through some of Minnesota’s most scenic landscapes. You can also do some winter hiking at Gooseberry Falls State Park, on the Upper Falls Trail – it’s just a half-mile long, but it’s awesome! You’ll love it, we promise. At Jay Cooke State Park, there’s the unforgettable Thompson Trail, and we also love the River Trail located within Flandreau State Park, which is one of our lesser-known but totally awesome hikes in a hidden gem of a park. For some more ideas, check this article out! We love the winter hikes.
What are some fun things to do in the winter in Minneapolis?
Who says wintertime means you have to stay indoors all the time? We here at Only In Your State feel like winter is one of the BEST times to get out and enjoy life, nature, and the city of Minneapolis. Some of our favorite fun things to do in the winter in Minneapolis include many of the cold-weather classics, like ice skating or snowmobiling. You’d be amazed at how much fun a frozen lake can be – you can even try your hand at ice fishing in some of them! As outlined above, you can always embark upon an epic cold-weather hike, visit any of our amazing state parks, or participate in an ice carving competition. If you don’t know how to make ice castles, well, you can always watch those who do! Winter in Minnesota is a treat, especially in the big city.
