Hiking near Minneapolis
 

I'm from Los Angeles and will be in Minneapolis for a few days. I'd like to take a hike in the woods outside the city but within an hour or so drive. I understand hiking around the lakes in Minneapolis is lovely but I want to really feel I'm away from the city. Any suggestions?

JP,<BR>I would suggest Hyland Lake Park Reserve. About 1/2 hour south of downtown Minneapolis. Great trails...woods, rolling hills, etc. You can hear airplanes flying over, but you still feel very secluded. The park system's website is: www.hennepinparks.org.<BR><BR>There are also several nice state parks within one hour of Minneapolis. Try Afton State Park or Wiiliam O. Brien. The State Park website is: www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks<BR><BR>Have fun and welcome to Minneapolis!

If you are staying in the south part of the cities it would be convenient for you to visit Lebanon Hills Park in Eagan. (Dakota County Parks) This is a large park with many lakes and hills, but still convenient to town. Sometimes when cross country skiing there I've heard the wolves from the nearby Minnesota Zoo!!!

The previous poster that gave you the hennepin parks website had a great suggestion, the website is VERY helpful. We do the fall hiking tour here and are familiar with some of the parks. My suggestion would be Murphy Hanrehan park, it is very large and you will feel like you are in the middle of nowhere but it is not very far away from the city. It is quite hilly, so you will get a good workout there. Take a look at the website, you will find a ton of useful information.

JP-<BR>I would check out the Taylors Falls area on the MN-WI border. It is about an hour drive from Mpls (northeast of the city)and we just went up there this weekend to Interstate Park. The park is surround by beautiful bluffs, forests and the St Croix River runs right through it. Lots of hiking trails along with rock climbing, canoeing, horseback riding, etc. Have fun!

If you are staying north or west of town, you might want to consider Lake Maria State Park for excellant hiking trails through woods and marshes. It is about 45 minutes from where 494 and 694 meet on the NW side, going towards St. Cloud. Here is the web site: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/lake_maria/index.html<BR>We have been there many times for the fall colors, and then for cross-country skiing after a good snow fall.

I second Taylor's Falls. The river there has carved out some unique rock formations, you can watch people rock climing on the bluffs, catch a boat ride down the river, go hiking. And if you want, you can stroll over to the town, which is just across the street from the park. It's a good hour from the Twin Cities, but worth the drive.

A third for Taylors Falls. If your time limit is one hour from Mpls, that is your best option. Also has great rock climbing.<BR><BR>If you can afford 2-3 hour drive, you have about 20 more options.