Description
Book SynopsisIt’s Time to Take a Hike in the Twin Cities! The best way to experience Minneapolis and St. Paul is by hiking them! Get outdoors with Minnesota author and naturalist Tom Watson as he helps you find and enjoy the top hikes within 60 miles of the Twin Cities. A perfect blend of popular trails and hidden gems, the selected trails transport you to scenic overlooks, wildlife hot spots, and historical settings that renew your spirit and recharge your body. Marvel at the awe-inspiring waterways of the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers. Experience the breathtaking views at Afton State Park and Barn Bluff. Go bird-watching on the slopes and hills at Frontenac and Lake Maria state parks. Immerse yourself in history along the old railroad routes of the Douglas State Trail and Cannon Valley Trail. With an award-winning outdoors writer as your guide, you’ll learn about the area and experience nature through 60 of the Twin Cities’ best hikes! Each hike description features key at-a-glance information on distance, difficulty, scenery, traffic, hiking time, and more, so you can quickly and easily learn about each trail. Detailed directions, GPS-based trail maps, and elevation profiles help to ensure that you know where you are and where you’re going. Tips on nearby activities further enhance your enjoyment of every outing. Whether you’re a local looking for new places to explore or a visitor to the area, 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Minneapolis and St. Paul provides plenty of options for a couple hours or a full day of adventure, all within about an hour from Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding communities.
Table of ContentsOverview Map Map Legend Acknowledgments Foreword Preface 60 Hikes by Category Introduction URBAN & SUBURBAN SAINT PAUL Battle Creek Big Rivers Regional Trail Bruce Vento Regional Trail Crosby Farm Regional Park Lake Elmo Park Reserve: Eagle Point Lake South Saint Paul Riverfront Trail Thompson County Park: Thompson Trail URBAN & SUBURBAN MINNEAPOLIS Bass Ponds to Old Cedar Bridge Bryant Lake Bunker Hills Regional Park Carlos Avery Trail City Lakes Chain: Lake Harriet, Bde Maka Ska, and Lake of the Isles Coon Rapids Dam Fort Snelling State Park: Snelling Lake and Pike Island Trails Hyland Lake Park Reserve: Richardson Interpretive Trail Minnehaha Falls and Creek Mississippi Gorge Trail Rice Creek North Regional Trail Wood Lake Nature Center SOUTHWEST Baylor Regional Park Carver Park Reserve, Lowry Nature Center: Tamarack Trail Cleary Lake Regional Park Lake Minnewashta Regional Park: Marsh Trail Loop Louisville Swamp: Mazomani Trail Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area: Lawrence Trail Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve Sakatah Lake State Park SOUTHEAST Afton State Park Barn Bluff Cannon Valley Trail Cannon River Wilderness Area Trail Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park Douglas State Trail Frontenac State Park: Bluffside Trail Goodhue Pioneer State Trail Kinnickinnic State Park, Wisconsin Lebanon Hills Regional Park: Holland and Jensen Lakes Loop Miesville Ravine Park Reserve Nerstrand–Big Woods State Park: Big Woods Trail Red Cedar State Trail, Wisconsin Spring Lake Park Reserve: Schaar’s Bluff Trail NORTHWEST Baker Park Reserve Crow-Hassan Park Reserve Elm Creek Park Reserve Elm Creek Park Reserve: Eastman Nature Trail Lake Maria State Park Lake Rebecca Park Reserve Rum River North County Park Sand Dunes State Forest: Ann Lake Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge: Prairie’s Edge Trail Snail Lake NORTHEAST Brown’s Creek State Trail Gateway State Trail Interstate State Park, Minnesota Interstate State Park, Wisconsin Pine Point Regional Park Trail Tamarack Nature Center Wild River State Park William O’Brien State Park: Upper Park Trail Willow River State Park, Wisconsin APPENDIX: INFORMATION SOURCES Index About the Author
