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Minneapolis Hikes for the Whole Family

May 13, 2023  |  Active Minnesota Adventures, Minneapolis Hikes for the Whole Family, Things To Do

Minneapolis offers a wonderful blend of urban attraction and natural beauty. A great way to explore both is by heading out and taking a walk or a hike. When you choose one of our area Minneapolis MN homes, you’ll never be far from a variety of choices, within town or deeper into nature, ensuring something for everyone in the family.

Lake Harriet offers easy walks, beautiful scenery, and is even ADA compatible on the 2.8-mile paved loop walkway. Located in Southwest Minneapolis, Lake Harriet is part of Grand Round Scenic Byways, connecting with Lake Bde Maka Ska and Lake of the Isles trails.You’ll also find the nearby Lyndale Rose Garden, with 60,000 roses blooming each summer, and Peace Park with its Japanese-style bridge and the Roberts bird sanctuary.

Another easy route that still offers plenty to enjoy are Nicollet Island and Boom Island, connected by a pedestrian bridge. Nicollet Island has a 2.1-mile loop trail, while Boom Island offers great river views, a paved walkway, and even bicycle paths to expand your options. Both islands are family friendly and have ADA-compliant walkways so everyone can enjoy the scenery. Besides walking and cycling, Boom Island features a lovely lighthouse and offers free yoga classes in the summer.

If you’re in the city proper, there’s still plenty of ways to stay active and take in some great views. The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the Loring Greenway Bridge and Loring Park all offer a fun way to spend time outdoors for the whole family. This easy route covers roughly 1.6 miles and the bridge makes it family friendly, as it crosses over the traffic below on Hennepin Ave. It’s also ADA compliant. The Sculpture Garden is best known for the Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, but there are other sights to see. Loring Park offers up gardens, the Berger Fountain, and plenty of festivals year round.

Finally, for something that offers a bit more challenge, ranking from easy to moderate, there’s the Fort Snelling State Park, Pike Island Loop, and Lake Nokomis Trails. Open year round, Fort Snelling State Park has 5 miles of paved trails,18 miles of gravel trails along the Minnesota River and Mississippi River. Pike Island has a 7-mile loop trail, and Lake Nokomis has a 2.5-mile loop trail. ADA-compatible on paved trails, the trails are family friendly and offer more than just walking and hiking throughout the year. There’s also biking, snowshoe, and cross-country ski trails that connect to the regional trail system. Snelling Lake fishing pier is open depending on the weather, and the Lake Nokomis trail includes beautiful wildflowers to add to the beauty of your outing.

These are just a few of the many walking, hiking, and biking trails throughout the Minneapolis area. If you’re moving into one of our Minneapolis MN homes, you have plenty to look forward to, as you get to know the area and its outstanding natural beauty, in and out of the cities.

This post was written by Key Land Homes.