Things to Do Outdoors in Minneapolis and St. Paul
Things to Do Outdoors in Minneapolis and St. Paul
By Cinnamon Janzer
Between all of its award-winning parks, trails and urban lakes, outdoor adventures are an essential part of experiencing all Minneapolis-St. Paul has to offer. Here are some of our favorite activities within the Twin Cities' lush metro area.
SWIM, PADDLE OR FISH
THE CHAIN OF LAKES
A family at Bde Maka Ska's beach in Minneapolis / Credit: Paul Vincent
Collectively known as the Chain of Lakes, this group of five lakes (Maka Ska, Cedar, Isles, Brownie and Harriet) is brimming with opportunities for various water-based activities, the most popular of which are swimming, paddling and fishing. For those who want to canoe, kayak or paddle board, Wheel Fun Rentals, located right on the shores of Bde (the Dakota word for "lake") Maka Ska, will make your dreams come true.
When it comes to swimming, beach options are abundant, but the East Beach at Cedar Lake is a favorite among many. Thomas Beach at Bde Maka Ska is especially trendy for those looking to see and be seen on the water. All of the lakes are dotted with docks that are ideal for fishing, but the one across from the dog park on Lake of the Isles has a particularly stunning view of downtown Minneapolis in the background.
COOL OFF AT THE COUNTRY'S FIRST
NATURALLY FILTERED PUBLIC POOL
Webber Natural Swimming Pool / Credit: Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board
Chemical cleaners are a thing of the past at Webber Natural Swimming Pool. Located in north Minneapolis, the nation's first naturally filtered public pool uses plants and other organic filters to keep its waters fresh for swimmers, similar to how a stream, lake, or wetland stays clean. Kids will love wading in the shallow upper pool, while the deeper, lower pool's designated lap swim, open swim and jumping areas appeal to swimmers of all ages.
Because of its delicate natural ecosystem, Webber is more prone to closures than chemically cleaned pools. Be sure to check the park website before heading over for a swim. Dry off after your dip and take a short stroll on the attached linear park along Victory Memorial Drive.
HIKE MINNEHAHA FALLS
(AND BRING YOUR BEST FRIEND)
Minnehaha Falls from below / Lane Pelovsky, courtesy of Meet Minneapolis
Straddling the Mississippi River between Minneapolis and St. Paul is Minnehaha Park, a waterfall-centered park that will quickly make you forget you’re in the middle of two cities. Minnehaha Falls is a huge draw for family sight-seeing, and after you marvel at the falls themselves be sure to explore the lengthy riverfront park on foot or by bike.
Dirt hiking trails begin at the falls; meander through a densely wooded forest to the nearby Mississippi River banks and an off-leash dog park that is so large and forested it doesn’t feel like a dog park at all (other than all the dogs, that is). If you travel with your pup, this spot truly cannot be missed.
Sea Salt Eatery
To cap off this picture-perfect Minneapolis summer experience, visit the park's incredibly popular restaurant, Sea Salt Eatery. The lines at Sea Salt are often as epic as the dishes they serve, but there's truly no substitute for a summer evening of fried seafood delights, ice cream and cold beer from an outdoor patio overlooking the falls.
All dogs must have an off-leash dog park permit before entering the park. Daily permits are just $5, and can be purchased over the phone from Minneapolis Park and Recreation headquarters.
GO FOR A RUN ALONG
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Walk, jog or bike along the Mississippi River Trail as it weaves through downtown Minneapolis
The dividing line between the Twin Cities, the Mississippi River is home to a host of outdoor activities. Running along the trails that hug its shores is a popular and rewarding option.
Named after the immigrant farmer who first owned the land, Crosby Farm is home to 6.7 miles of paved trails along the St. Paul side of the Mississippi River that are a nature-loving runner’s paradise. Running the Mississippi River Trail in Minneapolis takes you along a 16-mile loop from Broadway Bridge to Minnehaha Falls and back.
ROLL OR STROLL THE
STONE ARCH BRIDGE
Walking across the iconic Stone Arch Bridge is a must in Minneapolis / Paul Vincent
If you’ve ever typed "Minneapolis" into Google, there’s a good chance that the Stone Arch Bridge came up on your first page of image results. It's such a regional icon that it comes up when you search for "St. Paul," too.
Connecting the idyllic St. Anthony Main neighborhood with the skyscraper-filled downtown across the mighty Mississippi River, this brick bridge was originally constructed as a railroad connection in the late 1800’s. Closed to train traffic in 1978, the Stone Arch Bridge was converted into a bicycle and pedestrian span in 1994, boosting the downtown riverfront's reputation as an outdoorsy tourist destination practically overnight.
It passes by the world renowned Guthrie Theater, the historic Mill City Museum and the roaring St. Anthony Falls, so there is quite literally something for everyone to enjoy along the way in addition to the incredible views.
LOUNGE IN
LORING PARK
Loring Park / Credit: The Cultural Landscape Foundation
Peppered with fountains and lakes and complete with a small but popular dog park, Loring Park is a great place to spend the day with nothing but a good book and a blanket. It’s centrally located in Minneapolis and part of the broader downtown landscape, too, so if you’ve got a couple of extra hours on hand, it’s an easy activity to fit in.
Strike a pose at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and have dinner at the critically acclaimed Gai Noi or classic Nicollet Diner on your way out to experience the best the adjacent neighborhood offers.
VISIT THE COMO PARK
CONSERVATORY & ZOO
Como Park's Obon Festival / Credit: Visit Saint Paul
Composed of 13 different rooms and areas that range from an orchid house to a dome filled with palm trees, the Como Conservatory runs on donations, so you can pay as little or as much as you want to experience it. Open year-round and located alongside the Como Zoo, the conservatory is a popular winter destination for visitors seeking a taste of the tropics even when the ground outside is covered with snow.
During the warmer months, explore St. Paul's landmark park to stroll along Como Lake, find a classic carousel in the amusement park, splash in the outdoor waterpark, play a round of golf, or catch special events like the annual Cherry Trees Celebration and Obon Festival that honor the area's sister city connection to Japan.
BYPASS TRAFFIC BY BIKING
THE MIDTOWN GREENWAY
Formerly a railroad corridor, the Midtown Greenway in Minneapolis is now practically a highway for bikes
Whether you’re a visitor looking to pop from tourist spot to tourist spot by bike or a local looking to inject a little more of the outdoors into your daily commute, the Midtown Greenway is the place to do it. Often described as a highway for bikes, it makes cutting across the dense neighborhoods of South Minneapolis as easy as riding a bike.
Built in a former railroad trench, the trail cuts effortlessly across 5.5 miles of Minneapolis connecting the Mississippi River to the Chain of Lakes and beyond. In many ways the trail functions as a hub of the entire Minneapolis-St. Paul bicycling network, with connections to trails and paths that can take you nearly anywhere in the region.
Even if you don’t have anywhere in particular to go, this bike and walking path touches so much of Minneapolis that no matter where you stop off, you’re likely to find something new and fun to do along the way. Pedal your own bike or borrow a ride from the Twin Cities' bike-sharing program, Nice Ride.
LEARN A HISTORY LESSON
AT CARVER PARK RESERVE
Stop into Carver Park Preserve for a glimpse of lakes and prairies just off the trail / Three Rivers Park District
Just west of Minneapolis in Victoria, Carver Park Reserve offers something for everyone. As one of the largest parks in the Three Rivers Park District, it encompasses 3,500 acres of rolling hills, woods, countryside and several lakes. Miles of winding, paved and unpaved trails cater to bicyclists, runners, hikers and horseback riders.
Three park facilities highlight the area's culture and nature. The Lowry Nature Center has animals including snakes and raptors and interpretive displays in a prairie-style building and trails and wildlife viewing on its 250-acre site. The Grimm Farm Historic Site tells the history of 19th-century German farmers and pioneering seed-savers who gave us the first winter-hardy alfalfa. View more wildlife on the lake and wetlands at the King Waterfowl Sanctuary.
Other park amenities include a children’s play area, boating, fishing, archery and an off-leash dog area. Stay the night at the Lake Auburn campground or one of the group camp areas. The Carver Park Reserve is linked to Hopkins by the 15-mile Lake Minnetonka LRT Regional Trail, which passes through Chanhassen, Excelsior and Minnetonka.
Find more things to do outdoors.
Cinnamon Janzer is a freelance journalist based in Minneapolis who writes broadly about culture, business and travel. Her words have been published in National Geographic, New York magazine, The Washington Post, Fast Company, Eater and USA Today.