Region: Twin Cities. You don’t need to venture out of the Twin Cities to immerse yourself in nature. Fort Snelling State Park is home to 18 miles of hiking trails to explore with your four-legged friend. Start out with the Pike Island Loop, a 3.7 mile loop that sees the point where the Minnesota River and Mississippi River meet. Keep an eye out for bald eagles and blue herons, both well known for making the island home.

Region: Central. If you’re yearning for wide open prairies to run free this fall, head to Central Minnesota’s Glacial Lakes State Park. The undulating hills are punctuated by placid lakes connected by winding pathways through a mix of grasslands, forest, and wetlands. Try the 6-mile Kettle Lakes Loop hike, where you’ll catch a great view of the park and a perfect spot for watching the sunset over the prairie. 

Region: Northeast. Venturing to Minnesota’s North Shore along Lake Superior is fall bucket list entry. Expect leaves to change color earlier in the season and the cold wind off the lake to pack a bit more of a punch than it does in summer months. North of Beaver Bay lies the crag-filled, cliff-laden Tettegouche State Park with more than 23 miles of hiking trails. Warm up on the short but beautiful hike to Shovel Point on Lake Superior. For a workout, head to the Bean and Bear Lake Loop, where you’ll climb 1,066 feet over six-and-a-half miles through untouched north woods forest.

Region: Southern. Just 55 miles southeast of the Twin Cities lies Frontenac State Park on the Mississippi River. Home to beautiful bluffs, wildflower-filled prairies, and a lush canopy forest, this park features a robust network of trails you’ll want to revisit again and again. Don’t miss the overlook of Lake Pepin—a 40-mile wide naturally occurring lake that forms the widest part of the Mississippi—where you’re likely to spot bald eagles soaring in the breeze looking for their next meal in the pristine waters below. 

Region: Northeast. For a North Woods experience that’s just over an hour from the Twin Cities, check out Banning State Park. Start out with a short half-mile shot on the Wolf Creek Trail for a hidden gem of a waterfall. Then take your pup along the Kettle River along the Hell’s Gate trail, where you’ll run right alongside rapids before ascending through the old sandstone quarry on the Quarry Loop Trail. Just be sure to keep a close eye on your four-legged friend, as rapids and waterfalls in this area are not to be taken lightly. With fall colors and rushing water, this will quickly become a go-to for city dwellers seeking a dose of outdoor adventure.