If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that we could all use more time outdoors. A new year brings much to look forward to, with resolutions and promises for the next 12 months. But in all of the busyness before us, it’s easy to feel stressed. It’s important to step back, take a few peaceful moments, and reflect before diving into all that lies ahead. Luckily, Minnesota has just what you need to find some peace before the next 12 months of activity truly begin. Namely, the Land of 10,000 Lakes has many nature destinations that you can reach through a perfectly peaceful hike that will help you clear your head. Here are seven of the best hikes in Minnesota:

  1. Cliff Line Trail — Blue Mounds State Park

Michel Curi/Flickr If you’re like most Minnesotans, you probably haven’t been to Blue Mounds State Park. We don’t blame you. It’s in the southwestern corner of the state, far from any major city. But this year, make a point to visit. The pink quartzite cliffs are unlike anything else in Minnesota. Hike the Cliff Line Trail for a view of the vast prairie beyond the cliffs. Rest, reflect, and take in the view. Blue Mounds State Park, 1410 161st St, Luverne, MN 56156, USA

  1. Loop Trail — Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park

Michael Janke/Flickr Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park is a wonderful spot about 60 miles south of Minneapolis. True to its name, the park has beautiful, thick woods that are wonderful for walking in. Hidden in the woods is the aptly named Hidden Falls, where a lovely waterfall tumbles over the rocks. The quiet solitude of this lesser known park make it a winner for those craving reflection – especially during the winter in Minnesota! Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, 9700 170th St E, Nerstrand, MN 55053, USA

  1. Big Spring Falls Trail — Banning State Park

Tom Stelmach/Flickr At Banning State Park in Sandstone, Minnesota, the Big Spring Falls trail is a short but lovely hike thorough the woods. You’ll eventually arrive at the Kettle River where it falls over a rocky cliff. This peaceful place is a must-visit spot for anyone looking for a quiet spot. Banning State Park, 61101 Banning Park Rd, Sandstone, MN 55072, USA

  1. Garden Loop — Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary

Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary/Facebook Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden is one of the prettiest parks in the Twin Cities! In warmer months, this gorgeous park is full of colorful wildflowers. And when fall comes, the changing leaves are absolutely stunning. A quiet stroll through this amazing park is just the thing to indulge in some quiet reflection. Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, 1 Theodore Wirth Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55405, USA

  1. Long Prairie Trail — Jeffers Petroglyphs

Ben Schaffhausen/Flickr Jeffers Petroglyphs doesn’t have waterfalls or cliff views. But it has a beauty all its own. For example, Jeffers Petroglyphs is a large outcrop of stone carvings that happens to have more petroglyphs than anywhere else in Minnesota. In fact, the site has more petroglyphs in one place than anywhere else in the Midwest! Nestled in a nondescript field in southern Minnesota, those who follow the tallgrass-lined trail will find a wonderful surprise. The quartzite outcrop is covered in ancient petroglyphs from people who lived in and passed through Minnesota long ago. This spot will have you reflecting on the distant past as well as the coming year. Jeffers Petroglyphs, 27160 Co Rd 2, Comfrey, MN 56019, USA

  1. Bluff Trail — Touch the Sky Prairie

G Yarne/AllTrails Blue Mounds State Park isn’t the only worthwhile place to visit on the southwestern Minnesota prairie. Follow the short, easy Bluff Trail in Touch the Sky Prairie for a rare glimpse of a prairie waterfall. In this remote area, you will likely be among the only people visiting, making it a perfect place to rest and reflect. Touch the Sky Prairie, Hardwick, MN 56134, USA

  1. Dr. Roberts Trail — Itasca State Park

Jenni Konrad/Flickr Fun fact: Itasca State Park is Minnesota’s first state park! It’s also home to some of the state’s most beautiful nature. Take a walk along the quiet Dr. Roberts Trail for a wooded trek through nature. Admire Lake Itasca, and don’t forget to walk across the Mississippi River headwaters! Taking part in this tradition will connect you to the past even as you look towards the future. Itasca State Park, 36750 Main Park Drive, Park Rapids, MN 56470, USA

What are your picks for the best hikes in Minnesota? Let us know in the comments below! And for more to put on your Minnesota bucket list, check out our list of 12 Minnesota restaurants to dine at, one for each month of the year!

Michel Curi/Flickr

If you’re like most Minnesotans, you probably haven’t been to Blue Mounds State Park. We don’t blame you. It’s in the southwestern corner of the state, far from any major city. But this year, make a point to visit. The pink quartzite cliffs are unlike anything else in Minnesota. Hike the Cliff Line Trail for a view of the vast prairie beyond the cliffs. Rest, reflect, and take in the view.

Blue Mounds State Park, 1410 161st St, Luverne, MN 56156, USA

Michael Janke/Flickr

Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park is a wonderful spot about 60 miles south of Minneapolis. True to its name, the park has beautiful, thick woods that are wonderful for walking in. Hidden in the woods is the aptly named Hidden Falls, where a lovely waterfall tumbles over the rocks. The quiet solitude of this lesser known park make it a winner for those craving reflection – especially during the winter in Minnesota!

Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, 9700 170th St E, Nerstrand, MN 55053, USA

Tom Stelmach/Flickr

At Banning State Park in Sandstone, Minnesota, the Big Spring Falls trail is a short but lovely hike thorough the woods. You’ll eventually arrive at the Kettle River where it falls over a rocky cliff. This peaceful place is a must-visit spot for anyone looking for a quiet spot.

Banning State Park, 61101 Banning Park Rd, Sandstone, MN 55072, USA

Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary/Facebook

Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden is one of the prettiest parks in the Twin Cities! In warmer months, this gorgeous park is full of colorful wildflowers. And when fall comes, the changing leaves are absolutely stunning. A quiet stroll through this amazing park is just the thing to indulge in some quiet reflection.

Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, 1 Theodore Wirth Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55405, USA

Ben Schaffhausen/Flickr

Jeffers Petroglyphs doesn’t have waterfalls or cliff views. But it has a beauty all its own. For example, Jeffers Petroglyphs is a large outcrop of stone carvings that happens to have more petroglyphs than anywhere else in Minnesota. In fact, the site has more petroglyphs in one place than anywhere else in the Midwest! Nestled in a nondescript field in southern Minnesota, those who follow the tallgrass-lined trail will find a wonderful surprise. The quartzite outcrop is covered in ancient petroglyphs from people who lived in and passed through Minnesota long ago. This spot will have you reflecting on the distant past as well as the coming year.

Jeffers Petroglyphs, 27160 Co Rd 2, Comfrey, MN 56019, USA

G Yarne/AllTrails

Blue Mounds State Park isn’t the only worthwhile place to visit on the southwestern Minnesota prairie. Follow the short, easy Bluff Trail in Touch the Sky Prairie for a rare glimpse of a prairie waterfall. In this remote area, you will likely be among the only people visiting, making it a perfect place to rest and reflect.

Touch the Sky Prairie, Hardwick, MN 56134, USA

Jenni Konrad/Flickr

Fun fact: Itasca State Park is Minnesota’s first state park! It’s also home to some of the state’s most beautiful nature. Take a walk along the quiet Dr. Roberts Trail for a wooded trek through nature. Admire Lake Itasca, and don’t forget to walk across the Mississippi River headwaters! Taking part in this tradition will connect you to the past even as you look towards the future.

Itasca State Park, 36750 Main Park Drive, Park Rapids, MN 56470, USA

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The OIYS Visitor Center

Best Hikes in Minnesota August 08, 2022 Sarah M. What are the some other calm and serene places in Minnesota? An activity that always grounds us and fills our souls with peace is wildlife watching. And in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, one of the best places for viewing wildlife in the wild is Minneopa State Park. Over 200 species have been recognized at Minneopa State Park, a hidden gem in Mankato, Minnesota. A beloved place for birders – flycatchers, wrens, vireos, warblers, kinglets, and many species of sparrow and finch can all be spotted here – Minnesota’s third oldest state park is home to a newly re-established American Bison herd. The bison are free to roam an area of 331 acres (the entire park covers 4,643 acres), so spotting them can be tricky. Keep a watchful eye as you drive through the range and take advantage of the Seppmann Mill Overlook, a popular place for spotting these elusive beasts. What are some scenic hikes in Minnesota? There are many incredible trails in every region of Minnesota. They lead you to marvelous lakes and waterfalls, through thick woods full of verdant greenery or fall foliage, and alongside rugged cliffs with epic coastal vistas. In short, the scenery in Minnesota is sublime, and hiking is the best way to enjoy it! Some of our favorite hikes in Minnesota are off-the-beaten-path trails like Hidden Falls at Nerstrand/Big Woods State Park; the Cannon Valley Trail in Southeastern Minnesota; the North Country Trail, which boasts jaw-dropping views of Lake Superior, the Border Route Trail, a winding path through the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area; and the Hyland Lake Trail, located in the eponymous Hyland Lake Park Reserve.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Best Hikes in Minnesota

August 08, 2022

Sarah M.

What are the some other calm and serene places in Minnesota? An activity that always grounds us and fills our souls with peace is wildlife watching. And in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, one of the best places for viewing wildlife in the wild is Minneopa State Park. Over 200 species have been recognized at Minneopa State Park, a hidden gem in Mankato, Minnesota. A beloved place for birders – flycatchers, wrens, vireos, warblers, kinglets, and many species of sparrow and finch can all be spotted here – Minnesota’s third oldest state park is home to a newly re-established American Bison herd. The bison are free to roam an area of 331 acres (the entire park covers 4,643 acres), so spotting them can be tricky. Keep a watchful eye as you drive through the range and take advantage of the Seppmann Mill Overlook, a popular place for spotting these elusive beasts. What are some scenic hikes in Minnesota? There are many incredible trails in every region of Minnesota. They lead you to marvelous lakes and waterfalls, through thick woods full of verdant greenery or fall foliage, and alongside rugged cliffs with epic coastal vistas. In short, the scenery in Minnesota is sublime, and hiking is the best way to enjoy it! Some of our favorite hikes in Minnesota are off-the-beaten-path trails like Hidden Falls at Nerstrand/Big Woods State Park; the Cannon Valley Trail in Southeastern Minnesota; the North Country Trail, which boasts jaw-dropping views of Lake Superior, the Border Route Trail, a winding path through the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area; and the Hyland Lake Trail, located in the eponymous Hyland Lake Park Reserve.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

An activity that always grounds us and fills our souls with peace is wildlife watching. And in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, one of the best places for viewing wildlife in the wild is Minneopa State Park. Over 200 species have been recognized at Minneopa State Park, a hidden gem in Mankato, Minnesota. A beloved place for birders – flycatchers, wrens, vireos, warblers, kinglets, and many species of sparrow and finch can all be spotted here – Minnesota’s third oldest state park is home to a newly re-established American Bison herd. The bison are free to roam an area of 331 acres (the entire park covers 4,643 acres), so spotting them can be tricky. Keep a watchful eye as you drive through the range and take advantage of the Seppmann Mill Overlook, a popular place for spotting these elusive beasts.

What are some scenic hikes in Minnesota?

There are many incredible trails in every region of Minnesota. They lead you to marvelous lakes and waterfalls, through thick woods full of verdant greenery or fall foliage, and alongside rugged cliffs with epic coastal vistas. In short, the scenery in Minnesota is sublime, and hiking is the best way to enjoy it! Some of our favorite hikes in Minnesota are off-the-beaten-path trails like Hidden Falls at Nerstrand/Big Woods State Park; the Cannon Valley Trail in Southeastern Minnesota; the North Country Trail, which boasts jaw-dropping views of Lake Superior, the Border Route Trail, a winding path through the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area; and the Hyland Lake Trail, located in the eponymous Hyland Lake Park Reserve.