Home › Minnesota
Running trails in Minnesota
903 trails across 135 cities in Minnesota, with the most in Minneapolis, Duluth, and St Paul — including 181 paved, 73 loops, 105 shaded, and 28 long enough for a 5-mile run. Every listing shows the things runners actually decide on: surface, loop distance, shade, lighting, restrooms, water and trailhead parking. Pick a city for the full local list, or filter the Minnesota trails below.
Cities in Minnesota
Every city and town in Minnesota with a running trail in the directory, most trails first.
- Minneapolis
- Duluth
- St Paul
- Eden Prairie
- Mankato
- Rochester
- Faribault
- Red Wing
- Woodbury
- Lakeville
- Eagan
- St Cloud
- Burnsville
- Farmington
- Maplewood
- Plymouth
- Roseville
- Brooklyn Park
- Chaska
- Fridley
- Maple Grove
- Shoreview
- Stillwater
- Blaine
- Coon Rapids
- Hastings
- Minnetonka
- Apple Valley
- Cottage Grove
- Fergus Falls
- Moorhead
- Rosemount
- Shakopee
- Andover
- Monticello
- Chanhassen
- Golden Valley
- Oakdale
- Savage
- Anoka
- Hopkins
- New Brighton
- Otsego
- Owatonna
- Ramsey
- Winona
- Bemidji
- Cambridge
- Elk River
- Inver Grove Heights
- Lino Lakes
- Prior Lake
- Richfield
- St Louis Park
- Vadnais Heights
- Willmar
- Bloomington
- Brooklyn Center
- Cloquet
- Columbia Heights
- Mendota Heights
- Rogers
- Sauk Rapids
- Albert Lea
- Alexandria
- Detroit Lakes
- Edina
- Hugo
- Hutchinson
- Little Canada
- North Branch
- Northfield
- Robbinsdale
- Waconia
- White Bear Lake
- Worthington
- Brainerd
- Champlin
- East Bethel
- East Grand Forks
- Grand Rapids
- Lake Elmo
- South St Paul
- St Michael
- Austin
- Big Lake
- Circle Pines
- Fairmont
- Forest Lake
- Hibbing
- North Mankato
- Victoria
- Waite Park
- Wayzata
- Arden Hills
- Baxter
- Buffalo
- Cannon Falls
- Cohasset
- Crystal
- Ham Lake
- Hermantown
- Mahtomedi
- Marshall
- Mendota
- Mounds View
- North St Paul
- Oak Park Heights
- Sartell
- Sauk Centre
- St Francis
- St Peter
- West St Paul
- White Bear Township
- Afton
- Carlton
- Chisholm
- Clearwater
- Columbus
- Dayton
- Dundas
- Esko
- Eyota
- Fort Ripley
- Isanti
- Laporte
- Minnesota City
- Minnetrista
- New Hope
- New Ulm
- Nisswa
- Shorewood
- Spring Lake Park
- St Joseph
- Two Harbors
Notable running trails in Minnesota
The Minnesota trails runners review most, ranked by rating weighted by review volume. Filter by surface, loop, distance, shade or lighting to narrow to the run you're actually planning. See the full best-of-Minnesota ranking →
Gooseberry Falls State Park
4.9 ★★★★★ 11,005 reviews
1,682-acre park with scenic waterfalls & diverse wildlife, plus campgrounds, trails & picnic areas.
Minnehaha Regional Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 11,113 reviews
This 193-acre riverfront park has miles of trails & a waterfall celebrated in a Longfellow poem.
Theodore Wirth Regional Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 3,265 reviews
A 759-acre park offering year-round activities plus a lake, urban forest & chalet-style clubhouse.
Lake Nokomis Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 3,022 reviews
Popular park providing sailing, paddlesport rentals, concessions, a community center & playground.
Munsinger Gardens
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,688 reviews
Shade-covered, tranquil oasis with a variety of flowers, a rock garden, greenhouse & lily pond.
Fort Snelling State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,722 reviews
Boasting a golf course & many trails for hiking, biking or skiing, this park also offers swimming.
Sibley Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,396 reviews
Expansive, popular park with a petting zoo, sports facilities, fishing & winter sledding.
Leif Erikson Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,418 reviews
Popular park along the Lakewalk featuring a small stage for events, a rose garden & water views.
Battle Creek Regional Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 2,404 reviews
Busy park offering a summer aquatic center, pavilion, playground, off-leash dog area & paved trails.
Lake of the Isles Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,992 reviews
Path-lined park offers areas for ice skating, canoeing & picnicking, plus an off-leash dog park.
Bunker Hills Regional Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 2,013 reviews
1,600-acre park with a seasonal outdoor water park, a campground, sports facilities & picnic sites.
Mississippi Gateway Regional Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,828 reviews
Scenic expanse of the Mississippi River with a dam & observation deck, picnic areas & hiking trails.
Quarry Park and Nature Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,818 reviews
Scenic wildlife spot for hiking, biking, picnicking, fishing, swimming & rock-climbing.
Central Park of Maple Grove
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,719 reviews
Urban park with a playground for all ages, plus a seasonal, interactive fountain & ice-skating loop.
Lake George/Eastman Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,716 reviews
Clean park at the city's center featuring a lake, hiking paths and playgrounds.
Vermillion Falls Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,662 reviews
Pit stop with a scenic waterfall, walking trail & rentable picnic pavilion for events.
Park Point Recreation Area
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,612 reviews
Relaxed, sandy beach on Lake Superior (with a pavilion) offering picnic spots and swimming.
Quarry Hill Nature Center
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,502 reviews
Large park offering hiking trails, a man-made cave & a nature center with classes & live animals.
Quarry Hill Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,497 reviews
Peaceful natural area with a nature center, trails, wildlife habitats & educational programming.
Bryant Lake Regional Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,484 reviews
Bustling recreational area on 170 acres, with a beach, boating & an 18-hole disc golf course.
Hidden Falls Regional Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,485 reviews
Charming, long-established park featuring waterfalls, trails, a boat launch & scenic picnic areas.
Tamarack Nature Center
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,371 reviews
Large preserve with hiking & cross-country skiing trails, plus a play area & orienteering course.
North Mississippi Regional Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 1,225 reviews
River, woods & prairie grounds features diverse wildlife, trails, a big playground & a fishing pier.
Lilydale Regional Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,115 reviews
Forested floodplain along the Mississippi with a small lake & walking paths, plus fishing & birding.
Carver Lake Park and Beach
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,082 reviews
Hiking, biking, archery, picnics & unguarded swimming are offered in this picturesque city park.
Carver Park Reserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,034 reviews
Large tract featuring a campground, nature center & historic farm site, plus bird habitats & trails.
Lyndale Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 996 reviews
Quiet nature hub with 4 themed gardens showcases roses, perennials & plants that attract wildlife.
Veterans Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,034 reviews
Popular lakefront park featuring an outdoor pool, ice arena, mini-golf course & community events.
Springbrook Nature Center
4.7 ★★★★★ 996 reviews
Diverse habitats & wildlife plus hiking trails, floating boardwalks & an interpretive center.
No trails match those filters.
Minnesota trails by surface
Surface is the biggest split in trail running — asphalt is fast and predictable, crushed limestone is softer but still smooth, dirt is easiest on the joints and the most fun, boardwalk is flat and scenic but slick when wet.
More ways to find a trail in Minnesota
- Best running trails in Minnesota — the state-wide ranking from runner reviews
- Loop trails — 73 in Minnesota come back to the trailhead without backtracking
- Long-run trails (5+ miles) — 28 in Minnesota are long enough for a proper long run
- Shaded trails — 105 in Minnesota keep tree cover over the path for summer miles
- Lit trails — 49 in Minnesota have lighting for pre-dawn and post-work runs
- Trails with restrooms — 393 in Minnesota, and 159 with water fountains
- Trailhead parking — 418 in Minnesota have parking at the trailhead
- Dog-friendly trails — 253 in Minnesota you can run with a dog
- Stroller & wheelchair-accessible — 149 in Minnesota are smooth and wide enough
- Scenic trails — 437 in Minnesota runners single out for the views
- Browse by surface — paved, crushed limestone, natural dirt or boardwalk
- All trail features — loops, shade, lighting, restrooms, mile markers and more
- Running trails by state — the rest of the country
- Trail-running guides — surfaces and your knees, loop vs out-and-back, trail etiquette, running before dawn
Trail features in Minnesota
- Scenic Running Trails
- Trails with Trailhead Parking
- Trails with Restrooms
- Dog-Friendly Running Trails
- Quiet, Uncrowded Trails
- Trails with Water Fountains
- Stroller & Wheelchair-Accessible Trails
- Hilly Trails & Hill Workouts
- Shaded Running Trails
- Loop Trails (No Backtracking)
- Lit Trails for Early & Night Runs
- Flat & Fast Running Trails
- Long-Run Trails (5+ Miles)
- Trails with Mile Markers