The Minneapolis outdoor recreation is a haven for those people who love spending time with nature. Because of the city’s bountiful lakes, its glorious winters and great parks, there are many Minneapolis outdoor activities that could whet the appetite of any nature lover.
One of the most popular outdoor activities in Minneapolis that you should take the time out to experience, aside from ice fishing during winter, is taking a hike at the Gateway Trail in the downtown area. Starting at the northern area of Saint Paul’s state capitol, the trail ends at Stillwater’s northern area. This wide and almost flat trail is 18 miles long and very famous for rollerblading, jogging, biking and even horseback riding in trails that are split into two. A great thing about this outdoor Minneapolis area is that it leads you to a different trail that will take you to Phalen Park. Not very far from the Gateway Trail, this park does not only have lots of amenities, it also has a beach to boast of.
Boating and canoeing are also among the most famous Minneapolis outdoor recreation that you can enjoy. You can either go boating on Gull Lake or go canoeing at Lake Calhoun. At the Gull Lake, you can hire a pontoon boat and spend an entire day motoring about without ever having the fear of running into somebody because of the size of the lake. At Lake Calhoun, which is one of the most beautiful Minneapolis outdoors places, you can rent lifejackets and a canoe at the concession stand and then paddle your way through the four lakes near the area.
From Lake Calhoun, you can paddle your way down towards the channel where you can see many people fishing during the summer, until you reach Lake of Isles. This area of outdoor recreation in Minneapolis is very scenic because even if Lake of Isles was once a swamp, it now boasts of fine mansions and large old trees lining its shore. Because after Lakes of Isles, you can head down to another beautiful lake, which is the Cedar Lake, canoeing in the city is really one of the favorite outdoor activities in Minneapolis. Cedar is cleaner as well as bigger than the Isles and even has a number of picnic areas and public beaches, where you can stop by for a while to take a dip in the waters or take some meals or refreshments.
If you have more time in your hands, then you can also explore more of Minneapolis outdoors at the small Brownie Lake by passing through a thin channel going northwest. Although the shoreline at Brownie remains undeveloped until this time, it is still a nice place to cap off you canoe trip before you head back to Lake Calhoun. So, if you are an outdoors lover, you will surely have the time of your life doing outdoor recreation activities in Minneapolis.
When visiting the Chicago area please visit our affiliate at: Chicago Outdoor Activities