Running
Going the distance: Top running trails in Minneapolis
Whether you’re looking for a quick warmup, or an endurance test to help train for Red Bull Urban Portage, the Mill City is full of options.
With historic music venues, the second tallest skyline in the Midwest, and miles of gorgeous natural scenery, Minneapolis is the place to be. There are few better ways to experience this vibrant city than throwing on a pair of running shoes and hitting a Minneapolis running trail. You’ll find paved urban routes and, unsurprisingly in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, tons of waterfront pathways.
Red Bull Urban Portage in Minneapolis
© Jules Ameel / Red Bull Content Pool
From the suburbs to the heart of downtown — where Red Bull Urban Portage takes place on August 26 — Minneapolis has something for every trail runner. Read ahead for a list of the top running trails in Minneapolis for all experience levels and terrain preferences.
01
Theodore Wirth Park
A short distance from downtown Minneapolis, you’ll find the city’s largest regional park, located at 1301 Theodore Wirth Pkwy. Naturally, this park is full of wildlife and numerous running trails for any level. There are easy, flat paved trails for a quick 30-minute jog, including the 1.4-mile Wirth Lake Loop. There are also more than 12 miles of off-road dirt trails, with winding and inclined options for a more challenging run.
Whichever difficulty level you choose, the woodland scenery is a perfect backdrop on all of Theodore Wirth Park’s trails. In fact, the park includes a bird sanctuary, so you’ll have tons of opportunities to see colorful songbirds like the American Goldfinch or the Common Redpoll.
02
Chain of Lakes
This 12.5-mile paved running trail is one of the best ways to see the City of Lakes. It connects four scenic bodies of water: Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles, Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun), and Lake Harriet. If you want to circle any of these lakes on its own, the loops around each lake range from two to three miles each.
You can also run the entire Chain of Lakes. Start from either the south end near Lake Harriet Parkway or the north side near Cedar Lake Parkway. Both options feature a healthy dose of serene lakeside views and a charming Minneapolis shoreline architectural tour.
03
Mississippi River Gorge Loop Trail
You can run right alongside the Mighty Mississippi in this park sandwiched between the Twin Cities at 3349 W River Parkway. This trail, also known as the West River Parkway Trail, offers picturesque views along its 5.6-mile length. It takes about two hours to complete and is a bit more advanced overall. But it’s worth the challenge for the stunning Mississippi River views and the chance to see over 150 species of migrating birds. If you’re looking for a good rest point, you can take a break next to the Falls of Saint Anthony, the river’s only natural waterfall.
04
Minnehaha Parkway Regional Trail
If you want a taste of the Twin Cities Marathon, this southwest Minneapolis trail accounts for a sizable portion of the annual race’s route. It stretches for nearly five miles from Minnehaha Regional Park at 4801 S Minnehaha Drive, all the way to Lake Harriet. Along the way, you’ll catch views of Minnehaha Creek Park, and Lake Hiawatha.
Toward the east side of the trail, you can take a turn south toward an easy 2.5-mile loop around the tranquil Lake Nokomis. If you stay on the main Minnehaha Parkway trail, though, it’s even and paved. This makes it easy to decide your difficulty level based on how much distance you want to cover.
05
North Cedar Lake Regional Trail
This 4.4-mile paved trail offers all the flavors of Minneapolis in one route. You can start in the Minneapolis suburb of St. Louis Park at Aquila Park. The path will take you through this quaint suburb while providing astonishing views of the Minneapolis skyline. To top it all off, after getting your fix of the city landscape, you’ll end up connecting to trails around Cedar Lake in the city proper.
06
Luce Line State Trail
At a whopping 63 miles, the Luce Line State Trail is one of the most visually diverse environments where you can run in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Some parts of the trail are paved, while others comprise primarily crushed limestone.
Outside of Theodore Wirth Park, the trail ventures across the trestle bridge in Cosmos, and along the shores of Long Lake. If you want to enjoy bursts of orange, red, and yellow leaves in the fall, the Luce Line is known for exceptionally magnificent autumn foliage.
07
Kenilworth Trail
The Kenilworth Trail begins just south of Cedar Lake East Beach. The brisk 1.5-mile trail was originally opened as a railway corridor, so parts of the paved path run next to old railroad tracks. The trail runs from the intersection of Kenilworth Trail and Midtown Greenway to the junction of the North Cedar Lake Regional and Cedar Lake Trails. You can enjoy quiet seclusion among the thicket of forest along the Kenilworth, and you’ll also get a quick jaunt through the upscale Kenwood neighborhood.
08
Victory Memorial Parkway
Located in northern Minneapolis, the Victory Memorial Parkway trail, also known as Victory Memorial Drive, makes a great place to practice for trail races. If you’re planning an upcoming 5K, this loop covers about the same distance. Start at the World War I Victory Memorial Flagpole, then run down to Victory Memorial Park’s gigantic interchange down by Lowry Ave. After that, run back, and you’ll have run 3.4 miles — just a bit more than a 5K.
09
Fort Snelling State Park
Just minutes from the Mall of America, Fort Snelling State Park is another must-see Minneapolis-St. Paul site. This historic state park offers 18 miles of trails with spectacular views of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. You can choose between paved and dirt trails of varying lengths and levels. The nearly 4-mile loop around Pike Island is a multipurpose local favorite year-round, from running in the summer to cross-country skiing in the winter.
Get a running start in Minneapolis
Whether you’re looking for a quick warmup, or an endurance test to help train for Red Bull Urban Portage, the Mill City is full of options. Bask in the glow of the Minneapolis skyline, or loop around one of the city’s thousands of lakes. In the Twin Cities, you’ll never run out of trails.