Most trail runners in the Twin Cities area know that Afton State Park has the best hiking within driving distance of the metro area. There are around 20 miles of trails running up and down the bluffs that overlook the St. Croix River, including a loop through a hilltop prairie, and alongside trout streams and through narrow valleys. 

Afton is the perfect place for either a day hike with some decent elevation, or an easy walk along the river.

You'll find Buffalo River State Park in Glyndon, just 14 miles from Moorhead. The 19-acre park has 12 miles of flat, unpaved trails that travel through prairies and forests along the Buffalo River. It’s one of the state’s biggest grassland preserves, and a great place to hike on warmer days thanks to plenty of tree cover and cool, breezy winds.

Hike the 2.2-mile Prairie View Trail through the northwestern part of the park as it follows the western bank of the river to the edge of Bluestem Prarie Scientific and Natural Area. This lush prairie landscape is home to over 250 species of grasses and wildflowers, including rare types like the small white lady’s slipper. You'll also find more common flora like butterfly weed, an orangish-red flower with bright green-leafed stems, and switchgrass.

Wildlife viewing is also a popular activity at Buffalo River. As you explore the park, take a peek among the cottonwood, oak, ash and elm trees along the water’s edge for beavers, deer and even moose!

Just a few miles outside Marshall — the state’s far southwest corner, where much of the wild lands were tilled for crops — you’ll find some fantastic hiking at Camden State Park. The park is centered on the Redwood River and has a healthy mix of woods and prairies with some 15 miles of hiking trails, including a stunning view from the top of the park’s moraines (hills left by the glaciers). You can also explore the park’s “Coteau des Prairies”, or highland prairies, as French explorers once called them. 

To get an idea of what swaths of Minnesota once looked like, you can’t do better than Glacial Lakes State Park, whose rolling glacial hill are covered in rare wildflowers like prairie clover, pasque flowers and coneflowers. Only one-tenth of 1 percent of Minnesota’s native prairies are left. Hiking at Glacial Lakes is one of the best ways to see what remains, with more than 16 miles of trails under the wide-open sky.  

Heading north from Duluth, Gooseberry Falls is the first of eight Minnesota State Parks on the North Shore of Lake Superior. You'll find 20 miles of hiking trails at this popular destination including the fantastic Fifth Falls Trail. The 3-mile trail loop passes the park's well-trod lower and middle falls, winding northwest along the Gooseberry River to the less-crowded upper falls before continuing along the southern side of the waterway to the park's secluded Fifth Falls.

Birch and pine trees line the path, and summer wildflowers and fall leaves provide beautiful bursts of color. Hikers on Fifth Falls Trail get incredible views of the falls and a mellow workout from the 298-foot elevation. Start your hike early to avoid crowds, and wear waterproof shoes to prevent blisters.

People looking for a more level hike should take the Gitchi Gummi Trail. This mostly flat Hiking Club route is 2.2 miles long and crosses the Gooseberry River before heading east for some jaw-dropping overlook views of the lake. Open year-round, this intermediate path is an excellent option for snowshoeing during the winter.

Lake Shetek State Park is near Currie in southwestern Minnesota and abuts the largest lake in the region. The park is nestled against the southeast corner of the lake, offering 14 miles of hiking trails through restored prairie, wetlands and 250-year-old oak trees. 

Take the 1-mile self-guided loop across a land bridge around Loon Island for an easy start. This wheelchair-accessible pathway is crushed quartzite rock and runs from the picnic area around the island. 

As you’re hiking, watch for the unique, purple pom-pom-like wild bergamot flowers; you’ll know them from their mint-scented leaves. Take a rest at the benches along the way to enjoy views of the sandy beach and clear blue waters. Use the Lake Shetek birding checklist to denote which bird species you observe, including resident purple martins and bald eagles. The trails follow the lake and are often wet, so consider calling the park ahead of time to see which routes are dry.

If you’re in Minnesota’s lake country, the best hiking you’ll find is at Maplewood State Park near Pelican Rapids. The park has some 25 miles of trails that wind through a mix of hardwood forest, prairies, maple basswood forests and lake shores throughout the park’s 9,250-acres. There are lots of hilltop overlooks, and lush foliage in the fall.

Old Mill State Park is in northwest Minnesota, near Argyle, and features a historic site that was a family homestead in 1882. The area was once a travel route for traders and local Anishinaabe people who took advantage of the region's many beaches for easy travel. In the late 1800s, settlers installed water- and wind-powered mills, one of which the park still uses to process flour during an annual community event. 

Hikers should check out Agassiz Trail, a 1.3-mile beginner-friendly hike named after the massive glacial lake that covered much of this area around 12,000 years ago. The receding waters created the high beach ridgelines you'll see along the hike today as it that meanders through marshes, prairie and riverine forest.

The Middle River cuts through the park, providing a perfect habitat for deer, beaver and nesting marsh hawks. During the summer, the park bursts with vibrant wildflowers like showy lady’s slippers and asters. If passable, walk over the suspension bridge with beautiful stone arches to get a better view of the river.

Found along the rushing St. Croix River about an hour northeast of Minneapolis, William O’Brien State Park is a perfect, city-adjacent getaway for many Minnesotans and visitors. The 1,653-acre park encompasses rolling, wooded hills and 12 miles of hiking trails.

More ambitious hikers can check out the Prairie Overlook Trail, a 3.8-mile trek with 367 feet of elevation gain and beautiful views of the St. Croix Valley from the top. This medium-traffic route passes through a wetland, over gentle hills and past a beaver lodge! You may spot white-tail deer, beaver or woodchuck strolling along in this diverse environment. Many hikers wear bathing suits to cool off with a dip in Lake Alice, which borders the western half of the trail.