Minnesota’s Great Outdoors
Plan your visit to Minnesota, a state brimming with endless possibilities and unforgettable experiences. With sprawling prairies, tranquil lakes, lush forests, picturesque river towns, and lively cities, Minnesota offers the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation. Discover the great outdoors and make your next holiday truly extraordinary in this diverse and welcoming destination.
Lutsen Resort
Biking
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Canoeing and Kayaking
Looking for an adventure on the water? Peaceful multi-day canoe trips through remote northern wilderness await you. If urban sightseeing floats are more your style, you’ll love paddling through the Twin Cities. For those seeking a thrill, adrenaline-pumping white-water rafting opportunities abound on rushing river rapids.
With over 10,000 lakes and nearly 70,000 miles of
rivers and streams, Minnesota offers incredible aquatic adventures for every type of paddler. One of the state’s crown jewels is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, located within Superior National Forest in north-eastern Minnesota. This vast preserve of lakes and woods spans about 100 miles along the U.S.-Canada border. The Boundary Waters features over 1,200 miles of canoe routes across more than 1,000 interconnected lakes, rivers, and streams, accessible by portage trails. Despite attracting 200,000 visitors annually, you can travel for days here and explore the area without any disturbance.
Family Jumping Off Houseboat
Lakes
Known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”, Minnesota is perfect for boating enthusiasts. Public boat access is available statewide, and rentals make it easy to enjoy canoeing, kayaking, river rafting, tubing, sailing, or even houseboating.
Minnesota’s lakes are fun year-round, whether you are water skiing or tubing in the summer or snowmobiling and snowshoeing in the winter. Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the country, feels like an ocean. Its North Shore is a top holiday destination, stretching 154 miles from Duluth to charming towns like Two Harbors, Tofte, Lutsen, and Grand Marais.
Closer to Minneapolis, the Chain of Lakes, featuring Bde Maka Ska, Lake Harriet, Lake Cedar, Lake Brownie, and Lake of the Isles, offers a taste of nature in the heart of the city. Three of these lakes are connected and can be paddled as one, creating the illusion of being far from urban life. Summer activities like biking, dining lakeside, and beach-going transition to ice skating and hockey during winter.
Superior Hiking Trail
Hiking
Minnesota is Mother Nature’s playground, offering trails through native prairies, roaring waterfalls, and scenic metro parks. The state is also home to the 300-mile Superior Hiking Trail, a mountainous route along Lake Superior.
An essential part of any Minnesota road trip is stopping to stretch your legs and explore the natural beauty. For example, Afton State Park offers a short, family-friendly trail through a restored prairie, with interpretive signs describing the flora and fauna of this unique habitat. Extend your hike along a paved trail atop a bluff overlooking the St. Croix River, a designated National Scenic Riverway.
Surprisingly, just across Highway 5 from MSP International Airport lies Fort Snelling State Park. This hidden gem greets visitors with turkeys and deer before leading them to the trailhead for Pike Island. Here, hikers can choose from one, two, or three-mile loop trails. The three-mile loop takes you along the shoreline to the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. During the
summer, enjoy a picnic and a swim at the park’s beach. In the winter, warm up by the visitor centre’s fireplace after a brisk hike.
