Water, most notably the Mississippi River, but also Minnehaha Creek and the Chain of Lakes, shaped the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, literally. The river, creeks and lakes provide the defining beauty and character of the landscape. They also attracted people, supported the industries the led to the growth of the cities and encourage the active lifestyle of today’s citizens.
Multi-use trails now follow these waterways and form the backbone of vast trails systems, which make Minneapolis and Saint Paul inviting places to bike and walk. Of course, this was no accident. The parks were planned at the same time that the cities were developing in the nineteenth century. Planning was meant to preserve the most beautiful land for public use, before it fell into private ownership. In 1883, Horace Cleveland, the landscape architect responsible for designing the original parks plans in both cities wrote:
“Look forward for a century, to the time when the city has a population of a million, and think what will be their wants. They will have wealth enough to purchase all that money can buy, but all their wealth cannot purchase a lost opportunity, or restore natural features of grandeur and beauty, which would then possess priceless value, and which you can preserve if you will but say the word and save them from the destruction which certainly awaits them if you fail to utter it.”
Thankfully, leaders in both cities heeded his advice, and more than 125 years later, nearly all the waterfront in Minneapolis, the City of Lakes, is owned by the public. More than a hundred miles of biking and walking trails pass through the parks included in the Grand Rounds, a nationally recognized scenic byway passing the Mississippi River, Chain of Lakes and Minnehaha Creek in Minneapolis. In Saint Paul, the southern half of the Grand Round is a paved multi-use trail and upgrades are planned for the northern half.
Subsequent generations have also expanded biking and walking opportunities by building more on-street bike lanes and multi-use trails connecting to the original Grand Rounds. A number of trails have been built in underutilized industrial corridors. The prime example is the award-winning Midtown Greenway, a 5.5-mile, east-west multi-use trail built in an old railroad corridor in south Minneapolis. Other examples, utilizing rail corridors include the Kenilworth and Cedar Lake Trials. The Dinkytown Greenway is built across an old railroad bridge, and the iconic Stone Arch Bridge is another former railroad bridge that’s been restored for biking and walking use.
Today, trails, on-street bike lanes, and low-stress neighborhood streets combine to provide increasingly functional bike networks, and the result is (surprise, surprise) more biking. Bike traffic increased 53 percent in Minneapolis, between 2007 and 2015, and 33 percent in Saint Paul according to city bike counts.
Visitors will notice trails are well used, particularly in Minneapolis, which is always nipping at Portland’s heels, in pursuit of most bike-friendly city in the U.S. Businesses are also beginning to understand that customers travel by bike and more and more bike racks and bike corrals are appearing on sidewalks and streets. Even drivers seem to be more aware of the need to look for bikers.
As popular as biking is, trails are not just the domain of bicyclists. Downtown Minneapolis on a Saturday afternoon may feel quiet, but head east to the river and find runners, walkers, dog-walkers and people doing a variety of activities on the trail.
Walking the trails through the parks systems is certainly an enjoyable way to observe the landscape, but also a great opportunity to people watch and absorb the culture of the cities. Expect to hear Spanish, Somali and Hmong being spoken. Expect the parks to be bustling, especially in the warmer months, and don’t be surprised the action doesn’t stop after October. Walking, running and biking are year-round activities, and hockey, sledding and skiing bring people out in the snow and ice.
In fact, the cold weather is probably one of the main reasons people do live so actively in the Twin Cities. Summer is short and sweet, and so people fully embrace it by spending as much time outdoors as possible. Yet, winter cannot be endured, if one never leaves the house. The conventional wisdom is to get out and embrace winter.
So, it’s not a question of nature versus nurture when trying to understand why the Twin Cities are such a great place to bike and walk. Minneapolis and Saint Paul are great for biking and walking, because they are designed around accessible and attractive outdoor spaces, and because the extreme climate pushes people out the door.
A train near the Bruce Vento Regional Trail
Minneapolis Skyline
Minneapolis Skyline
To find out why people live in Minnesota, visit in June when the sun doesn’t set until nearly 10 p.m. and lakes offer sweet relief. Though, it could be argued the cities are at their best in September and October when autumn leaves turn. In winter months, the city’s trails are enjoyed for skiing, fat-tire biking and snowshoeing.
Nice Ride Minnesota (niceridemn.org), the region’s bike-share system, operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from April through November. More than 200 stations are available throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul. You can purchase single rides or a 24-hour pass which includes unlimited 30-minute rides.
Metro Transit (metrotransit.org) offers light-rail service on two lines: Blue (running between the Mall of America, the airport and downtown) and Green (connecting Minneapolis and St Paul). The Red Line is a bus route between the Mall of America and Apple Valley. Tickets can be purchased at each station or via a mobile app. Bike racks are available in each light-rail car, and two bicycles can fit on each bus.
The Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) is located about 12 miles south of downtown. There are light-rail stations at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, where you can board the Blue Line. Trains run every 10-15 minutes and it’s about a 25-minute trip to reach downtown.
Check out these helpful websites for planning your travel in Minneapolis.
One of the most pleasant patios in Minneapolis, Aster Caf¿ is on a dreamy spot to stop for a drink or dinner. It's only across the river from downtown, but it feels a world away, especially once the...
A string of blocks running from Franklin Ave to the Midtown Greenway featuring restaurants serving everything from Vietnamese to Jamaican with highlights, including pho from Quang Restaurant, bahn mi...
Gourmet ice cream in tons of creative flavors, do you really need to hear more?
Conveniently located off the Midtown Greenway, you can truly taste the Twin Cities at the Midtown Global Market where you'll find authentic tamales at La Loma, French pastries at Salty Tart, craft...
Gorge on fried seafood at this seasonal (April through October) restaurant next to Minnehaha Falls. If the weather's nice, be prepared to wait in line. Pro top: Beer and wine can be ordered at a...
Chef Alex Roberts is a James Beard award-winning chef who operates two restaurants in the space below the Alma Hotel. Alma Caf¿ offers bakery and casual dining all day, walk-ins are welcome. Next...
This museum tells the story of the milling industry in Minneapolis and is built inside the ruins of what was once the world's largest mill. The Washburn A Mill ruins have been restored in such a way...
Conspicuously clad in cobalt, the grand dame of the Minneapolis theater scene offers riverfront views from the Endless Bridge, which make it worth a stop, whether you plan to stay for the play or...
Come for the fine collection of contemporary art and stay for a dinner at Esker Grove and a stroll through the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, which features the unofficial symbol of the city - the...
Saint Anthony Falls (now a dam) was the only natural waterfall in the Upper Mississippi and it allowed for the development of the lumber and grain milling industries. These industries supported the...
Rent a road or hybrid bike from the Midtown location of this local chain. Locks, bags and other bike accessories are also available to rent. Mechanics are on site, as are various facilities for...
Just steps from Lake Hiawatha, you'll find beautiful bikes, gourmet coffee and the cool (non-technical) biking clothes at this combination bike shop and coffee shop. Bonus: Buster's next door has...
Get a repair, fitting or a custom bike from this rad woman-owned bike shop off Loring Park, open on Fridays and by appointment.
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Train travelers will disembark at the historic and recently renovated Union Depot where the conveniently located Lowertown Bike Shop can provide any needed repairs.
Get a repair, grab a coffee from the shop or browse the handsome selection of bikes and accessories. Rentals and demos are also available.
In the heart of the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus, this boutique hotel is right on the Green Line light-rail route and across the river from downtown. It is often the site of...
The Foshay Tower, a 32-story art deco skyscraper, was completed in 1929. Shortly after, the builder, a businessman named Wilbur Foshay, was bankrupted by the stock market crash. His building, however,...
Nicollet Island Inn is a hotel, restaurant and bar tucked away on the quiet side of the river but still only a short walk from downtown. Built in 1893, this building served as a factory and mens...
At the heart of Minneapolis’ world class trail system is the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, a series of interconnected parks and parkways that loop around...
A quintessential part of St. Paul's extensive trails system, the Samuel H. Morgan Regional Trail offers a variety of sights and sounds along its...
Although only 1 mile long, the Dinkytown Greenway provides an important link in a biking network connecting Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The trail...
Minnesota’s Hiawatha LRT Trail runs along a north-south route paralleling both Hiawatha Avenue and the Metro Transit Blue Line in Minneapolis. The...
The Kenilworth Trail runs through dense forest along the eastern side of Minnesota's Cedar Lake. Occasionally, trail users can catch glimpses of some...
The Cedar Lake Light Rail Transit (LRT) Regional Trail is an integral component of Hennepin County’s extensive trail network, in which rail-trails...
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The 5.5-mile Midtown Greenway follows a former railroad corridor through the heart of south Minneapolis, heading due west from the Mississippi River...
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The Gateway State Trail is an 18.3-mile-long segment of the Willard Munger State Trail that offers an urban link to the countryside. The western end...
Overview The Bruce Vento Regional Trail is named in honor of Bruce Frank Vento, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1977 until he...
At first glance, the bright lights of Broadway with traffic signals at every block may not seem like an ideal place for biking and walking, but New York City is full of surprises. Trails have been carved out for cyclists and pedestrians across all five boroughs, in parks, lining the riverfront, in nature preserves, on former elevated rail lines and alongside the beaches (yes, New York City has...
The doorways to San Francisco are always open. Visitors can arrive by car, public transit, ferry or bike. Its position at the waterfront, characteristic hills, compact streets and unique districts lead to the city being very congested, yet very walkable. The established trail network leading to and along key destinations such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park and the Presidio sits...
For its small size, the nation’s capital is jam-packed with attractions: world-class museums, a plethora of historical sites, top-notch theaters and art galleries and a first-hand look at America’s three branches of government. And, for those who want to take it all in, an expanding network of bicycling and walking facilities connects it all.
Despite the hills, despite the rain, Seattle is a great city for walking and biking. And, thanks to the city’s infrastructure investments, it’s slowly getting better all the time. In 2016, Bicycling Magazine ranked Seattle the 5th best bike city in the U.S. WalkScore says Seattle is the 8th most walkable city in the country.
The Magic City is a multicultural destination with water, water, everywhere. The greater Miami metropolitan area stretches from the Everglades, the famed River of Grass, in the west to the Atlantic Ocean in the east, so the city’s trails cover a variety of landscapes and settings. From protected natural areas and sandy beaches to historical neighborhoods and urban hot spots, there’s something for...
Whether you prefer pedaling among high-rise buildings of downtown, clocking fast miles on a paved veloway, exploring a gravel trail along the lake or cruising separated bike paths alongside creeks and streams, Austin’s trail system beckons. The city may be best known for its network of single-track mountain biking and off-road running trails along Barton Creek, but it’s quickly making strides with...
To really understand why Bicycling Magazine recently placed Chicago first on their list of the 50 best U.S. cities for cyclists, it takes a look beyond the 100 miles of new protected bike lanes Chicago has added since 2015, the nearly 600 bright blue Divvy Bike Share stations and, of course, the city’s iconic Lakefront Trail.
Water, most notably the Mississippi River, but also Minnehaha Creek and the Chain of Lakes, shaped the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, literally. The river, creeks and lakes provide the defining beauty and character of the landscape. They also attracted people, supported the industries the led to the growth of the cities and encourage the active lifestyle of today’s citizens.
Towering saguaros, 115-degree summer temperatures, Major League Baseball spring-training parks: They are all signature features of Phoenix, Arizona. A bit more under the radar, perhaps, is the well-established network of trails that crisscrosses the massive urban area.
Picture year-round mild weather, miles of multi-purpose trails, one-of-a-kind sights and a mountains-to-coast terrain with small hills, short hills, large hills and long hills—all interspersed with acres of level land. If you see a pattern here—best described “perfect”—you’ve captured San Diego County’s biking and hiking scene.
