Urban Hiking in the Twin Cities
The Father Hennepin Park, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Even if you can't travel outside of the Minneapolis city limits there are many hikes that give the experience of the great outdoors without the drive time.
Either because of time or inability to travel beyond the bus lines, many Twin Cities residents are not able to travel to any of Minnesota's state parks to satisfy their need for recreation. Minneapolis and St. Paul feature a wide variety of parks. Some of these are merely a small “tot lot,” but some offer the chance to experience more of the great outdoors than would be expected in an urban environment.
One such hike begins at the parking lot on Nicollet Island. This lot can be accessed either by the Hennepin Avenue Bridge or by Main Street and the Merriam Street Bridge. Parking is also available along Main Street or by combining the hike with another from Boom Island Park and parking in the plentiful parking there. Minutes away from downtown, this route is perfect after a hard day at the office, geocaching or to show out-of-town visitors some of the beauty of the Twin Cities. This hike is also a portion of the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail, which circles the St. Anthony Falls and the location of some of the most historically significant portions of the city. Visible above the path are some of the old factory buildings from the heyday of this portion of Minneapolis.
The path begins near the border of the Pillsbury Park and the Father Hennepin Park. There is a stairway access to the Lower Trail of the Father Hennepin Park.* The trail takes hikers through woods as well as old remnants of the walls supporting the factories lining the road above. Several of the bridges are in need of minor repairs, and care should be taken not to slip or trip. These bridges meander around the lower trail and several routes can be taken and explored past waterfalls and streams. In the winter impressive icicles form near the waterfalls and on the cliffs near the end of the trail.
This pathway ends at another staircase that is closed in the winter months due to safety concerns. However, it is not a long trip back to the beginning of the trail and hikers are easily able to combine this hike with other connecting parks and paths, most prominently the Stone Arch Bridge where in the distance can be seen the reconstruction of the 35W Bridge.
One negative aspect of this trail is the graffiti that mars the landscape. Most of it is fairly innocuous (including huge cement cubes painted to look like children’s blocks) however at rare points the trail that are not child appropriate.
While this route is short, it packs a big impact when you just must get that “out of the big city” experience but are unable to actually hit the highway.
Length: Short
Difficulty: Moderate (difficulty varies greatly depending upon the season.)
*Please note that in winter weather the path may be slick and icy, and may be labeled as closed. Take this hike at your discretion and always keep in mind your safety.
