Winchell Trail

For those of you who are hiking enthusiasts, find another trail. This is very scenic and a great place for an afternoon walk but the fun ends there. It’s no place for a hike…
The area is really nice — along the river. Bike & walking trails abound.

The Winchell Trail is an old Native American trail that runs along the west side of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis roughly from the Franklin Ave Bridge to the Ford Parkway Bridge. It is about 4.5 miles of trails that vary from super technical single track to easy rolling paths.
This is definitely a hidden gem of the city. You feel like you have completely escaped the metro area and even though you are miles away from downtown Minneapolis. There are also two very nice and private beaches right along the river. Great for practicing trail running.