Your Guide to Easy Hiking Trails Across Southeast Minnesota

There are so many options for hiking around southeast Minnesota but some trails can turn out to be quite difficult. So if you're someone that wants to get out hiking but you aren't able to do a strenuous hike or you just want a leisurely stroll, this hiking guide is for you!

I took to the website called Hiking Project, where fellow hikers share their experiences/more information about hiking trails they've been to. Using their insight, I put together a list of easy (and some that are considered easy/intermediate) hiking trails around southeast Minnesota.

So find a trail that looks interesting to you and have fun!

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Easy Hiking Trails Around Southeast Minnesota

Beaver Creek Valley State Park - Caledonia
Trail: Beaver Creek Valley Trail - 2 miles - Easy/Intermediate

Cannon River Wilderness Area - Dundas
Trail: West Trailhead - 4.1 miles - Easy/Intermediate

Chester Woods Park - Eyota
Trails: Chester Lake Trail - 1.2 miles - Easy
Dam Overlook Trail - 1.2 miles - Easy
Kisrow Trail - 1.5 miles - Easy
North Trail - 2.6 miles - Easy

Frontenac State Park - Lake City
Trail: Paved Path - 0.8 miles - Easy

Great River Bluffs State Park - Winona/La Crescent
Trails (left to right): Kings Bluff Trail - 1.3 miles - Easy/Intermediate
Overlook Spur Trail - 0.2 miles - Easy
South Overlook Spur Trail - 0.2 miles - Easy
South Overlook Connector - 0.4 miles - Easy

Lake Louise State Park - Grand Meadow
Trail: Hiking Club Trail (Wildwood Loop) - 1.3 miles - Easy

Lewiston Prairie Trails Park Loop - Lewiston - 1.4 miles - Easy/Intermediate

Nerstrand Big Woods State Park - Nerstrand
Trails (there are tons!): Basswood Trail - 0.6 miles - Easy
Beaver Trail - 1.5 miles - Easy/Intermediate
Big Woods Trail - 1 mile - Easy
Fawn Trail - 1.5 miles - Easy/Intermediate
Hidden Falls Trail - 1 mile - Easy/Intermediate
Hope Trail - 1.4 miles - Easy/Intermediate
Ironwood Trail - 0.5 miles - Easy
Maple Trail - 1 mile - Easy
Prairie Trail - 1.7 miles - Easy
White Oak Trail - 1.2 miles - Easy/Intermediate

The only trail at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park that's not labeled as easy or easy/intermediate is an intermediate trail. It's the grey one on the map and is called the Fox Trail. It's 1.3 miles long.

Quarry Hill Park - Rochester
Trails: Family Spur Trail - 0.1 miles - Easy
Family Trail - 1.5 miles - Easy
Pond and Prairie Loop Trail - 0.3 miles - Easy
Stream Trail - 0.3 miles - Easy
Stream Trail Loop - 0.3 miles - Easy
Winter Sports Connector Trail - 0.1 miles - Easy

Rice Lake State Park - Owatonna
Trail: Hiking Club Trail - 2.7 miles - Easy

Richard J Dorer Memorial Hardwood Forest - Stewartville
Trail: Root River Park Trail - 1.9 miles - Easy/Intermediate

St. Olaf College Natural Lands - Northfield
Trail: Big Pond Loop - 0.8 miles - Easy