The Best Easy But Scenic Hikes in Minnesota

Best Easy Scenic Hikes in Minnesota. The best Easy But Scenic Hikes in Minnesota

The Best Easy But Scenic Hikes
in Minnesota

If you’re looking for easy hikes with a big payoff, you’ve stumbled across the right blog post. After traveling extensively around Minnesota (and living here most of my life!) I’ve compiled what I think are the shortest hikes with the best views.

So even if you don’t consider yourself “a hiker” you can confidently jump right in and do any one of these beautiful trails. The hikes range from 1-3 miles but each has a unique, jaw-dropping view point!

So in no particular order, here are the best easy but scenic hikes in Minnesota!

Pellet Island in Silver Bay

This unique hike is along Minnesota’s scenic Highway 61, which locals refer to simply as “the North Shore”.

As you drive along the North Shore, you’ll reach the Silver Bay Marina which is one hour north of Duluth. This is where you’ll want to park your car for the hike out to Pellet Island.

While the hike is short, be prepared to scale over large rocks leading out across Lake Superior and potentially, huge amounts of fog. The hike is “easy” so long as you can crawl over rocks okay 🙂

Once you reach Pellet Island, you can climb up the makeshift ladder and take in the views from above! It’s incredibly beautiful.

Read: PELLET ISLAND: A MUST-DO TREK FOR THE ADVENTUROUS MINNESOTAN

Magnetic Rock
on the Gunflint Trail

The Gunflint Trail in Northern Minnesota (nearly Canada!) is full of incredible hikes. Some are very long and challenging with unmaintained trails. But one hike I found particularly enjoyable and fun was the hike to Magnetic Rock!

This gigantic rock towering at 30 feet high was left by a meteor strike and as the name suggests, it is magnetic. You can actually bring a compass and test the magnetism of the rock. (Normally the needle in the compass points north but if you place it near the rock, it will spin!)

It all seems so science fiction… a giant magnet rock sticking out of the earth from an ancient meteor strike, I love it! The rock is literally as tall as a house. And the views along the way are fantastic.

It’s 3 miles roundtrip.

Read: THE BEST MINNESOTA TRIPS YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY TAKE THIS SUMMER

Quarry Trail at
Blue Mounds State Park

Quarry Trail provides an awesome introduction to the beauty of Blue Mounds State Park because you will immediately get to see some of the iconic red rock cliffs and it’s a short, easy hike.

If you’re driving from Luverne towards Blue Mounds State Park, you’ll see a sign labeling some trails before the actual state park entrance. Turn right here onto 141st Street (AKA Co Highway 8) and stay on this road until the second labeled turn off. There will be a parking lot on your left hand side.

Type “Blue Mounds State Park Rock Climbing Area Parking Lot” into Google Maps to find this trailhead!

Read: CAMPING SOLO AT BLUE MOUNDS STATE PARK

Lookout Point at
the Gunflint Lodge Property

Again, this hike is so easy but with such great payoffs it’s not to be missed!

You don’t have to be staying at the Gunflint Lodge to do this hike on their property but if you get the chance, I highly recommend booking a stay there. It’s the perfect place to have the ultimate Minnesota adventure with great hikes, canoes, wildlife (we saw bears every day we were there!!) and great private cabins right on the lake.

Lookout Point is an easy hike but if you’re wanting to do another more challenging hike on the property, check out Lost Cliffs Overlook!

Read: GUNFLINT LODGE: YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE ULTIMATE MINNESOTA ADVENTURE

High Falls at
Tettegouche State Park

An easy hike that also ends in a massive waterfall?! What’s not to love here!? This is another North Shore favorite.

Tettegouche State Park is full of great trails but High Falls is perhaps the most impressive.

It’s 3 miles total.

Read: 3 DAY MINNESOTA NORTH SHORE ITINERARY WITH VOYAGER CAMPERVANS

Palisade Head
on the North Shore

Truthfully, you can hardly even count this as a hike! It’s more like a 10 minute walk from the parking lot on Highway 61 up to the iconic overlook. But because the views are so jaw-dropping here and because you might break a sweat, I’m classifying this as the EASIEST hike on the list.

Palisade Head is just three miles northeast of the town Silver Bay. Watch for milepost 57 and the small sign on the highway marking where to pull off and park. Then just walk up the road!

Read: THE MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE PLACES ALONG THE MINNESOTA NORTH SHORE

Sugar Loaf Bluff
in Winona

When you stand at the bottom of Sugar Loaf Bluff and gaze upwards, you might think you’re in for a difficult hike.

And while yes, it’s mostly uphill, it goes fast! Before you know it, you’re gazing down and overlooking beautiful Winona.

It’s a steep but still pretty easy 1.2 miles!

Read: THE MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE PLACES IN WINONA

Riverview Trail
at John A Latsch State Park

Alright, this hike isn’t entirely easy but it is only half a mile long!

However be prepared to climb 592 stairs in that half mile, it’s straight up to the top!

The hike flies by and if you need to catch your breath on the stairs, they have benches built along the way.

Once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with SPECTACULAR views.

Oberg Mountain Loop
via the Superior Hiking Trail near Tofte

If you do this loop in the fall, get ready for some CRAZY intense colors.

This hike is only about 2.6 miles but super popular because quite frankly, it’s breathtaking.

If you’re up for the challenge, I highly suggest youdo this short (but insanely scenic) hike at the beginning of a multi-day backpacking trip on the Superior Hiking Trail.

We started at Oberg Mountain and went for 3 days/2 nights. You can get my exact itinerary here. Plus everything you need to pack!

King’s Bluff at
Great River Bluffs State Park

If you’ve never camped at Great River Bluffs State Park, you’re missing out!

It’s a gorgeous campsite with beautiful, uninterrupted views of the Mississippi River below.

All the trails on the property are lovely but King’s Bluff is the real superstar of the park!

King’s Bluff is 2.5 miles out and back.

Read: GREAT RIVER BLUFFS STATE PARK: ADD IT TO YOUR MINNESOTA BUCKET LIST!

Do you have a favorite easy Minnesota hike I should add to this list!
Let me know!

And be sure to check out the best Minnesota trips for summertime!

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The Best Easy But Scenic Hikes in Minnesota