Wide Open Spaces: 10 Kid-Friendly Trails To “Just Run”

To a kid, the idea of “going for a walk” can be as exciting as “cleaning their room” or “doing their homework.” For the amount of energy they have every other minute of the day, it always amazes me how quickly they can shut down, with whiny pouts and claims of exhaustion, a mere 5 minutes into a family stroll. Drives me bonkers! But there’s an easy solution – take them somewhere that doesn’t feel like “just a walk.” Take them somewhere with creeks to cross and rocks to throw and trees to climb and cliffs to scale. Endless acres of land – preferably off the beaten path – will be sure to keep them moving and happy for hours on end.

Our family spends a lot of time seeking out local hidden trails with plenty of space to avoid big crowds and, more importantly, to just let them run without the incessant need to “watch out” or “move over.” Because, let’s be honest, where’s the fun in that? I’m not going to divulge ALL of our lesser-known spots (after all, a secret’s a secret), but here are 10 parent-tested/kid-approved “run free” spots in and around the Minneapolis area:

Arcola Bluffs, Stillwater, MN
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The hike to the Arcola High Bridge was easily my favorite of the summer. Parking was free and on-street (good signage) and trails were wide and well-maintained, but still rugged enough for the kids to enjoy. We took an immediate left upon entering the trailhead which brought us to the Arcola High Bridge quite quickly. We took in the St. Croix River (carefully – those bluffs are high!) and proceeded down to the water. It’s steep and rugged but the payoffs at the bottom are small beachy spots, climbable rocks, downed trees to scale and a creek in which we spent (literally) hours playing. You can turn around at any point or loop back. Everything is pretty well connected and easy to navigate. I want to go back to this one in the Fall!

Stuff to know:

• Parking: We parked right along the street edge near the trail head. Free but not plentiful.
• Stroller: Not a good idea.
• Bathrooms: Nothing available
• Consider: Water shoes and band-aids. There’s a lot to climb in and on here. And our dog loved it!
• Snack break: Drive the 11 minutes to Nelson’s Ice Cream in Stillwater – biggest scoops in the universe!

Quarry Park and Nature Preserve, Waite Park, MN
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If you want a change of scenery from your typical “dirt-path-lots-of-pine-trees” Minnesota hike, I highly recommend Quarry Park just west of St. Cloud. After you pay your $5 to enter the parking lot, pack up your backpack with drinks and snacks (and towels if you plan on doing any major swimming). This nature preserve is huge and has a nice easy walking path around the entire space. Lots of inlets and granite quarries and rock formations and stunning, clear reflecting pools will keep your kids eyes – and legs – very busy. There are 20 quarries, a floating boardwalk, open prairies and scenic overlooks. If you want to plan out your hike, we loved Quarry 8’s awesome overlook, Quarry 11’s swimming option, Quarry 2 for watching people cliff dive (NOT us!) or just any of the large open basins with cloud reflections in the water – for just its sheer beauty! While you are not supposed to climb on the random rock piles throughout the park, our kids thought it was cool to stand near the holes in the rocks along the base of the pile and feel the freezing cold air emerge from underground. Our family was able to walk the entirety of the park without complaint.

Stuff to know:

• Parking: $5 daily pass – huge lot
• Stroller: Could use them on the main paths, but some steps and climbing options would make it a bit tricky. Carriers would be better.
• Bathrooms: Yes, right next to the trailhead in the parking lot
• Consider: Swimsuits and towels for Quarry 11 (small beach, swimmable water and restrooms) and bug spray for the woodsy areas. Grab a map from the gate (or online here) so you know which quarries you want to see and can easily navigate through the park.
• Snack break: 10 minutes north of Quarry Park is a Mr. Twisty drive-in with food and ice cream treats galore! If your drive goes through Elk River, consider stopping at Amore Ice Cream.

Purgatory Park, Eden Prairie, MN
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For our family of five who loves water, mud and open space to run and not get lost, Purgatory Park was the perfect fit. We parked in the lot off Excelsior Blvd (directions here), but there are lots of Purgatory Parks and Creeks in the area, all of which are beautiful. This spot has a large parking lot and a restroom in the lot. Right at the trailhead, you can cross a mini bridge and then take an immediate left to walk directly along the small creek. The paths were narrow and the grass was tall, but there were little wooden bridges, walking sticks (branches) and spots to step into the water. There is an actual paved path around the main park area if you prefer a shaded paved walk, but ours love the natural surrounding and off-road obstacles (or anything that requires mom to do more laundry).

Stuff to know:

• Parking: We parked in the lot off Excelsior Blvd (directions here). Free and plentiful.
• Stroller: Only on the paved walkway on the outskirts of the park (not near the actual creek)
• Bathrooms: If you park where we did, there is a bathroom right off the parking lot. Otherwise, nothing out in the middle of the park.
• Consider: Mosquitos, of course, run rampant around the water so bug spray is crucial. Same goes for sunscreen. Water shoes would be a nice idea if they want to walk in the creek as well.
• Snack break: A little more west is Adele’s Frozen Custard (mmm) and a little east is YoYo Donuts or Bella’s Ice Cream.

Sherburne Wildlife Refuge/Blue Hill Trail, Zimmerman, MN
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We went to this trail when there was still snow on the ground (so, like, April) and it was a pretty basic trail but we loved that it was just all woods! With warmer weather, I imagine there would be plenty of mosquitos, but it has some awesome viewpoints and wide open walking trails where kids can run (or pretend they’re living in a fairyland). So just bring bug spray and your walking legs (and some snacks, water and maybe even binoculars for some cool lookouts) and there isn’t much more you’ll need to roam freely here. This will be gorgeous come the fall! We did the Blue Hill Trail and hiked a little over 3 miles of it. The whole trail is a bit more than 5 miles. Blue Hill Trail is part of the bigger Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, a habitat for a variety of wetland animals and birds. While a majority of the wildlife refuge is closed to the public during summer months, you can still do the Prairie’s Edge Wildlife Drive, certain hiking trails (including Blue Hill), and some fishing access points.

Stuff to know:

• Parking: There was a small lot (easy to miss) right off 289th Ave at the trailhead that holds a dozen cars or so
• Stroller: I don’t recommend. Nothing here is paved, or remotely close to paved.
• Bathrooms: Yes, there are toilets directly at the trailhead by the parking lot.
• Consider: BUG. SPRAY. Binoculars would be fun as well for sand crane sightings.
• Snack break: Santa Lucia’s Ice Cream in Princeton is a short 15 minute drive north. Amore Ice Cream in Elk River is also a delicious option.

Wood-Rill Scientific and Natural Area, Wayzata, MN
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For the kids who need nothing more than downed branches and some mud to have the best time ever, Wood-Rill is a great option! It’s located directly off the Luce Line Bike Trail and Long Lake Road. We parked in an area we were unsure was trail parking, but discovered it was after a number of other vehicles showed up. We just parked where the sign said to park (follow the arrows). One side of Long Lake Road has large private land but the other side is the Scientific and Nature Area, which was a wide open closed canopy-type forest with some of the tallest trees I’ve seen in recent hikes. The trail loops around and there’s so much to play with just in your local natural surroundings (plus, we saw a deer) – my kids spent 60 minutes building a “bridge” over a mud creek with branches and logs. They got absolutely filthy, but dang they had fun!

Stuff to know:

• Parking: Was a bit unclear. We parked near a small garage-looking thing and walked through the land that led to the bike trail and then looped back to the other side of Long Lake to the Natural area.
• Stroller: If you have a tough stroller, maybe. But this is one that you might want to use the carrier instead. Oh, and no dogs.
• Bathrooms: No. Nothing around.
• Consider: Bug spray since it’s all wooded. But it’s well shaded, which is nice. I wish we would’ve brought extra shoes since we got muddy, but I’m sure that was just the time of year (spring).
• Snack break: While there is a Ben and Jerry’s right in downtown Wayzata (as well as a nice beachy area and a snack bar during summer months), we prefer going a bit further to Honey and Mackies Ice Cream. They are THE very best!!

Wolsfeld Woods Scientific and Natural Area, Long Lake, MN
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I think this might be in my top two hiking spots to visit with my kiddos. Not only is it wide open woods, it has climbing options, bridges, Wolsfeld Lake, and some beautiful wildlife (like giant cranes and frogs…we even saw a couple of snakes). The trail goes in a million directions, but you can’t really get too lost, although there is no signage. We packed lunch and ate it on a tree branch. You can make the hike as long or short as you’d like, but we enjoy making it all the way down to the water and exploring the brush where we see birds and snakes and get some gorgeous photos. Some of the areas of the woods sit in what appear to be private property, so just be respectful of the outdoors and clean up after yourselves. If you want a spot to just run and truly be in the backwoods, this is a winner!

Stuff to know:

• Parking: The trailhead is in the northeast corner of the Trinity Lutheran Church parking lot. You can park there.
• Stroller: No. Too narrow and rugged.
• Bathrooms: No. Nothing available.
• Consider: No dogs allowed, but definitely bring your camera. Lots of fun photo spots! And bug spray because…woods. Gets muddy quite easily, so in spring or post-rain, come with proper footing.
• Snack break: This one is also close enough to Honey and Mackie’s Ice Cream to make that a perfect snack stop. Mmmmm, I loooove Honey and Mackie’s. BTW, try their french fries!

Nine Mile Creek, Bloomington, MN
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After we eventually found this trailhead, it was a very lovely hike. We strolled peacefully along the water on the dirt path, taking breaks to throw and collect rocks from the creek bed. While we didn’t actually play in the water at all, that is probably an option at some points. The trail was very quiet where we were. Nine Mile Creek also leads to a regional bike trails and the creek is so long, it stretches through Edina, Eden Prairie, Hopkins and Minnetonka. But this little corner of the creek we visited had bridges and sticks and rocks and plenty of room to run. Our kids enjoyed it, simple as it was.

Stuff to know:

• Parking: Google maps will take you to some weird residential spots if you just type in Nine Mile Creek, so be sure to enter “Nine Mile Creek Access Path Bloomington, MN 55431” into your maps app before heading out. There is a small dirt parking area for a few vehicles and then you walk down the (semi-hidden) stairs.
• Stroller: Other than the stairs to get down and back, a stroller would be optional for this hike along the dirt path. But if you want to play by the creek at all, I wouldn’t bring one. But you can bring your dog!
• Bathrooms: There were no bathrooms on the area of the hike where we were.
• Consider: A change of clothes and/or shoes if theirs get wet.
• Snack break: This entry point is at in a bit of a snack desert. If the kids want ice cream after a hot walk here, you might need to settle for a McFlurry or something (spoken like a true snack snob).

Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, Nerstrand, MN
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While this one is a bit more well-known, it’s just too beautiful to not list here. Plus there’s a waterfall, so that’s worth, like, a thousand extra points. There are 11 miles of hiking trails in this awesome State Park, which is south of Northfield, and it definitely gets busy on summer weekends. Get there early if your goal is to avoid people. If you park by the Visitor Center, be sure to stop at the natural play area to stretch your legs – small, but fun. Hidden Falls waterfall is only about a 1/2 mile downhill from the Visitor Center, so wear good shoes that won’t slip. Check out the map here to see the quickest way to the Hidden Falls Trail and the falls. Depending on how far you want to hike post-falls, there’s a lot of options, including ones with boardwalks, wildflowers, and steep terrains. If you’re feeling extra cool, do some geocaching via your phone app and search for hidden treasures.

Stuff to know:

• Parking: This is a State Park, so you will need a permit for your vehicle. A one-day permit is $7 and can be ordered online here.
• Stroller: If you are heading to the waterfall, I wouldn’t bring a stroller. That downhill is something fierce!
• Bathrooms: Yes, this is also a campground, so there are portable toilets around, many at the Visitors Center. Once they reopen, family restrooms and vault toilets are available.
• Consider: Good hiking shoes with some traction. Our kids were good in their Keens, and they were multi-use since they then used them to play in the water. That was the highlight! Bring extra clothes, suits or towels…depending on how wet you plan to get.
• Snack break: If you’re coming down 35, you can stop at Dairy Delite in Lakeville. Or consider stopping in the cute town of Northfield for a bite to eat and a pretty walk along the river on Mill Towns State Trail.

Lone Lake, Minnetonka, MN
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This is a fun, hilly and wide open place to run and play. While there is a main trail, we did a lot of off-roading, log-climbing and wall-scaling. I liked how empty and secluded it felt, it was relatively well-covered and the whole hike is a measly 1.5 miles. The playground at the end is great too! While there’s nothing super spectacular about this hike, it’s just lovely for families with kids who want fresh air and a break from city noise and action.

Stuff to know:

• Parking: The size of the parking lots depend on the side of the lake on which you park. We parked off Bren Road and there were limited spots, but if you park off Shady Oak Road, there’s a much bigger lot (near the playground)
• Stroller: I would probably not bring one because we like to off-road so much, but it can be done for sure if you stick to the main paths. Pretty hilly though.
• Bathrooms: There is a bathroom facility off the parking lot near Shady Oak Road. There was no bathroom option near the spot we parked (here).
• Consider: The water isn’t something I would wade in, but the open space is perfect for just letting them run. The path doesn’t go all the way around the lake, but rather forms a loop alongside it. Our dog loved this one even more than the kids! North on Shady Oak Road is Shady Oak Beach, which is a wonderful place to swim and cool off – bring a floaty!
• Snack break: I am a sucker for donuts, so don’t miss YoYo Donuts on Shady Oak Road (they also sell ice cream). In the same little strip of shops is PoppedCorn, a yummy popcorn shop, and Groveland Confections for some tasty truffles. If you head down Shady Oak a little farther, you can get a piece of Patticake from Yum! Bakery. You won’t regret it. And bring me one!

Mississippi Gateway, Brooklyn Park, MN
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In 2019, the Coon Rapids Regional Dam on the west side of the Mississippi River changed its name to the Mississippi Gateway. This is the part of the park we always visit (while we have visited the east side before, it requires a $6 vehicle permit and is a farther drive for us). Plus, if you park at the Mississippi Gateway, there’s a nature center, a natural play area and the paved walkway across the Mississippi River all less than a short trek away. Our kiddos love the rushing water of the dam, but they also love the unpaved trails that follow the riverbank. Almost every time we go, we find turtles, crayfish, water bugs, even an occasional otter or deer. The water isn’t clean by any means, but there are many natural options to play on and with on these unpaved trails. If you cross the dam (which you absolutely should…just watch out for bikers), you can head down the east bank of the river and find a couple small sandy patches where we spend far too long making castles and burying our feet.

Stuff to know:

• Parking: On the west side of the rive is a nice, large parking lot with good signage. Free and plentiful.
• Stroller: I guess it depends what your plan is. If you want to stick to the paved path across the Mississippi, you’ll find more paved options on the east side of the river.
• Bathrooms: The nature center has bathrooms when it is open. Otherwise, there are port-a-potties near the parking lot.
• Consider: Bring fishing nets (or butterfly nets) to catch insects and water bugs. Also, shovels and buckets are kind of fun if you think you’ll head to a random sandy spot. Fishing is popular here too. Snacks, drinks and shoes that can get wet are also important.
• Snack break: Cullens Ice Cream or Cafe Donuts & Ice Cream in Champlin are pretty delicious options for a sweet treat!

And there you have it – 10 of our family’s tried-and-true trail favorites for those days when you just can’t stay inside another minute.

We could have never loved the earth so well if we had had no childhood in it.

George Eliot

And a Couple Honorable Mentions:

Boom Island, Minneapolis, MN
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Kinnickinnic State Park, River Falls, WI
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Hidden Falls, St. Paul, MN
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Barn Bluff Trail, Red Wing, MN
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