Best Dog Friendly Hiking Trails Near Me – Minnesota is probably not as well known for hiking as Colorado or Oregon. But the 10,000-acre site still contains thousands of miles of road within the 51.2 million acres within the state’s borders. And while not all methods are good for dogs, most of them are.
Do you enjoy walking your dog? Here is my list of the top 5 dog walking trails in Minnesota:
Best Dog Friendly Hiking Trails Near Me
Keep reading to learn more about all these tricks and why my kids and I enjoy them so much.
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Banning State Park is about an hour and 15 minutes north of the Twin Cities metro area and one of my favorite places in Minnesota. The park has 17 miles of trails with many amenities including the Hell’s Gate Trail along the Kettle River.
Hell’s Gate Trail is the most challenging trail in Forbidden State Park. So, for those of you who don’t mind a little stop on rocks because the trail is much more comfortable than a typical jungle trail, this may not be the trail for you. In that case, I recommend the Quarry Trail along with the High Bluff Trail to reach Wolf Creek Falls. But for dog and human couples who are up for a little more adventure, the Hell’s Gate Trail is a fun afternoon walk.
You can access the Hell’s Gate Trail from the Wolf Creek Falls area or from the south end of the Quarry Loop Trail. Either way, the process will be easy to follow at first. But the closer you get to the center of the track, the harder the track gets.
At that point, you have to pick your way out and crawl over some rocks and stones. Some methods are easier than others, so go back and try again if you find a method you’re not comfortable with. The track is often busy (especially on summer weekends), so you may see other people walking in front of you.
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Although MN State Parks require a 6-foot (or shorter) leash to walk your dog, you may need a longer leash for this section. Or someone going to trade who has the rope, can look at some parts. Small dogs may need assistance climbing and climbing over obstacles. And there is one place where I usually use my 40# dog harness to help him down or up depending on where we are going.
Does this method seem too difficult for you and your baby? Then check out the other trails at Forbidden State Park. We discuss some of the best hiking trails in Minnesota in the following blogs:
Located on the border of Minnesota and Canada in Grand Portage State Park, the Middle Falls Trail offers beautiful views of Lake Superior and two waterfalls. Middle Falls is the destination of the lollipop loop that is the Middle Falls Trail. But before you start the Middle Falls hike, I recommend checking out High Falls, which is near the start of the Middle Falls Trail.
High Falls is Minnesota’s tallest waterfall, dropping 120 feet as the Pigeon River flows into Lake Superior. The track up to Ard na Fáil is accessible, but there are more steps to the falls.
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Once you’ve had enough time to take in the views of High Falls, start the more difficult Middle Falls Trail. The Middle Falls Trail is approximately 3.5 miles round trip (4.5 miles round trip from the Visitor Center).
The trail begins with an uphill climb for beautiful views of Lake Superior and the surrounding forest. Don’t block the way forward.
The trail is well maintained but narrow in parts. And it gets a bit bigger as you get further from the lake and closer to Middle Falls.
Middle falls are more romantic than the upper falls. You can walk all the way to the rapids and get close to the rocks on the Canadian side.
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Overall, this trail is more remote than most Minnesota state park trails. Depending on the time of year you go, this can be a very private and quiet way to enjoy it with your child. We really enjoyed seeing the waterfalls and glaciers on our November 2019 trip to the North Shore. 3. Eagle Mountain Trail
Eagle Mountain is Minnesota’s highest point, at 2,301 feet. The summit is located in the Boundary Waters Canoeing Area (BWCA) and is reached via a 7-mile scenic hike with a 3.5-mile trail (one way).
Access to the summit north of FR170 requires driving on a dirt/gravel road. But driving away from the famous Hwy 61 on the North Shore, this desert trail is much less crowded than the North Shore park.
This procedure requires you to have a license as soon as you enter the BWCA. If you are only traveling for the day, you can use a self-service license. Directions and permits can be obtained at the trailhead kiosk.
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The trail itself is nice and rough, with lots of tree roots and rocks to cross. It passes by small beautiful lakes and the trail goes through forests.
And when you get to the top of the Eagle, there are amazing views. The high field is surrounded by trees, so there is not much to see in the area. But you can draw a picture with a pen that is very high. Then turn around and go back to your car.
Perhaps one of the most photographed hikes on the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT), the Bear and Bean Lake Loop is a popular SHT hike. The ride is about 7 miles round trip if you start from the main trail.
Another road winding with many tree roots here and there. So wear good shoes and watch your step. Although this method is difficult and far-reaching, it may be the most popular way to sell summer weekends.
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The trail is well marked with superior hiking trail blue lights. So, even if you pass a rocky area where the path is not difficult, you may look down and see a fire burning on the same rock or in a nearby tree. This is a great SHT product that makes traveling easy.
As you walk through the forest, there are a few spots that overlook Lake Superior and then the forest to the west. At the end, you will reach the beautiful Bean Lake.
Continue the tour and you will have the opportunity to walk up to the Bear Lake Campsite to stay on the shores of Bear Lake. Maybe it will be warm enough that you can even swim in the lake.
Then, just past the Bear Lake Campground, you’ll see two lakes. Don’t forget to take a picture of yourself before you get back in your car.
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For our final trip to beloved Minnesota for this post, we’re switching gears and taking care of southern Minnesota. Located about 40 minutes east of Rochester, MN, Whitewater State Park has many challenging dog trails.
We recommend hiking the entire park, but if you only have one trail, consider the Coyote Point Trail. This trail starts behind the visitor center.
They first cross the White River using a stone/concrete bridge. They then entered the forest to begin their ascent to the beautiful White River Valley.
Once you reach Coyote Point, the trail is rocky and narrow. be careful There is a small ladder in this area. If your dog is too big to climb the stairs easily, consider reversing the path so your dog can climb the stairs.
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After taking in the Coyote Point Trail and as many views as you can from Coyote Point, you have four options:
No matter what you choose, you’ll enjoy your trip to Whitewater State Park. Looking for more tours in southern Minnesota? Check out our post on 5 Great Dog Friendly State Parks in Southeast Minnesota.
And a big plus for hiking in many of Southeast Minnesota’s parks is the lack of mosquitoes. Beaver Creek Valley SP, Forestville/Cave Cave, Frontenac SP, Great River Bluffs SP, John A. Latsch SP, and Whitewater SP have low mosquito populations.
Why are you asking? According to MPR News, you can thank the lack of ice millions of years ago for that. The last glacier to pass through Minnesota lost this area, so there are no natural lakes in the area
