Outdoor Things to Do in Minneapolis This Summer

Bisected by the Mississippi River, Minneapolis translates to “water city,” and is known for its plethora of parks and 22 lakes. Read on to see why aptly dubbed “City by Nature” is the perfect place to spend your summer.

Hike

The quintessential Twin Cities hiking destination is Minneapolis Chain of Lakes Regional Park in the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway, but Minneapolis has plenty of other hiking and trail running trails within the city limits. The 759-acre Theodore Wirth Park is an urban forest with wooded trails, where a quick hike earns you a glimpse of the downtown skyline. Plus, there’s a lake, a chalet-style clubhouse, two golf courses, and several gardens. Pack a picnic and make a day of it.

Located halfway between downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul, the 193-acre Minnehaha Regional Park is just a short drive, bike ride, or light rail trip away from the city. The park’s beautiful 53-foot waterfall, 10 miles of hiking trails, limestone bluffs, and river overlooks attract more than 850,000 visitors annually. Sea Salt Eatery is open seasonally and serves fast-casual seafood on its patio for when you work up an appetite.

There are also dozens of state parks just outside of the city with majestic river views, ridgeline climbs, and scenic prairie trails. Just 45 minutes away, there are over 50 trailheads for running, hiking, mountain biking, and backpacking. Interstate State Park offers all of these. Hike among old lava flows and glacial potholes at the riverside park, which is also great for paddling, camping, and fishing.

More of a backpacker? Trek the Superior Hiking Trail (or the SHT). Located in northeastern Minnesota, the 310-mile long footpath follows the ridgeline overlooking Lake Superior.

Bike

Minneapolis boasts an astounding 226 miles of bike paths. No bike? No problem. Pick one up at one of the city’s nearly 200 Nice Ride bike stations. Trail connections lead to the downtown areas of both of the Twin Cities. One of the top bike trails in Minneapolis is the Midtown Greenway, a 5.7-mile “rail trail” that winds throughout the city along a former railroad corridor. The banks of the mighty Mississippi River feature about 15 miles shoreline paths for biking or walking. Loring Park is the “Central Park” of downtown Minneapolis., and its biking/walking paths wind around the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway. The only scenic byway in the country located entirely within an urban area, the 51-mile loop is made up of parkways, boulevards, trails, and lakes. Speaking of lakes, another great place to bike, run, or walk is along the Chain of Lakes’ 15 miles of trails. Get glimpses of five of the largest lakes in Minneapolis (Brownie Lake, Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles, Bde Maka Ska, and Lake Harriet) as you cruise the shoreline, enjoying the views of its idyllic biking backdrop.

Boat

The Chain of Lakes also provides the perfect place to cool off on a hot summer’s day. Boat, ski, or rent pedal boats, kayaks, paddleboards, canoes, and bikes from Wheel Fun Rentals (available at various lakes and parks throughout the city). Formerly known as Lake Calhoun, Bde Maka Ska is the largest lake in Minneapolis. This Uptown favorite flaunts sandy shores, skyline views, and super-blue water. It can get pretty crowded, but because it’s part of a chain, you can paddle back to the quieter Lake of the Isles.

Lake Harriet and Lake Nokomis are also great places to canoe or kayak. Minnehaha Creek possesses a more urban paddle, as do the flat waters of the Mississippi River. Reserve a ‘yak on the web from Mississippi River Paddle Share and paddle the 3.9 miles to Boom Island Park on the east side of the river. If you have your own ‘yak and are willing to drive 45 minutes, you can visit the scenic water trails of Rum River, Root River, or Cannon River. 

Festivals

Twin Cities Pride kicks off festival season at the end of June with the largest free gay pride festival in the country. July brings the Basilica Block Party: a two-day music festival held on the Basilica of St. Mary’s front steps. At the end of July, the Minneapolis Aquatennial features fireworks and largest nighttime parade in Minnesota. The Uptown Art Fair takes place in early August, and the annual Minnesota State Fair attracts more than 2 million guests at the end of summer. The 12-day “Great Minnesota Get-Together” is one of the largest state fairs in the nation, culminating on Labor Day weekend.

Family Fun

There’s plenty of fun to be had for the whole family. Visit exotic animals at the Minnesota Zoo ou Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, the latter of which hosts the annual Como Park Japanese Obon Festival. For even more family fun, ride the rollercoasters at the 125-acre amusement park, Valley Fair, or mill around the Mill City Farmers Market on a Saturday morning. Head to the Lake Harriet Bandshell for Minneapolis Music and Movies in the Parks and cool off with some handmade ice cream from local favorite, Izzy’s Ice Cream. 

Sports

Take in a Twins game downtown at Target Field (pro tip: get a polish sausage from Kramarczuk’s). Or, check out a Minnesota United FC soccer game. If golf is your game, the city has plenty of public and private courses for perfecting your swing. If fishing is more your bag, Minneapolis’ many lakes provide plenty of pier and shore locations for casting off.

Eat Outside

Al fresco translates to “in the cool” in Italian, although in Italy the expression usually refers to spending time in jail. Stay out of jail and dine al fresco at one of Minneapolis’ numerous outdoor patios and rooftops, including Brit’s Pub which has a rooftop lawn bowling green.

Drinking

Play giant beer pong under the stars at Libertine’s rooftop bar with a stunning view of Uptown. In addition to elevated bar food, Libertine has ping pong, skee-ball, pinball, foosball, board games, and even a Nintendo 64. Put back a pint and pedal around Minneapolis on a Pedal Pub or the Traveling Tap with a bunch of friends. Head to Pryes Brewery in Northeast Minneapolis for an IPA while you watch the River Rats Water Ski Show. The action-packed water ski shows take place all summer long on the Mississippi River just south of the Broadway Avenue bridge. Don’t forget to check out our list of the can’t-miss watering holes in Minneapolis; you have all summer to check them off your list.

TL; DR: Minneapolis’ many lakes and parks provide a summer full of hiking, biking, and boating as the Twin City celebrates summertime with festivals, sports, and family fun. Find your apartment on Zumper and call Minneapolis home!