Another in our #HIKEINPLACE series of local hikes to get you out of the house during the #StayatHomeMN order. Try a handful of these hikes that are close to home for all you twin cities folk out there.
Do this hike early or late in the day or it might get a bit too busy to practice appropriate #socialdistancing. You can incorporate The Mississippi Gorge/Winchell Trail, and Shadow Falls hikes into this loop to add another half mile or so. 5.6 miles
This is a loop hike. You can start wherever you like and walk clockwise or counterclockwise in a loop. You can stay up on the paved walking and biking paths on either side of the river if you like but I think it's way more fun to slip down into the thin sliver of woods along the river itself and hike the Winchell Trail - on old Native American trail on the Minneapolis side or the wooded path on the St Paul side, which is a little harder to find the entrance to, but you can do so at Shadow Falls. You will feel mostly removed from the hustle and bustle of paved paths though you will always be in shouting distance if you like to shout.
The trails are not paved, can sometimes be wet, muddy or underwater depending on how high the river is. You will find a few stretches of sandy beach, and there are a few places where one needs to connect back up top to the paved trail before finding your way back down - usually just a few meters, but perhaps 100m+ in a couple of spots.
As of this writing, the river is up and much of Winchell trail north of 38th street, including the beach area is underwater, so avoid that for now. The St Paul side is high enough above the river for water not to be a factor. You may need to scramble a bit here and there so watch your footing.
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