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Dog-Friendly Hikes in Minnesota

The directory currently contains 14 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Minnesota. Their average mapped distance is 7.7 km and average recorded ascent is 120 m (394 ft); the longest route in the set is 21.0 km.

This subset represents 23% of the 61 quality-checked routes in Minnesota. Its average distance is 7.7 km, compared with 40.8 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 120 m (394 ft), versus 187 m (614 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

These routes either have dogs marked as allowed or meet the directory’s dog-score threshold. Current land-manager rules take precedence. Within this set, 4 routes (29%) are rated easy, 1 (7%) are rated hard or expert, and 4 (29%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

3.7 km

Lake Elmo Trail

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

0 m

Long Meadow Lake Trail

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

2 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

Moderate

Brule Lake Trail

Minnesota · United States

Distance
10.5 km
/ 6.5 mi
Elevation gain
185 m
Typical duration
2 hr 28 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Moderate

Long Meadow Lake Trail

Minnesota · United States

Distance
8.3 km
/ 5.1 mi
Typical duration
1 hr 43 min
  • Lake
  • Alpine meadow
Hard

Angleworm Trail

Minnesota · United States

Distance
21.0 km
/ 13.1 mi
Elevation gain
358 m
Typical duration
5 hr 6 min
  • Forest
Easy

Lake Elmo Trail

Minnesota · United States

Distance
3.7 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
24 m
Typical duration
48 min
  • Lake
Moderate

Eagle Mountain Trail

Minnesota · United States

Distance
5.2 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
166 m
Typical duration
1 hr 20 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Moderate

Norway Trail

Minnesota · United States

Distance
13.3 km
/ 8.3 mi
Elevation gain
111 m
Typical duration
2 hr 57 min
  • Forest
Moderate

Locator Lake Trail

Minnesota · United States

Distance
3.1 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
45 m
Typical duration
43 min
  • Lake
Moderate

Lost Creek Trail

Minnesota · United States

Distance
11.2 km
/ 7.0 mi
Elevation gain
249 m
Typical duration
2 hr 42 min
  • River
Moderate

Hogback Lupus Trail Loop

Minnesota · United States

Distance
7.5 km
/ 4.6 mi
Elevation gain
87 m
Typical duration
1 hr 41 min
  • Forest
Moderate

River Trail

Minnesota · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
22 m
Typical duration
11 min
  • River

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Superior Hiking Trail Cascade LoopMinnesota12.1 km379 m3 hr 5 minModerateApril to October
Brule Lake TrailMinnesota10.5 km185 m2 hr 28 minModerateApril to October
Long Meadow Lake TrailMinnesota8.3 km0 m1 hr 43 minModerateApril to October
Angleworm TrailMinnesota21.0 km358 m5 hr 6 minHardApril to October
Lake Elmo TrailMinnesota3.7 km24 m48 minEasyApril to October
Eagle Mountain TrailMinnesota5.2 km166 m1 hr 20 minModerateApril to October
Weaver Lake Neighborhood LoopMinnesota5.7 km25 m1 hr 14 minEasyApril to October
Norway TrailMinnesota13.3 km111 m2 hr 57 minModerateApril to October
Brown's Creek Trail SystemMinnesota1.8 km14 m23 minEasyApril to October
Locator Lake TrailMinnesota3.1 km45 m43 minModerateApril to October

Superior Hiking Trail Cascade Loop, Brule Lake Trail, Angleworm Trail currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

Read article →

Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

Read article →

Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

Read article →

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