Easy
Hiking Trails Under 5 km in Minnesota
The directory currently contains 31 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Minnesota. Their average mapped distance is 2.3 km and average recorded ascent is 32 m (105 ft); the longest route in the set is 4.7 km.
This subset represents 51% of the 61 quality-checked routes in Minnesota. Its average distance is 2.3 km, compared with 40.8 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 32 m (105 ft), versus 187 m (614 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.
Every route in this set has a mapped distance of 5 km or less. Time and suitability still depend on ascent, surface and conditions. Within this set, 25 routes (81%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 7 (23%) 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
0.8 km
Baltimore Oriole LoopCompare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.
Lowest recorded ascent in this sample
0 m
Hogback Ridge Trail6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.
Return logistics
1 recorded loop
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
Easy
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 1.6 km / 1.0 mi
- Typical duration
- 19 min
- Long-distance path
Easy
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 0.8 km / 0.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 8 m
- Typical duration
- 11 min
Easy
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 4.7 km / 2.9 mi
- Elevation gain
- 56 m
- Typical duration
- 1 hr 4 min
Easy
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 3.0 km / 1.9 mi
- Elevation gain
- 60 m
- Typical duration
- 43 min
Easy
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 2.8 km / 1.7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 51 m
- Typical duration
- 40 min
Easy
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 1.8 km / 1.1 mi
- Elevation gain
- 34 m
- Typical duration
- 26 min
Easy
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 2.5 km / 1.6 mi
- Elevation gain
- 13 m
- Typical duration
- 32 min
Easy
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 1.4 km / 0.9 mi
- Elevation gain
- 52 m
- Typical duration
- 22 min
- Waterfall
Moderate
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 2.4 km / 1.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 161 m
- Typical duration
- 44 min
- Waterfall
Easy
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 3.7 km / 2.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 24 m
- Typical duration
- 48 min
- Lake
Easy
Moderate
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 1.2 km / 0.7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 96 m
- Typical duration
- 24 min
Moderate
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 1.0 km / 0.6 mi
- Elevation gain
- 133 m
- Typical duration
- 25 min
Easy
Easy
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 4.1 km / 2.6 mi
- Elevation gain
- 29 m
- Typical duration
- 54 min
Easy
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 2.8 km / 1.7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 7 m
- Typical duration
- 36 min
Easy
Easy
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 1.6 km / 1.0 mi
- Elevation gain
- 6 m
- Typical duration
- 21 min
Moderate
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 4.3 km / 2.7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 102 m
- Typical duration
- 1 hr 3 min
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 1.8 km / 1.1 mi
- Elevation gain
- 14 m
- Typical duration
- 23 min
- Lake
- River
Moderate
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 3.1 km / 2.0 mi
- Elevation gain
- 45 m
- Typical duration
- 43 min
- Lake
Easy
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 3.4 km / 2.1 mi
- Elevation gain
- 13 m
- Typical duration
- 44 min
- River
Moderate
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 0.7 km / 0.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 22 m
- Typical duration
- 11 min
- River
Easy
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 3.4 km / 2.1 mi
- Elevation gain
- 45 m
- Typical duration
- 46 min
Easy
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 2.1 km / 1.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 14 m
- Typical duration
- 28 min
Easy
Easy
The shortlist, side by side
The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time | Difficulty | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hogback Ridge TrailMinnesota | 2.2 km | 0 m | 28 min | Easy | April to October |
| Grand Rounds National Scenic BywayMinnesota | 1.6 km | 0 m | 19 min | Easy | April to October |
| Baltimore Oriole LoopMinnesota | 0.8 km | 8 m | 11 min | Easy | April to October |
| Bluff TrailMinnesota | 4.7 km | 56 m | 1 hr 4 min | Easy | April to October |
| Flandrau State Park Hiking Club TrailMinnesota | 3.0 km | 60 m | 43 min | Easy | April to October |
| Indigo Bunting LoopMinnesota | 2.8 km | 51 m | 40 min | Easy | April to October |
| Scarlet Tanager LoopMinnesota | 1.8 km | 34 m | 26 min | Easy | April to October |
| The Gopher WayMinnesota | 2.5 km | 13 m | 32 min | Easy | April to October |
| Cascades TrailMinnesota | 1.4 km | 52 m | 22 min | Easy | April to October |
| High Falls Trail - EastMinnesota | 2.4 km | 161 m | 44 min | Moderate | April to October |
Hogback Ridge Trail, Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway, Scarlet Tanager Loop 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 →Related guides
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