Hiking & Trail Running

Just two miles west of downtown Minneapolis, Theodore Wirth Regional Park is the largest park in the Minneapolis Parks system. At 740 acres, it holds dozens of miles of trails for hiking and trail running. Visitors can find paved trails, rustic singletrack trails, and plenty of nature and solitude. 

Be sure to visit The Trailhead before or after your hike for amenities including restrooms, water, and Mill Valley Market for food and beverages.

Hiking Trails By Area:

Hiking Trail Map

Multi-Use and Mountain Bike Trails

Theodore Wirth Park has over 12 miles of off-road, singletrack multi-use and mountain bike trails throughout the park that hikers and runners can enjoy. Check out the Mountain Biking page for a detailed description of these trail sections. These trails are actively managed to be sustainable and may be closed to all users when conditions are soft or wet to avoid damage.  Consult the trail conditions pages before you go.

North Wirth Hiking Trails

This section of the park is north of Highway 55. It is home to The Trailhead, the Chalet, the 18 hole and par 3 golf courses, and many of the multi-use singletrack trails. In addition, hikers can enjoy paved paths along the parkway and a scenic section along Bassett Creek, as well as access the Luce Line Trail at the start of its journey west. A short ways down the Luce Line you can also find several miles of wide, unpaved trails through the woods that are used as cross country ski trails in the winter. North Wirth has parking in the Trailhead and Chalet lots.

Central Wirth Hiking Trails

This section of the park is between Highway 55 and Glenwood Avenue.  Central Wirth Park is generally flatter and less densely forested than North or South Wirth. Its premier hiking trail is a 1.25 mile paved path around Wirth Lake, including a long boardwalk across the north side of the lake. There are also numerous paved paths east of Wirth Lake that weave through picnic areas, plenty of grass, and scenic views of Bassett Creek. Users can park in the Wirth Beach House parking lot or in neighborhoods off of Glenwood Avenue.

South Wirth Hiking Trails

This section of the park is between Glenwood Avenue and 394. South Wirth is a hidden gem for hikers and trail runners looking for miles of scenic woods, rolling terrain, and wildlife sightings. Numerous trails wind through the areas on either side of Theodore Wirth Parkway, including wide ski trails and narrow single track trails. Users can park in the Wirth Beach House parking lot, the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden lot (paid), the Quaking Bog lot (paid), or in neighborhoods off of Glenwood Avenue.