By Lianna Matt

In her 23 years as a park naturalist, Kristine Hiller has been at Minnesota’s Jay Cooke State Park for 17 of them. As the state’s seventh largest park, more than 300,000 people visit it year-round with almost 35,000 making overnight camping trips. With the park’s location about 23 miles southwest of Duluth, it’s the perfect highlight for a weekend trip out of the cities or even a Duluth day trip.

If you have your doubts about the two hour drive up, the first impression you get of Jay Cooke will make them go away. Depending on your route, you’ll catch alluring glimpses of the St. Louis River from the road, but when you cross the swinging bridge near the entrance of the park, well … The view will take your breath away.

“You know, the first time I drove in—and I think to a lot of our first time visitors—it’s an unexpected place,” Hiller says. “The river, because of the rapids and the slanted rocks that look so rugged. … People don’t expect to see something like that in Minnesota. There is also lots of terrain, and we think of Minnesota as being a flat state.”

As the St. Louis swirls over hidden and unhidden rocks, its liquid glass surface wrinkles and flows in between a valley of flat, slanted slate and greywacke rocks that are all tilted toward the sky. While the rocks are not technically on the trail, when you’re near the swinging bridge, you’ll always find a few hikers making their way carefully among the flatter rocks to get closer to the water.

Here are some of Hiller’s insider tips from almost two decades at the 8,938-acre state park:

For Hiking:

“Everybody comes to the swinging bridge; that is our landmark feature,” says Hiller. “Either way that you go from the bridge—you can be on the north side or the south side across the river—and there’s at least 25 miles of trails to choose from on either side.”

For an easier trail, Hiller recommends the 1.8 miles along the CCC Trail. For about half of the hike, you follow the river and catch beautiful glimpses of it through the park’s foliage, and the rest of the path is underneath the forest canopy.

The Carlton Trail Trip is a favorite of visitors who want more of an intermediate to advanced hike. Beautiful views of the river, hills, roots, the occasional mud puddle and even some places where you may need to cling to a rock or to make this trail a true adventure through the park. The 5-mile trail branches out so hikers can take easier trails through a pioneer cemetery and shaded forest on the return route.

Horseback riding and mountain biking are also common ways to explore the park, and in the the winter, people often bring out the cross country skis, snow shoes and fat bikes.

For Wildlife:

Jay Cooke State Park has more than 45 animal species wandering around, including black bears, timber wolves and coyotes. If you’re walking the more populated trails in the summer, you probably won’t see any of these magnificent creatures, but you will see some adorable red squirrels and chipmunks. In general, diurnal animals tend to be more active in the morning or in the early evening when it’s cool out to avoid the summer heat.

Birding is best done in May through the first week of July. Hiller usually sends people up the paved Forbray Trail that’s connected to the main parking lot; there, she can pick out 25-30 different bird species—a lot of warblers, apparently—from just that one spot.

While some animals hibernate in the winter, there is still plenty of activity on the parkland, even if the blanket of snow muffles it. You’re more likely to run into foxes or bobcats on the trail, says Hiller, because they, like you, want the path of least resistance, and the flat, groomed paths seem easier than traipsing through the snow. You can also see the otters.

In the summer, otters have full run of the river, slipping in and out of it as they please. When the winter hits, though, parts of the river freezes up, creating specific pockets of rushing open water that limits the otters’ normal freedom. “A lot of time just before the bridge, we’ll see their tracks and we’ll see them sliding down the rocks,” Hiller says.

For Wildflowers:

Springtime is the best for wildflowers, and Hiller would send you straight to the West Ridge Trail. After an initial hill, the 1.8-mile trail is easy walking, and in the spring, naturalists frequently lead guided wildflower walks along it. Wildflowers are one of Hiller’s favorite parts about nature, and she loves the variety that Jay Cooke has. Although she can’t single out just one species, she does love spotting the first hepatica for the season—seeing the small plant poke its lobed leaves and miniature lavender, pink and white flowers always means that winter is ending.

For New Experiences:

Jay Cooke State Park’s naturalists offer programming year round for all ages and groups. Simply visit their online calendar for the most up to date information on events like geocaching how-to’s, guided walks, fishing excursions and interactive teachings about animals, astronomy and more. They’re great ways to learn more about the outdoors, and with the naturalists’ knowledge, you’ll find new things to discover at Jay Cooke each and every time.

To be fair to Mother Nature, even without the naturalists’ healthy list of events, repeat visitors always love going to Jay Cooke. The park is eternally changing and showing new parts of itself, and this fall people will be able to see all of it once again.

Since 2012, half of the roads in the park have been more difficult to reach because of flooding damage. In October, the road is opening up again, and Hiller couldn’t be more excited. “It’s what I like about the park—if you visit one side, it looks one way. If you visit the other side, it’s a very different look just because of how big the park is.”

By Claire Noack

Venture across town and visit Minneapolis’ sister city, St. Paul, for a host of local restaurants and bars, museums and historic sites, and superb craft breweries. The Downtown St. Paul metropolis boasts riverfront views and plenty of charming neighborhood streets. While biking around the city, keep an eye out for architectural beauties including the Cathedral of Saint Paul, Landmark Center and Minnesota State Capitol, along with hidden treasures like the Peanuts statues in Rice Park and the St. Paul farmers’ market in Lowertown.

While getting from Summit Brewing Co. to Downtown St. Paul is a bit of a trek, this Twin Cities beer giant an absolute must-visit. The brewing veteran was making a name for itself 25 years before taprooms were allowing in the state, and is one of the biggest names in Minnesota-based beer. Take a seat in their beer hall and sip on their crowd-pleasing suds. Then follow the Mississippi as it bends north towards downtown. Located on West Seventh Street, you’ll find a number of pubs, local eateries and Bad Weather Brewing Co. The cozy environment and wide variety of seasonal, cask and nitro beers, plus housemade sodas, will keep you coming back, no matter the forecast.

Take a break from pedaling through downtown and grab some pub fare and a cask conditioned or pushed beer made from “holy” waters at Great Waters Brewing Co., located on the original site of the Cathedral of Saint Paul. Ride over to Tin Whiskers Brewing Co. where brewing and engineering combine to produce experimental flavors of your favorite beer varieties. Barrel Theory Beer Co. serves up barrel-aged beer in a unique limestone-lined cellar just blocks from the Saint Paul Saints’ CHS Field, while recently opened 12welve Eyes Brewing takes a modern twist on its Lowertown lounge. Finally, make your way just outside of the downtown area to Flat Earth Brewing Co., whose laid-back taproom and fresh brews make it the perfect way to conclude a brewery bike tour of St. Paul.

Best time to start pedaling: Thursday or Friday starting at 4 p.m., or Saturday starting at noon.

By Claire Noack

If you are visiting Minneapolis and St. Paul, chances are you’ll end up near the University of Minnesota campus. The sports-centered hub attracts people from all walks of life, resulting in a fair number of bars and international cuisine to enjoy. A short bike ride from the university lies a neighborhood of local breweries whose location may be discreet, but who are certainly on our radar for their refreshing crafts beers. Whether you are an adventurous college student looking to explore the neighborhood via bicycle or a sports fan hoping to take in the local culture pre or post game, these breweries on the edge of the U of M and St. Paul are worth a sip.

First up on the bike tour is one of the most well known brewers to come out of the Twin Cities. Surly Brewing Co. not only created a name for itself before the craft brewery boom, but the company also fought to pass a bill allowing breweries to include taprooms for the first time in Minnesota. We’ll raise a glass of their brews to that!

Pedal across the border into St. Paul to the first woman-owned microbrewery in Minnesota, Urban Growler Brewing Co., where art, music and beer abound. Stop in next door to sip on an organic ale and see the circular, win-powered “Bin” that is home to Bang Brewing Co. Just a short trek away is BlackStack Brewing, the new kid on the block whose expansive taproom and variety of brews with just the right amount of twist will make you want to stay and sip awhile. Let your celiac friends drink their fill, or order another round for yourself, at Burning Brothers Brewing, where their beer is all-gluten free and comes in flavorful varieties such as orange blossom honey, lime, coffee, chocolate oatmeal and cranberry. For the final stop on the biking tour, imbibe monster themed beers at Lake Monster Brewing Co. that will leave you wondering what creatures lurk in the depths of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes.

Best time to start pedaling: Thursday starting at 4 p.m., Friday starting at 2 p.m., or Saturday starting at noon

By Claire Noack

Nordeast, as locals call it, is the holy land of Twin Cities craft breweries. The hipster neighborhood marries artsy locales with local brews on tap to create the ultimate brewery experience. Because the love for craft beer and spirits is so fervent in Northeast Minneapolis, there are plenty of local drafts to try. Whether you conquer the whole tour in one day, on a weekend, or over the course of your time in the Twin Cities, you won’t want to miss these taprooms.

Follow the Mississippi River north from downtown Minneapolis and take your tastebuds on a wild ride at Dangerous Man Brewing Co. with flavorful beers ranging from peanut butter and chocolate to lemon meringue and strawberry milkshake. Venture east on Broadway Street NE and get back to your roots with one of Able Seedhouse + Brewery‘s refined brews. Come to Indeed Brewing Co. for the specialty pints and leave with a belly full of beer and a heart of gold—this microbrewery donates its Wednesday night taproom net proceeds to local nonprofits.

Hop on your pedal-powered chariot and head toTattersall Distilling for handcrafted cocktails on their large outdoor patio. Sip on something different at Sociable Cider Werks, where a draft of apple cider does more than keep the doctors away. Stop by Bauhaus Brew Labs for German beer styles turned on their head with inventive flavor profiles. Complete the Northeast Ferris wheel of booze with a flight of Minneapolis-inspired brews at 612Brew.

Extend the journey: There are plenty more breweries in the area to bike to, but we thought we’d cut you off at seven for now. We encourage you to explore the art-infused neighborhood and taste test more local spirits, if you’re up to the challenge.

Best time to start pedaling: Thursday or Friday starting at 4 p.m., or Saturday starting at noon

By Claire Noack

For those looking for a tour packed with breweries in a concentrated area, this biking tour is for you. In just a short ride around the North Loop, you can visit six taprooms.

Kick things off with Belgian-inspired beer at Boom Island Brewing Co. Then pedal down West River Road North for scenic views of the Mississippi River on your way to check out Pryes Brewing Co.‘s newly opened taproom, which serves small batch brews and wood-fired pizzas made in-house by Red Wagon Pizza Co.

Cruise into the heart of the North Loop neighborhood to hit up three breweries, all within a two-block radius from one another. This area of Downtown Minneapolis is known for its chic boutiques, so you can get in some shopping if you aren’t too busy filling your growler. Inbound BrewCo has more than 12 rotating styles of beer on tap, not to mention their list of collaborative brews with local businesses. Grab a pint and enjoy live music nights at Fulton Brewery, or taste experimental ales at Modist Brewing Co. Venture onwards near Target Field and sip on session-style beers in a steampunk-inspired setting at Clockwerks Brewing.

Extend the journey: Want to keep the fun rolling? Choose your own adventure and continue on South Washington Avenue to Day Block Brewing Co. and Town Hall Brewery, near U.S. Bank Stadium. Or head down Hennepin Avenue to stop by Sisyphus Brewing and Lakes & Legends Brewing Co. and see Loring Park and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. Better yet, combine the two paths and make a loop around the city for the ultimate sight-seeing expedition.

Best time to start pedaling: Thursday or Friday starting at 3 p.m., or Saturday starting at 1 p.m.

By Claire Noack

This trendy neighborhood just south of downtown Minneapolis combines the best aspects of the Twin Cities, from shopping and nightlife to outdoor recreation on the Chain of Lakes. Along with sailing, kayaking and paddle boarding, Uptown is also a great place to bike around the scenic lakes and order a round of local beers with friends at neighborhood taprooms.

Sidle up to the bar at Steel Toe Brewing for refreshing beers with big flavor and almost nightly food trucks. Then ride your metal steed around Lake Calhoun and through the center of Uptown to reach LynLake Brewery and enjoy the rooftop patio, free popcorn and seasonal brews. Continue down Lake Street (or hop on the Greenway Bike Trail) to Eastlake Craft Brewery, where there is a beer to pair with any ethic food of your choosing from Midtown Global Market. Sip on something different at two local distilleries in the area. Du Nord Craft Spirits distills farm-to-bottle spirits and their cocktail lounge serves twists on classic cocktails, while Lawless Distilling Co. mixes up inventive handcrafted drinks made from their Minnesota-themed vodka and gin.

Best time to start pedaling: Wednesday through Sunday starting at 4 p.m.

By Natalie Hall

These bike and coffee shops have everything you need to accessorize your bike and energize your ride. And the wheels don’t stop turning there; bike the trails of the Twin Cities or explore more Twin Cities coffee shops if you can’t get enough fresh air or caffeine.

Venture North Bikes and Coffee

Bike to the east end of the Luce Line Trail and wander north about seven blocks to this non-profit coffee shop on Glenwood and Morgan avenues. Venture North Bikes and Coffee keeps it local with Up Coffee, an organic Northeast Minneapolis roaster. Their specialty drinks the glenwood fog and the venturo reflect the personality of the shop and its neighborhood.

One on One Bicycle Studio and Café

Two blocks south of the Cedar Lake Trail, on Washington and North Second avenues, this bicycle shop feeds both of your addictions. Not only does One on One Bicycle Studio and Café supply coffee drinks to get you going, they also sell bikes and build custom sets of wheels. Almond frangipane melts on your tongue with each buttery bite of a croissant, and a rich dark chocolate mocha harmonizes with the sweet almond.

Angry Catfish Bicycle and Coffee Bar

With direct-trade Intelligentsia coffee, bikes, accessories and apparel, you’ll find everything you never knew you needed at this quaint bike and coffee shop. Angry Catfish Bicycle and Coffee Bar is conveniently located eight blocks west of the Hiawatha LRT Regional Trail, on East 42nd Street and South 28th Avenue. Tour downtown Minneapolis on the Hiawatha Bike Trail from where it begins on South Third Street near U.S. Bank Stadium southeast to your caffeinated “rest stop.” The Canadian, maple syrup-flavored cold brew and milk tastes like a pancake over ice. And Californian flavors meld in the orange lavender latte.

Bicycle enthusiasts living in and visiting Minnesota now have a new way to explore some 315 miles along the western shores of Lake Superior—the newly approved U.S. Bicycle Route 41 (USBR 41), also known as the North Star Bicycle Route.

U.S. Bicycle Route 41 connects the capital city of St. Paul to Grand Portage State Park at the Canadian border, where bicyclists can end their journey with a view of Minnesota’s highest waterfall on the Pigeon River.

Approved last month by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the route is now part of the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS), a developing national network of officially recognized and numbered bicycle routes. The newest designation brings the total miles in the system up to 11,563 through 24 states.

USBR 41 combines existing roads and mixed-use paths and trails to create a route that winds its way through some of Minnesota’s most beloved and popular locations. It passes through two national parks—the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and Grand Portage National Monument—and connects to nine state parks as well as the Superior National Forest. In addition, U.S. Bicycle Route 41 passes through two nationally recognized bicycle-friendly communities: Duluth and Grand Marais, as well as numerous cities with small-town charm.

The route also joins the Mississippi River Trail in St. Paul, designated as USBR 45 in 2013, which connects Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana. “USBR 41 provides the opportunity for people to travel between two seamless and continuously designated routes,” said Liz Walton, the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s (MnDOT) U.S. Bicycle Route 41 project manager. “From the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, two of the nation’s great water bodies are now connected by bicycle.”

Nearly half the route includes off-road segments on some of Minnesota’s most popular trails. There are plenty of opportunities for families and less experienced bicyclists to travel and enjoy the route. USBR 41 includes a short segment of the Gateway State Trail and the complete Willard Munger and Gitchi Gami State Trails. It also includes the regional Bruce Vento, Hardwood Creek and Sunrise Prairie Trails, and numerous other local trails.

Planning Your Trip

For cyclists looking to link their ride to public transportation, USBR 41 goes directly past downtown St. Paul’s Union Depot, a multi-modal transportation hub. At the depot, cyclists will find easy access to local and regional buses, light rail trains, Amtrak’s passenger rail trains (with carry-on service), taxis, car- and bike-sharing, and even a bicycle shop, secure bicycle storage, a repair station for minor tune-ups, and secured-shower access and restrooms.

MnDOT is preparing a new USBR 41 webpage where printable and downloadable electronic/GPS maps will be available. In addition, Adventure Cycling’s website provides a breadth of resources and tools for route implementation, as well as links to maps and other resources for cyclists wishing to ride an established U.S. Bicycle Route.