Minnesota · Hiking

Bluff Trail

Bluff TrailPhoto: Joe Passe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
2.9 mi
one way
133 ft
climb
793 ft
high point
Point to point
route
Apr–Oct
best months

Clear today

Weather is good · OpenWeather · checked 5 h ago

Bluff Trail is a short, easy hike of about 2.9 miles in Long Meadow Lake Unit Park in Minnesota, managed by a non-governmental organization. The route rises about 130 feet from a low point of 703 feet to a high of 793 feet, with the steepest stretch at about 2.7 miles in, where the grade reaches 13 percent. The most comfortable months for a visit are typically June through September, when typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs around 79°F in June to about 83°F in July, with September easing to around 73°F. Winters are cold, with January highs averaging about 24°F. The trail is a point-to-point route, and the surrounding park holds several other trails within a short drive. The Minnesota River Bridge Trail is about 0.4 miles away and the Minnesota River Greenway Trail about 0.6 miles. The River Bottoms Trail and Long Meadow Lake Trail are both within about a mile and a half.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Bluff Trail

    Best months: April–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      24° / 9°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      29° / 13°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      42° / 25°

      9 wet

    4. Apr

      57° / 38°

      11 wet

    5. May

      69° / 50°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      79° / 60°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      83° / 65°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      81° / 63°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      73° / 54°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      58° / 41°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      42° / 28°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      29° / 15°

      9 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Minneapolis/St Paul Ap, MN, 5.9 mi away at 872 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Minnesota River Greenway TrailPhoto: Joe Passe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Minnesota River Greenway Trail

Next door

3.77-mile out-and-back trail in Minnesota with 383 ft gain.

River Bottoms TrailPhoto: Joe Passe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

River Bottoms Trail

~2 min drive

8.68-mile out-and-back hike in Minnesota with 983 ft gain.

Minnesota Valley State Trail (Long Meadow Lake Unit)Photo: Joe Passe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Minnesota Valley State Trail (Long Meadow Lake Unit)

~2 min drive

1.16-mile out-and-back trail with 199 ft elevation gain in Minnesota

Long Meadow Lake TrailPhoto: Joe Passe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Long Meadow Lake Trail

~2 min drive

Point-to-point trail to Long Meadow Lake through meadows and forest.

Hogback Ridge TrailPhoto: Joe Passe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Hogback Ridge Trail

~4 min drive

1.37-mile point-to-point trail in Minnesota with 148 ft gain

Voyageur TrekPhoto: Joe Passe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Voyageur Trek

~10 min drive

Historic point-to-point trail following a voyageur water route through Minnesota.

Hillside TrailPhoto: U.S. Department of the Interior, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Hillside Trail

~9 min drive

0.43-mile out-and-back trail in Minnesota with 77 ft of elevation gain.

West River Parkway TrailPhoto: bjwhite66212, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

West River Parkway Trail

~15 min drive

16.06-mile out-and-back trail in Minnesota with 172 ft elevation gain.

Bloomington Ferry TrailPhoto: Joe Passe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Bloomington Ferry Trail

~9 min drive

0.65-mile out-and-back trail in Minnesota with 135 ft elevation gain.

Lone Rock LoopPhoto: Sank63, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lone Rock Loop

~22 min drive

A 4.69-mile out-and-back Minnesota trail featuring woodland scenery and rock formations.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors