Minnesota · Hiking

Hogback Ridge Trail

Hogback Ridge TrailPhoto: Joe Passe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
1.4 mi
one way
11 ft
climb
732 ft
high point
Point to point
route
Apr–Oct
best months

Hogback Ridge Trail is a short, easy hike in southern Minnesota, about 1.3 miles from the town of Nicols. The route is a point-to-point walk of roughly 1.4 miles, with a total elevation gain of about 11 feet. The climb is gentle, and the steepest stretch comes at about 1.3 miles in, with a grade of about 4 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Minneapolis run to highs around 83°F in July and 73°F in September, while January highs average just 24°F. Several other trails sit within a few miles. Long Meadow Lake Trail is about 1.5 miles away, and Hillside Trail and Bluff Trail are each about 2.5 miles off. The Minnesota River Bridge Trail is about 2.9 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Hogback Ridge 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, 3.7 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

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

Long Meadow Lake Trail

~3 min drive

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

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)

~3 min drive

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

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

River Bottoms Trail

~6 min drive

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

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

Hillside Trail

~4 min drive

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

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

Voyageur Trek

~9 min drive

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

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

Bluff Trail

~4 min drive

2.92-mile point-to-point hike in Minnesota with 936 ft gain.

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

West River Parkway Trail

~12 min drive

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

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

Minnesota River Greenway Trail

~5 min drive

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

HIKE

Prairie Loop (South)

~15 min drive

Easy out-and-back prairie trail with native grassland views.

Mendota TrailPhoto: Sank63, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mendota Trail

~7 min drive

5.36-mile out-and-back trail in Minnesota with 12 ft of elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors