BIKE
• Take in dramatic lake, river, forest and downtown scenes all year long on the 50 miles of interconnecting trails, paths and roadways looping Minneapolis. 612-230-6400; www.minneapolisparks.org.
• Ride 42 miles through rural countryside on the abandoned railroad that is now the Root River section of the Blufflands State Trail (a.k.a. River Bottoms). http://www.dnr.state.mn.us.
• Head north from St. Paul on the 18-mile Gateway path. Adjacent trails provide mountain biking opportunities. Get padded bike shorts for the long ride at Freewheel. 612-339-2219; http://freewheelbike.com.
• Wind through meadows and woodlands on Lebanon Hills’ singletrack. 952-891-7000; www.co.dakota.mn.us.

HIKE/CAMP
• Get hooked with Minnehikers’ hikes of varying difficulty and lengths planned around Minneapolis. 612-230-6475; www.minneapolisparks.org.
• From a campsite just one hour away, explore rolling, wooded hills and grasslands along the St. Croix River at William O’Brien State Park. 651-433-0500; www.dnr.state.mn.us. Get gear at Midwest Mountaineering. 888-999-1077; www.midwestmtn.com.
• Drive north to a recreation wonderland in Jay Cooke State Park. Backpack two miles on the Summer Trail to a primitive site along Silver Creek, or bike the 63-mile Hinckley -Duluth segment of the Willard Munger Trail. www.dnr.state.mn.us.
• Get away to explore Lake Superior’s Apostle Islands by sea kayak. 715-779-9503; www.livingadventure.com.


PADDLE
• Find kayaking classes, paddling trips and outdoor activities at one of the 49 neighborhood-based Recreation Centers in Minneapolis. www.minneapolisparks.org.
• Canoe, kayak or relax on the region’s lakes or the city’s Minnehaha Creek. 763-561-220; www.kettercanoeing.com.
• Stay south of Highway 70 for easy flatwater and mild ripples on the St. Croix River. Get acquainted on the 18-mile stretch in Wild River State Park. Then go way north for exciting multi-day trips. Find outfitters at www.nps.gov/sacn.
• Paddle the grand Mississippi downstream from Minneapolis’ Bohemian Flats about seven miles through the gorge to Saint Paul’s Hidden Falls Park. Rent a canoe or kayak at the Center for Outdoor Adventure at University of Minnesota. 612-624-9779.


RUN
• Train for the Twin Cities Marathon (twincitiesmarathon.org) with regular runs along the famed 13-mile Chain of Lakes loop.
• For year-round running in the land of lakes, check out the happenings at Minnesota Distance Running Association. www.runmdra.org.
• Get out of the winter cold. Do laps at the weekly runs at the Metrodome. www.runmdra.org.
• Pace yourself for the endless miles on the Minnesota River Bottoms trail.
Find off-road trails and wooded terrain out your backdoor at Lebanon Hills or Theater Wirth Park. For other routes, ask the guys at Runner's Edge Athletics. 651-224-1971; www.runnersedge.com.
• Run 2.5 miles on St. Paul’s Summit Avenue dirt path from Lexington Ave to River Road. Add an extra 2.5 miles on River Road. 952-926-2645; www.gearrunningstore.com.