It’s Time to Take a Hike in Minnesota’s Twin Cities! The best way to experience Minneapolis and St. Paul is by hiking them. Get outdoors with Minnesota author and naturalist Tom Watson, with the full-color edition of 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Minneapolis and St. Paul . A perfect blend of popular trails and hidden gems, the selected trails transport you to scenic overlooks, wildlife hot spots, and historical settings that renew your spirit and recharge your body. Marvel at the awe-inspiring waterways of the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers. Experience the breathtaking views at Afton State Park and Barn Bluff. Go birdwatching on the slopes and hills at Frontenac and Lake Maria State Parks. Immerse yourself in history along the old railroad routes of the Douglas State Trail and Cannon Valley Trail. With an award-winning outdoors writer as your guide, you’ll learn about the area and experience nature through 60 of the Twin Cities’ best hikes! Each hike description features key at-a-glance information on distance, difficulty, scenery, traffic, hiking time, and more, so you can quickly and easily learn about each trail. Detailed directions, GPS-based trail maps, and elevation profiles help to ensure that you know where you are and where you’re going. Tips on nearby activities further enhance your enjoyment of every outing. Whether you’re a local looking for new places to explore or a visitor to the area, 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Minneapolis and St. Paul provides plenty of options for a couple hours or a full day of adventure, all within about an hour from Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding communities. Tom Watson was born in California and moved to the Twin Cities from Missouri at age 7. He remained in Minnesota until he graduated from the University of Minnesota’s College of Forestry with a B.S. in forest resource management and recreation. Then, in the mid-1980s, he moved to Kodiak, Alaska, where he spent 15 years operating a sea-kayak touring business and began working as a freelance writer and photographer. Published in several national magazines and an award-winning, active member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America and the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers, Tom is also the author of Best Minnesota Camper Cabins (Adventure Publications) and Best Tent Camping: Minnesota (Menasha Ridge Press). In addition to hiking, he enjoys photography, music, gardening, bird-watching, paddling, and camping. CARLOS AVERY TRAIL DISTANCE & CONFIGURATION: 8.7-mile loop DIFFICULTY: Easy SCENERY: Classic marshlands with a scattering of trees along perimeter and on “islands” throughout the marsh EXPOSURE: Little shade once out on the marsh TRAIL TRAFFIC: Multiuse trail serves motor vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. Note: There is no access to the wildlife-sanctuary area at any time. TRAIL SURFACE: Packed gravel with some sandy sections HIKING TIME: 3.5–4.5 hours DRIVING DISTANCE: 30 miles from the state capitol ACCESS: Daily, sunrise–sunset; no fees or permits MAPS: An excellent map that I recommend highly is available at both the trailhead at the WMA headquarters and at the entrance to the Old Game Farm complex, 2 miles from the trailhead on County Road 19 FACILITIES: There are no amenities or shelters, so dress and prepare appropriately; be sure to take plenty of water and snacks DOGS: On leash April 16–July 15 to protect nesting birds; allowed off-leash at other times CONTACT: 651-539-3300, dnr.state.mn.us/areas/wildlife/carlos_avery_wma.html LOCATION: Zodiac Street NE at Headquarters Road, Forest Lake, MN 55025 COMMENTS: This is one of the best places close to the Twin Cities to see flora and fauna in an expansive marshland―great for watchers of wildlife and birds! IN BRIEF With more than 50 miles of roads and half as many miles of trails, this hike is the only one that will take you around the edge of the restricted sanctuary portion of the wildlife management area. You’ll find fantastic opportunities to view birds and other creatures throughout 6,000 acres of wetlands, contained by more than 26 miles of dikes. DESCRIPTION The 23,000 acres of the Carlos Avery State Wildlife Management Area offer some of the best wetlands viewing of birds and other wildlife close to the Twin Cities. More than 275 species of migratory and resident birds inhabit or visit the area. The land area is made up of about two-thirds marsh and wetland and one-third hardwood trees, oak savannas, and grasslands. This hike is in the southern unit of the Wildlife Management Area and uses the roadway around the protected, restricted area of the wildlife sanctuary. The northern unit, Sunrise, has a few trail spurs off the roadways that run through that unit. More than 26 miles of dikes contain and direct water throughout Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area―connecting pools and water canals that are adjusted to provide life-giving water to the area’s flora and fauna. Fundin