Saint Anthony Falls Heritage Trail

The Saint Anthony Heritage Trail offers pedestrians and pups a view of all that Downtown Minneapolis has to offer. The trail is a loop that travels along and over the Mississippi River, and through the Saint Anthony Historic District. This trail is part of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a non-profit organization that converts old, unused railways into pathways that everyone can enjoy. It's the ideal trail to take for an urban adventure with you pupper. 

There are several different access points along the trail, and you can start at any most convenient for you. Many choose to start and finish the trail loop at the Stone Arch metered parking lot, on the south side of the river on West River Parkway. Here you can unload your pupper from your vehicle and embark on your adventure. If you're lucky enough to live close by, you can simply walk to the trail or even add it to your regular dog walking route. The surface of the trail is made up of asphalt, making it popular among cyclists and rollerbladers, and a breeze for people and pups of any fitness level. 

The signature feature of this trail is the Stone Arch Bridge that crosses over the Mississippi River. It is a sight to behold, consisting of 23 arches made of local granite and limestone. From the bridge, you can enjoy spectacular views of the Saint Anthony Falls and the downtown skyline. On your travels, you'll come across some pretty urban parks that make great rest stops along the river, such as Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park, Nicollet Island Pavilion, and Father Hennepin Bluff Park to name a few. There are restaurants and shops around too if you should need any facilities or a snack. 

Leashed doggos are more than welcome to join their humans on this trail, but please be prepared to stoop and scoop. Taking a stroll along Saint Anthony Heritage Trail is the pawfect way to spend some quality time with your pooch in the city.