We have many incredible hiking trails in Minnesota - across all manner of terrain, ranging from rolling prairies in the south and west, to river bluffs along the Mississippi Valley and rugged wilderness in the north. But now, you can hike with brown bears, bison, and tigers - yes, tigers! - all along the same trail. How's that, you wonder? Well, I'll tell you. In 2023, the state's premier zoological garden opened a brand new attraction in the form of an elevated walking trail. In fact, the Minnesota Zoo's 1.25-mile Treetop Trail, on completion, was the longest elevated walking loop in the world. Read on to learn more about this canopy walk in Minnesota, and why I think you should get out to the MN Zoo and walk it as soon as possible!

At nearly 500 acres, the Minnesota Zoo is one of the largest in the United States.

The zoo's outdoor exhibits consist primarily of animals that come from - or can tolerate - climates similar to that of Minnesota.

In addition to native species, such as wolves, bison, and moose, the zoo is also home to more exotic species like brown bears, Amur tigers, and Amur leopards.

To assist visitors in getting around the park, a monorail operated on the property for almost 30 years.

However, because the Zoo could no longer obtain parts to maintain its monorail, it decommissioned the tram in 2013.

The zoo later announced plans to convert the old monorail track into an elevated walking path.

After a lengthy planning stage, the zoo broke ground on the Treetop Trail in 2022.

Like the monorail, the loops throughout the zoo.

Visitors walk at a height of 32 feet over some of the zoo's most pristine habitat.

This includes more than 200 untouched acres of zoo-managed property.

The Treetop Trail opened in summer 2023 as the longest elevated walking loop in the world.

Visitors flocked to the trail and have been enjoying this Minnesota Zoo canopy walk ever since.

The Treetop Trail at the Minnesota Zoo offers a completely unique experience for visitors.

You can see the landscape and the animals in way that you never could before - even with the old monorail. Even better, it's out in the open, so your views aren't obscured at all.

Follow the MN Zoo's Facebook page for updates and to keep up with the latest happenings on the Treetop Trail, or visit its website to learn more about the Minnesota Zoo, its history, and its mission. The Minnesota Zoo is also an awesome spot to visit for seasonal events, such as its Farm Babies encounter in the spring, as well as its Halloween trail and holiday lights display.

Have you walked the Treetop Trail at the Minnesota Zoo? What are some other attractions in Minnesota that folks should know about?