Minnesota - land of 10,000 lakes - is one of the hiking world's best kept secrets, a veritable paradise of lakes and hardwood forests waiting to be explored.

Join John Pukite for a sampling of the myriad of hiking opportunities available in the North Star State. Hiking Minnesota is your passport to more than 80 hikes, ranging from easy afternoon jaunts to multi-day backpack trips.

Listen for the haunting calls of loons as you explore the vast waterways of the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area - on foot. Visit the sacred Three Maidens of Pipestone National Monument, which stand guard over some of Minnesota's last tall grass prairie. Or step back into history at the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers with a hike around Fort Snelling.

Detailed maps, elevation profiles, and even global positioning coordinates eliminate the guesswork, allowing you to concentrate on your adventure. With a wealth of information on ecology, geology, state history and useful hiking tips for beginners and experts alike, this is the only reference you'll need when the North Woods beckon.