The Loppet Foundation, Golden Valley

From its humble beginnings as a single-day ski race, The Loppet Foundation has grown into a definitive resource on year-round outdoor activities in the Minneapolis area. With a focus on undeserved youth and families, the Foundation is host to a large number of recreational programs and activities, from skiing and sledding down snowy slopes, to hiking and biking through wooded trails. To highlight these activities, The Loppet Foundation holds a variety of events that span the range of seasons.

• City of Lakes Loppet Ski Festival: a four-day festival focused on cross country skiing and other winter activities like skijoring and a snow sculpture contest
• CityTrail Loppet: a point-to-point urban 10k or 10-mile trail run held in the spring that passes through various Minneapolis sites like Sochacki Park and Theodore Wirth Regional Park
• Surly Brewing Co. Trail Loppet: this half-marathon race takes place in the fall, and takes racers through Theodore Wirth Park, which features ponds and lakes, bogs and wildflower gardens, and occasional views of the downtown Minneapolis skyline