Best Hiking Trails in Fargo Locals Love

Fargo Park District records show a 28 percent rise in visits to secondary trails this spring compared with the same period in 2025.

City data released last month indicate that downtown visitors still cluster along the main Red River Greenway while many longtime residents head elsewhere for quieter loops. The shift aligns with local wellness programs that emphasize low-impact outdoor activity during peak daylight hours.

Two spots stand out for regular users. The northern section of Oak Grove Park off 7th Street North offers a 1.8-mile packed-gravel circuit that skirts the riverbank behind the old Elm Tree neighborhood. A few miles south, the maintenance paths behind Lindenwood Park on 22nd Avenue South connect to an unmarked spur that runs parallel to the Sheyenne River diversion channel.

Access points and daily routines

Both routes sit within city limits yet receive little mention on visitor maps distributed at the Fargo-Moorhead Convention and Visitors Bureau. Members of the local group Move Fargo meet at Oak Grove on Tuesdays at 6:45 a.m. for group walks that finish before commuter traffic builds on University Drive. Lindenwood regulars often start from the parking lot near the outdoor fitness stations installed in 2023.

Usage numbers and next steps

Park District counts logged 142,000 total outings on these secondary routes between January and June this year. Parking remains free at both trailheads, though the district charges $3 for overflow lots near Lindenwood on weekends. Walkers who want to try either loop can download the district’s updated trail map from its website or stop by the maintenance office at 1201 28th Street North for a paper copy before heading out.