SPORTS & RECREATION / PARKS & NATURE

The natural beauty of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area is one of its most appealing and distinctive qualities. Sprawling state parks, federal parks and forests, pristine wilderness areas, lake and river waterfronts, and regional parks combine to provide the idyllic environment for every possible outdoor activity. Nature centers and other preserves offer abundant opportunities for hands-on experiences and educational programs that expand our appreciation of the natural world. Throughout the Twin Cities metro area, individual communities have developed a wide variety of recreational facilities and programs that meet the need for outdoor relaxation and adventure just beyond the front door.

STATE & FEDERAL PARKLAND

National Parks & Forests

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Superior National Forest
Duluth 218-626-4300
https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233396

Chippewa National Forest
Cass Lake 218-335-8600
https://www.nationalforests.org/our-forests/find-a-forest/chippewa-national-forest

Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
19502 Iris Road
Little Falls 320-632-1575
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/crane_meadows/

Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway
Locations/Attractions Vary
Minneapolis 612-230-6400
www.minneapolisparks.org

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
3815 American Boulevard East
Bloomington 952-854-5900
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/minnesota_valley/

Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
111 East Kellogg Boulevard
St. Paul 651-293-0200
www.nps.gov/miss

St. Croix National Scenic Riverway
401 Hamilton Street
Saint Croix Falls, WI 715-483-2274
www.nps.gov/sacn

Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
17076 293rd Avenue NW
Zimmerman 763-389-3323
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sherburne/

Superior National Forest
Duluth 218-626-4300
https://www.fs.usda.gov/superior/

Voyageurs National Park
360 Highway 11 East
International Falls 218-283-6600
www.nps.gov/voya

Regional State Parks/Forests

Afton State Park
6959 Peller Avenue South
Hastings 651-436-5391
www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/afton

Crow Wing State Park
3124 State Park Road
Brainerd 218-825-3075
www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/crow_wing

Fort Snelling State Park
101 Snelling Lake Road
St. Paul 612-279-3550
Visitor Center 612-725-2724
www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/fort_snelling

Frontenac State Park
29223 County 28 Boulevard
Frontenac 651-345-3401
www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/frontenac

Great River Bluffs State Park
43605 Kipp Drive
Winona 507-643-6849
www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/great_river_bluffs

Interstate State Park
307 Milltown Road
Taylors Falls 651-465-5711
www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/interstate

Itasca State Park
36750 Main Park Drive
Park Rapids 218-699-7251
www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/itasca

John A. Latsch State Park
US Highway 61
Winona 507-312-2300
www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/john_latsch

Lake Maria State Park
11411 Clementa Avenue NW
Monticello 763-878-2325
www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/lake_maria

Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area
19825 Park Boulevard
Jordan 651-259-5774
www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/minnesota_valley

Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
9700 170th Street East
Nerstrand 507-384-6140
www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/nerstrand_big_woods

Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest
www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_forests/sft00033

Sand Dunes State Forest
US 169
Zimmerman
www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_forests/sft00045

Wild River State Park
39797 Park Trail
Center City 651-583-2125
www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/wild_river

William O’Brien State Park
16821 O’Brien Trail North
Marine on St Croix 651-433-0500
www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/william_obrien

Regional Highlights

Bald Eagle-Otter Lakes Regional Park
5800 Hugo Road
White Bear Township 651-748-2500
www.ramseycounty.us/residents/parks-recreation

Battle Creek Regional Park
2300 Upper Afton Road
Maplewood 651-748-2500
www.ramseycounty.us/residents/parks-recreation

Big Rivers Regional Trail
1498 Mendota Heights Road
Mendota Heights 952-891-7000
www.co.dakota.mn.us/parks

Bunker Hills Regional Park
550 Bunker Lake Boulevard NW
Andover 763-324-3300
www.anokacounty.us/721/Bunker-Hills-Regional-Park

Baker Park Preserve
2309 Baker Park Road
Maple Plain 763-694-7860
www.threeriversparks.org/location/baker-park-reserve

Baylor Regional Park
10775 County Road 33
Norwood Young America 952-466-5250
www.co.carver.mn.us/parks

Big Marine Park Reserve
17495 Manning Trail North
Marine on Saint Croix 651-430-8200
www.co.washington.mn.us/500/Big-Marine-Park-Reserve

Bryant Lake Regional Park
6800 Rowland Road
Eden Prairie 763-694-7764
www.threeriversparks.org/location/bryant-lake-regional-park

Cannon River Wilderness Area
3471 151st Street East
Northfield 507-332-6112
www.co.rice.mn.us/Facilities/Facility/Details/Cannon-River-Wilderness-Area-4

Carver Park Preserve
7400 Grimm Road
Victoria 763-694-7650
www.threeriversparks.org/location/carver-park-reserve

Cleary Lake Regional Park
18106 Texas Avenue
Prior Lake 763-694-7777
www.threeriversparks.org/location/cleary-lake-regional-park

Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park
9750 Egret Boulevard
Coon Rapids 763-324-3300
www.anokacounty.us/723/Coon-Rapids-Dam-Regional-Park

Crow-Hassan Park Preserve
12595 Park Drive
Rogers 763-694-7860
www.threeriversparks.org/location/crow-hassan-park-reserve

Eagle Lake Observatory
Minnesota Astronomical Society
Baylor Regional Park
10775 County Road 33
Norwood Young America 952-467-2426
www.mnastro.org/facilities/elo

Eagle Lake Regional Park
11000 Bass Lake Road
Plymouth 763-694-7695
www.threeriversparks.org/location/eagle-lake-regional-park

Elm Creek Park Preserve
12400 James Deane Parkway
Maple Grove 763-694-7894
www.threeriversparks.org/location/elm-creek-park-reserve

Fish Lake Regional Park
14900 Bass Lake Road
Maple Grove 763-694-7818
www.threeriversparks.org/location/fish-lake-regional-park

French Regional Park
12605 Rockford Road
Plymouth 763-694-7750
www.threeriversparks.org/location/french-regional-park

Hyland Lake Park Preserve
10145 Bush Lake Road
Bloomington 763-694-7687
www.threeriversparks.org/location/hyland-lake-park-reserve

Keller Lake Regional Park
2166 Maplewood Drive
Maplewood 651-748-2500
www.ramseycounty.us/residents/parks-recreation

Lake Byllesby Regional Park
8150 295th Street East
Cannon Falls 952-891-7000
www.co.dakota.mn.us/parks/parksTrails/LakeByllesby

Lake George Regional Park
3100 217th Avenue NW
Oak Grove 763-324-3300
www.anokacounty.us/766/Lake-George-Regional-Park

Lake Minnetonka Regional Park
4610 County Road 44
Minnetrista 763-694-7754
www.threeriversparks.org/location/lake-minnetonka-regional-park

Lake Minnewashta Regional Park
6900 Hazeltine Boulevard
Excelsior 952-466-5250
https://www.co.carver.mn.us/departments/public-works/parks-recreation

Lake Rebecca Park Preserve
9831 Rebecca Park Trail
Rockford 763-694-7860
www.threeriversparks.org/location/lake-rebecca-park-reserve

Lake Waconia Regional Park
8170 Paradise Lane
Waconia 952-466-5250
https://www.co.carver.mn.us/departments/public-works/parks-recreation

Lebanon Hills Regional Park
860 Cliff Road
Eagan 651-554-6530
www.co.dakota.mn.us/parks

Long Lake Regional Park
1500 Old Highway 8
New Brighton 651-748-2500
www.ramseycounty.us/residents/parks-recreation

Martin-Island-Linwood Lakes Regional Park
22480 Martin Lake Road NW
Linwood Township 763-324-3300
www.anokacounty.us/785/Martin-Island-Linwood-Lakes-Regional-Par

Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve
15501 Murphy Lake Road
Savage 763-694-7777
www.threeriversparks.org/location/murphy-hanrehan-park-reserve

North Mississippi Regional Park
5700 Lyndale Avenue North
Brooklyn Center 763-694-7790
www.threeriversparks.org/location/north-mississippi-regional-park

Riverfront Regional Park & Islands of Peace
5100 East River Road
Fridley 763-324-3300
www.anokacounty.us/794/Riverfront-Regional-Park

Rum River Central Regional Park
17955 Roanoke Street NW
Ramsey 763-324-3300
www.anokacounty.us/798/Rum-River-Central-Regional-Park

St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park
10191 St. Croix Trail South
Hastings 651-430-8240
www.co.washington.mn.us/505/St-Croix-Bluffs-Regional-Park

Taylor Falls Recreation
37200 Wild Mountain Road
Taylors Falls 651-465-6365
www.wildmountain.com

Tony Schmidt Regional Park
3500 Lake Johanna Boulevard
Arden Hills 651-748-2500
www.ramseycounty.us/residents/parks-recreation

Vadnais-Snail Lakes Regional Park
4191 Snail Lake Boulevard
Shoreview 651-748-2500
www.ramseycounty.us/residents/parks-recreation

Vadnais-Sucker Lakes Picnic Area
4500 Rice Street
Vadnais Heights 651-748-2500
www.ramseycounty.us/residents/parks-recreation

Wabash Street Cave & History Tours
Locations Vary
St. Paul/Stillwater 651-224-1191
www.wabashastreetcaves.com

Nature Centers & Gardens

Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center
12805 St. Croix Trail
Hastings 651-437-4359
http://carpenternaturecenter.org

Eastman Nature Center
Elm Creek Park Preserve
13351 Elm Creek Road
Dayton 763-694-7700
www.threeriversparks.org/eastman

Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
Theodore Wirth Park
1 Theodore Wirth Parkway
Minneapolis 612-370-4903
www.minneapolisparks.org

Gale Wood Farm
7210 County Road 110 West
Minnetrista 763-694-2001
www.threeriversparks.org/location/gale-woods-farm

Harriett Alexander Nature Center
2520 North Dale Street
Roseville 651-765-HANC
www.cityofroseville.com/183/Nature-Center

Longfellow Gardens
Minnehaha Park
3925 East Minnehaha Parkway
Minneapolis 612-230-6400
www.minneapolisparks.org

Loring Park Garden of the Seasons
1382 Willow Street
Minneapolis 612-230-6400
www.minneapolisparks.org

Lowry Nature Center
Carver Park Preserve
7025 Victoria Drive
Victoria 763-694-7650
www.threeriversparks.org/location/lowry-nature-center

Lyndale Park Peace Garden
4124 Roseway Road
Minneapolis 612-230-6400
www.minneapolisparks.org

Maplewood Nature Center & Preserves
2659 East 7th Street
Maplewood 651-249-2170
http://maplewoodmn.gov/960/Nature-Center

Marjorie McNeely Conservatory & Gardens
1225 Estabrook Drive
Saint Paul 651-487-8201
24-hour Info 651-487-8200
www.comozooconservatory.org

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
725 Vineland Place
Minneapolis 612-375-7600
https://walkerart.org/

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
3675 Arboretum Drive
Chaska 612-301-1257
www.arboretum.umn.edu

Minnesota Zoo
13000 Zoo Boulevard
Apple Valley 952-431-9200
Toll free 800-366-7811
http://mnzoo.org/

Munsinger Clemens Gardens
Riverside Drive SE
St. Cloud 320-257-5959
www.munsingerclemens.com

Noerenberg Gardens
2865 Northshore Drive
Wayzata 763-559-6700
www.threeriversparks.org/location/noerenberg-gardens

Nokomis Naturescape Gardens
5001 East Lake Nokomis Parkway
Minneapolis 612-230-6400
https://www.facebook.com/NokomisNaturescape

Normandale Japanese Gardens
Normandale Community College
9700 France Avenue South
Bloomington 952-358-8200
http://www.normandale.edu/community/japanese-garden

Pergola Garden
Minnehaha Falls
4801 South Minnehaha Drive
Minneapolis 612-230-6400
https://www.minneapolisparks.org/parks__destinations/gardens__bird_sanctuaries/minnehaha_falls_pergola_garden/

Quaking Bog
Theodore Wirth Park
1 Theodore Wirth Parkway
Minneapolis 612-230-6400
www.minneapolisparks.org

Richardson Nature Center
Hyland Lake Park Preserve
8737 East Bush Lake Road
Bloomington 763-694-7676
www.threeriversparks.org/location/richardson-nature-center

River Bend Nature Center
1000 Rustad Road
Faribault 507-332-7151
https://rbnc.org/

Springbrook Nature Center
100 85th Avenue NE
Fridley 763-572-3588
www.springbrooknaturecenter.org

Tamarack Nature Center
5287 Otter Lake Road
White Bear Township 651-407-5350
www.ramseycounty.us/residents/parks-recreation

Thomas Irvine Dodge Nature Center
365 Marie Avenue West
West St. Paul 651-455-4531
www.dodgenaturecenter.org

Thomas Sadler Roberts Bird Sanctuary
Lyndale Park
4124 Roseway Road
Minneapolis 612-230-6400
www.minneapolisparks.org

Westwood Hills Nature Center
8300 West Franklin Avenue
St. Louis Park 952-924-2544
http://westwoodhillsnaturecenter.org

PARKS & RECREATION CONTACTS

State & Federal

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
651-296-6157
888-MINNDNR
www.dnr.state.mn.us

Minnesota State Parks
Camping Reservations
866-857-2757
www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/reservations_campsite.html

National Wildlife Refuges
US Fish & Wildlife Service
Midwest Region
612-713-5360
www.fws.gov/midwest

Recreation.gov
National Recreation Service
877-444-6777
www.recreation.gov

US Forest Service
800-832-1355
www.fs.fed.us

City & County

City of Bloomington Parks & Recreation
Bloomington 952-563-8877
www.bloomingtonmn.gov

City of Minneapolis Parks & Recreation
Minneapolis 612-230-6400
www.minneapolisparks.org

City of St. Paul Parks & Recreation
Saint Paul 651-266-6400
www.stpaul.gov

Anoka County Parks
Andover 763-324-3300
www.anokacountyparks.com

Carver County Parks
Chaska 952-466-5250
https://www.co.carver.mn.us/departments/public-works/parks-recreation

Dakota County Parks Department
Apple Valley 651-437-3191
Toll Free 800-247-1056
www.co.dakota.mn.us/parks

Hennepin & Scott Counties
Three Rivers Park District
Information 763-559-9000
www.threeriversparks.org

Metropolitan Council Regional Parks
St. Paul 651-602-1000
https://metrocouncil.org/Parks.aspx

Ramsey County Parks & Recreation
Maplewood 651-748-2500
www.ramseycounty.us/residents/parks-recreation

Rice County Parks
Faribault 507-332-6105
www.co.rice.mn.us/198/Parks-Facilities

Sherburne County Parks
Elk River 763-765-3300
www.co.sherburne.mn.us

Washington County Parks & Trails
Stillwater 651-430-8368
www.co.washington.mn.us