OUTDOOR ACTIVITY IDEAS Be Sure to Check the Websites Before Heading Out; COVID-19 May Change Conditions
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OUTDOOR ACTIVITY IDEAS Be sure to check the websites before heading out; COVID-19 may change conditions. BIKING • Cannon Valley Trail in Cannon Valley (https://cannonvalleytrail.com): Trail is built on a former Chicago Great Western Railroad line connecting the cities of Cannon Falls, Welch, and Red Wing in beautiful southeastern Minnesota. This paved bicycle and hiking trail is 19.7 miles of diverse and spectacular scenery. Paralleling the Cannon River, the Trail offers glimpses and panoramas of the valley and gradually descends 115 feet in elevation from Cannon Falls to Red Wing. From overhanging cliffs to views of extensive wetland complexes, nature’s seasonal changes are vividly displayed. The Trail is open year round for bicycling, in-line skating, skateboarding, hiking, walking, and cross country skiing. Trail users age 18 or older must have a valid Wheel Pass when using the trail from April 1st – November 1st. Wheel Pass fees are $5/day or $25/season. The Great Minnesota Ski Pass is required to cross-country ski on the Cannon Valley Trail. BY THE WATER • Cobblestone Lake Park in Apple Valley (northwest corner of Cobblestone Lake, just a block from Target): A new city park with impressive picnic shelter and restrooms. Adjacent to a 1.4 mile walking/biking path that circles Cobblestone Lake. Good location to meet friends. • Hidden Falls Regional Park at 1313 Hidden Falls Drive in St. Paul (https://www.stpaul.gov/facilities/hidden-falls-regional-park): Located along the Mississippi River bluffs just below Lock and Dam 1. This beautiful park is great for birding, fishing, picnicking, walking, and biking. BBQ Grills, Benches, Biking Trail, Boat Launch, Fire Pit, Hiking Trail, Picnic Area, Restroom Facilities, and Shelter. 6.7 miles of paved walking/hiking trails, the park provides a beautiful setting along shady, wooded bottom-lands next to the Mississippi River. Hours: sunrise to 9 or 10 PM. The Falls is directly to your right as you enter the park - and it is hidden! (As of 8/14/20, if you are heading north along Mississippi River Blvd, ignore the first entrance on the left – it says the park is closed. Continue along the Blvd. to the second entrance at Magoffin Avenue.) • Thomas Lake in Eagan, off Pilot Knob Road between Cliff Road and Diffley Road (https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/fin/kidsponds/thomas.html): Thomas Lake is good for hiking and fishing. This lake is a shallow lake that is aerated to prevent winter-kill. It has a good population of Largemouth Bass and the fishing pier will give you access to the deeper water that might hold more fish. No entrance fee, wonderful walking path around the lake that is wheelchair accessible, parking lot, picnic facilities. • Willow River State Park at 1034 County Highway in Hudson, WI 54016 - Phone number is 715- 386-5931 and the state park is open 6 AM - 11 PM (Gowaterfalling.com): Vehicle WI State Park Sticker required; be sure to get your sticker online before heading to the park. No daily pass available. Willow Falls was recently restored and is one of the most scenic waterfalls in WI. The falls is easy to visit and very user friendly. Located ~45 minutes from Eagan. There is a set of trails that lead to the falls. One mile-long trail leads to the falls from Campground #3. There is a bridge across the river just below the falls. You can get as close as you want to these falls, including wading into the falls, or get behind the main drop. There is also a lake in the park, great picnicking area, swimming beach, camping, canoeing/kayaking (bring your own) and many hiking trails. • Glendalough State Park at 24869 Whitetail Lane, Battle Lake, MN (https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00167#homepage): Nestled in the transition zone between prairie and hardwood forest, Glendalough offers a true respite from civilization. Crystal clear Annie Battle Lake is a 335-acre, non-motorized "Heritage Fishery" that provides a tranquil fishing experience that is second to none. Special regulations sustain a steady supply of large sunfish, crappie, and the occasional walleye for the frying pan, and large bass for the camera. Near the pristine shores of this lake are a cart-in campground and canoe-in campsites, all free from the traffic and noise of traditional drive-in camping. Canoe-in campsites, the cart-in campground, camper cabins and yurts are open. Vault toilets are open. Explore the park by canoe or kayak on the connecting creeks. A paved bike trail loop and numerous hiking trails, including two interpretive trails, meander along five pristine lakes, through rich Bur Oak woods and blooming prairies. Wildlife abounds year-round, and there are many observation decks along the trails. Trails are groomed in winter for skiing and snowshoeing. Picnicking and swimming is available on two sandy lakes. Buy your permits in advance. This helps protect you, other visitors and staff by minimizing person-to-person contact. If you buy a vehicle permit online, record your confirmation number and place it on your car's dashboard. • St. Croix River: https://www.taylorsfallscanoe.com/canoe-and-kayak has all the details on canoeing or kayaking this tranquil, family-friendly stretch of the river. The St. Croix River is one of the cleanest and most beautiful wild riverways in the country. Take a picnic lunch and stop to eat on a beach along the way. The Taylors Falls Canoe & Kayak Rental Base is located inside the Minnesota Interstate Park in Taylor's Falls. Rentals and shuttle service is available. You will also need a day pass for the Park. Explore the town of Taylor's Falls or stop in Stillwater on your way home. HIKING/WALKING TRAILS • Carver Park Reserve at 7400 Grimm Road in Victoria (www.ThreeRiversParks.org): Large reserve, lots of space with biking/walking trails, picnic sites, has portable restrooms. Carver Park Reserve is part of the Three Rivers Park System. ~1 hour drive from Apple Valley. • Nerstrand Big Woods State Park at 9700 170th Street E in Nerstrand MN, 1 hour south of SOTV (https://[email protected]): Forest (Big Woods) landscape with many self- interpretive hiking trails including one to Hidden Falls Waterfall. Includes picnic areas, nature playground, wildflowers, bird watching, and tent camping. A state park daily pass, $7 per car, or yearly pass is required and may be purchased at park entrance. Open 8 am - 10 pm Wednesday – Sunday. It's often busy on weekends during COVID. Water and restrooms are available. Trails are not handicapped accessible. • Wood Lake Nature Center at 6710 Lake Shore Dr S in Richfield, MN 55423 (https://www.richfieldmn.gov/around-town/wood-lake-nature-centre): A nature area of 150 acres dedicated to environmental education, wildlife observation, and outdoor recreation. Share a walk with deer. There are wheelchair-accessible, crushed limestone and blacktop trails which wind through mixed lowland forests and restored prairies, while floating boardwalks cross the cattail marshes. The park features several wildlife viewing areas, a picnic ground, and three miles of trails and boardwalks. Wood Lake Nature Center is open in the winter for cross country skiing on groomed trails. • MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge (https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Minnesota_Valley): Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge has temporarily changed its operations in response to the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak. Visitor Centers are closed, but trails remain open daily from sunrise to sunset. The Refuge is part of a corridor of land and water stretching nearly 70 miles along the Minnesota River, from Bloomington to Henderson. Comprised of more than 14,000 acres, The Refuge contains 46 miles of managed trails along the Minnesota River with a wide diversity of wildlife and plants. Refuge trails are open to bicycling and hiking. Dogs on 6-foot leashes are allowed to enjoy the trails with their owners. Shore fishing and ice fishing are allowed on most Refuge waters. Annually, over 200 species of birds can be found at the Refuge, with over 100 species nesting here. One exciting way to experience your Refuge is through nature photography or picking mushrooms or berries. • Pike Island Loop is located in Fort Snelling State Park (https://www.theoutbound.com/minnesota/hiking/hike-the-pike-island-loop). Pike Island Loop is a beautiful 4-mile urban hike that circles a lush island at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers in the heart of the Twin Cities. In fact, Dakota leaders who inhabited this land considered the meeting of the rivers to be the center of the earth. Park near the visitor's center and follow the sidewalk east toward the fort. The sidewalk will turn into a path when you pass the fort. Follow the path down the hill and veer right along the trail that leads to the foot bridge over the Minnesota River. Cross the bridge. You are now on Pike Island. There are a variety of trail options that weave throughout a canopy of elm, silver maple, and cottonwood trees. • Lake Elmo Park Reserve is 2,165 acres (3.5 square miles) with 80 percent of its acreage set aside for preservation and protection (https://www.co.washington.mn.us/502/Lake-Elmo- Park-Reserve). This portion will eventually resemble the land as it was prior to the arrival of the settlers in the mid-1800s. This park reserve offers gently rolling hills with a variety of landscape types, including forest and prairie. Watch for pheasants, weasels, red fox, woodpeckers, cardinals, cottontail rabbits, squirrels, and white-tailed deer. Vehicle permits are required for all vehicles entering the park.