Dred Scott Fields and Park

(42 reviews)

11.9 mi

Trying to be more intentional about exploring parks around Minneapolis this year, and Hidden Falls…read moreseemed like the perfect place to start. We usually default to Minnehaha Falls across the river, but I'd never actually explored this side--which looks to be really sprawling with new townhomes and modular single family homes. We parked near the dam and walked along the trail to reach the stairs leading down to Hidden Falls. Heads up: the walk down is a little precarious since there's no railing for most of the stairs, but it's not very steep and the trek itself is pretty short. The falls themselves were a bit disappointing at the moment--more of a trickle than a waterfall--but it is early in the season. That said, the forested park area it winds through was really nice, and made the visit worth it regardless. I can already tell this place is probably stunning in the summer when everything is green and flowing! Even with the lower water level, it was a great way to explore somewhere new and great to see there were so many people already exploring the park with it being chilly still!

Beautiful park near the city. Grabbed some take out and found an empty picnic table in the middle…read moreof the day - lots of parking! Watched a few boats launch, saw some geese, enjoyed watching people along the shore. Picnic tables near the water at the North Entrance. Check it out!

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Lake Harriet

(101 reviews)

9.5 mi

In the dead of winter, the art shanties are a fun activity at Lake Harriet. Always new and…read moresurprising shanties that come from the creative minds of the artists. You can dance, dress up and sing, learn about what lives below the ice, be a cat, cast a spell with Taylor Swift lyrics, and help aliens understand humans. This event epitomizes how Minnesotans don't let freezing temps keep them from enjoying the lake and expressing their creativity.

Minnesotans really know how to throw events no matter rain, shine, or winter. Reflecting on this…read morepast winter reminded me of the surreal experience of standing on top of this frozen lake having moved from a two season state. If you've never been when it's frozen over I would highly recommend coming during their kite festival which also happens during the art shanty exhibits. If you show up to the kite festival on a whim, no worries, the park will have kites for sale. I would highly encourage coming with footwear that has good traction or added cat tracks to get secure grip on the ice.

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Boom Island Park

(18 reviews)

14.3 mi

Great park. Nice and spacious. Historic area next to the Mississippi River. I love looking at the…read morepublic art and taking the walking bridge near De La Salle and to the Hennepin Ave bridge. Fun place to hangout and have parties

This is just the grand ol' park. It has it's flaws and age showing, it's mostly known for watching…read morefireworks, or announcing your hat throw for president in a snow storm, (impresses the rest of the country since they think it snows here 11 months of the year). I've enjoyed spitting up dust with a bike and the old railroad bridge and separate island. There is paid parking which is more closely checked than luggage by the TSA. Not many trees for shade but hanging by the river is a cool time with friends. A few grilling pits and that's about it.

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Loring Park

(87 reviews)

12.5 mi

This is a huge park that has a little of everything. This park has a fine mix of modern amenities…read moreand rustic appeal. It is a little piece of calm just outside the busy city. It spans 34 acres and is named after Charles Loring, an American businessman, miller and publicist who was the first Minneapolis Park Board and considered the "Father of the Park System" in Minneapolis. The park has an astounding flower garden. It was very pretty. You will also find a very nice lake/wetland here. It has seating and is very soothing. The lake is home to many animals. Fishing is welcome at the lake. They even have a fishing pier. The park has a full basketball court and a half-court basketball court that are in great shape. The park's horseshoe pits could use some TLC, though. The park is home to about 10 pits. If you are a pickleball player, then the park has a couple of nice courts to play on. Other park amenities include tennis courts, shuffleboard, and two playground areas on wood-chip beds. One area is fenced in and is for smaller children. This area has a bank of swings, a saucer swing, slides, a modern merry-go-round, a bebble bridge, and a jungle gym. The other playground area, for older kids, has a climbing net, balance beam, slides, pebble bridge, and rock climbing wall. This area is not fenced in. I have seen a lot of parks, and this is a nice one. They host events such as movie screenings, ice skating, and lunchtime concerts. You can easily spend half a day here. I really enjoyed my time here and am sure that you will too.

I love a beautiful park in the middle of the city! Loring Park is a tranquil oasis in the middle of…read morethe hustle and bustle of Minneapolis. Lots of beautiful flower beds in the Garden of the Seasons. Great place for a stroll or picnic. Lots of benches to stop and take a rest and enjoy nature. Spring is my favorite time to visit because I love to see the tulips!

The park are this morning while setting up for pride

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Theodore Wirth Park

4.4

(48 reviews)

12.7 mi

Come out and visit the Trail Head at Theodore Wirth!…read more It has a fantastic community space and outdoor recreation center. Totally makes winter in Minnesota even better. I'm new to discovering The Trailhead at Theodore Wirth Regional Park, but believe me when I say I'll be back many more time. In the winter, they offer cross-country skiing and lessons. (You can rent a full set of gear for about $30- no need to have your own to experience skiing! They also have à la carte options for cheaper if you only need poles or boots, etc.) Besides skiing, outdoor winter activities also include snow tubing, snowboarding, snowshoeing.... You name it. (I haven't been in fall or summer yet, but I also hear great things about their mountain biking and trail running options.) Inside The Trailhead, there's food and drink concessions, ample seating, lockers, bathrooms, and even rooms for rent. The last time I was there, a family was hosting a young child's birthday party in the multi-purpose room. Altogether, there is an amazing assortment of services here to come and check out. Can't wait for next ski season!

HIDDEN GEM IN THE CITY…read more I've lived on this parkway for 3 years now and I don't think I've shut up about how amazing Theo Wirth is since! The City Chain of Lakes get all the hype, but you know what's even closer to downtown, in the heart of the city, with: a lake xc ski trails fat bike / mountain bike trails endless walking paths beach with volleyball courts public golf course and so much more?! Yeah, that's right - my neighborhood park! You can do about every outdoor activity you can think of here. Plus, the Trailhead is the main hub for all of it, with a restaurant, tons of indoor seating, gear rentals year-round, and an amazing nature space in the heart of the city. This is the perfect park to embrace any season in Minne!

Fall Leaves

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Trail

City of Edina

(4 reviews)

7.7 mi

Kind of a sleepy suburb, but an all around charming place. If I had to pick one or two things worth…read moreseeing, I'd say it's the RH Rooftop restaurant and Centennial Lakes Park.

It's much more beautiful in the summer time but is also nice to walk through in the winter time…read more Beautiful plants, fountain and a gazebo, Right now there's two area that are ponds due to this winters strange weather, rain and thaw. If you are looking for a neat place to walk around (in Spring, Summer and Fall), come check it out.

A lake where a field once was.

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A normally dry field at Arneson Acres. Now a lake!

Lyndale Park Rose Garden

(29 reviews)

9.7 mi

It was my first time in the city, and I had some downtime to visit some nature-y spots. Lyndale…read morePark was one of my favorites! I did enjoy the Peace Garden side more than the Rose Garden side (the roses were not in bloom at the time I traveled there), but they still had other beautiful plants and flowers there. This was such a good place to ground down and be one with nature. There are porto potties, paid parking (not expensive), and even a bird sanctuary trail.

This is truly one of the most beautiful spots in the metro area. During high season - mid to late…read moresummer - the rose garden is so lush and spectacular. It is so peaceful. I always bring my out of town guests here and they are in awe. it's also a perfect spot for date night for a walk before or after dinner. Love sitting by the fountain or setting up a picnic under the trees in the park on the hill on a sunny afternoon.

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Flowers blooming!

Cottageville Park

(2 reviews)

8.9 mi

New park that helps with neighborhood revitalization. Lots of brand new playground equipment and…read morespace for kids to run around. Long range plans include adding a bandshell.

My toddler enjoyed this park! I like that is closed in! A bonus if you have little ones that like…read moreto wonder! It also has a basket ball court and community garden!

More park

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Great park for all ages

Rosland Park

(10 reviews)

6.2 mi

This lovely park has extensive walking/jogging trails through the lake, marsh and woodlands, plus…read morehigh quality children's play areas, a full water park ( closed for the winter in late August), tennis and pickleball, and fishing docks. I enjoyed an early morning walk along the lake front and marshland with nice late summer flowers and great bird watching.

It was a cute park, more run down than the other parks we visited in the area. It does have a lot…read moreto do and is safe for toddlers and bigger kids!

Fishing dock

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Tennis and pickleball

Centennial Lakes Park

4.6

(82 reviews)

5.4 mi

I have such a nice time at this park. I go here to study. To relax. To take in the scenery…read more It is a bit crowded but that's because it's such a nice environment. I enjoy finding quiet nooks at the park

Love this place!!! There seems like so much to do in the summer and winter. Today we had some time…read moreto kill exploring Minnesota more and thought the paddle boats would be fun. Normally I can't get on a Pb due to weight limits but the duck/swan hold 1400 pds or so. They are easy to drive and it's a nice scenery. If you are hot and want to get wet you can go under the fountain (which we did!) the workers were super friendly!

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Seating

Hidden Falls Park

(42 reviews)

11.9 mi

Trying to be more intentional about exploring parks around Minneapolis this year, and Hidden Falls…read moreseemed like the perfect place to start. We usually default to Minnehaha Falls across the river, but I'd never actually explored this side--which looks to be really sprawling with new townhomes and modular single family homes. We parked near the dam and walked along the trail to reach the stairs leading down to Hidden Falls. Heads up: the walk down is a little precarious since there's no railing for most of the stairs, but it's not very steep and the trek itself is pretty short. The falls themselves were a bit disappointing at the moment--more of a trickle than a waterfall--but it is early in the season. That said, the forested park area it winds through was really nice, and made the visit worth it regardless. I can already tell this place is probably stunning in the summer when everything is green and flowing! Even with the lower water level, it was a great way to explore somewhere new and great to see there were so many people already exploring the park with it being chilly still!

Beautiful park near the city. Grabbed some take out and found an empty picnic table in the middle…read moreof the day - lots of parking! Watched a few boats launch, saw some geese, enjoyed watching people along the shore. Picnic tables near the water at the North Entrance. Check it out!

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Shady Oak Beach

4.2

(13 reviews)

7.6 mi

This place I have been SOOOO many times! The high dive is so fun and exhilarating…read more... The food is amazing (I recommend SpongeBob popsicle) The water is not polluted because they do not let and speedboats or stuff like that (although you always wonder if something is lurking in the depths....) If you are wearing goggles I recommend looking for the fish under the mini docks, but DO NOT wear them in the deep. It makes everything scaryyyyy~

Great place to enjoy a sunny afternoon. Shady Oak beach is…read morewell maintained and the staff is super helpful and friendly. When my son lost his glasses two lifeguards - Beth and Josh - jumped into action to help retrieve them Thank you!

Shady Oak Pool

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Lake Harriet

(101 reviews)

9.5 mi

In the dead of winter, the art shanties are a fun activity at Lake Harriet. Always new and…read moresurprising shanties that come from the creative minds of the artists. You can dance, dress up and sing, learn about what lives below the ice, be a cat, cast a spell with Taylor Swift lyrics, and help aliens understand humans. This event epitomizes how Minnesotans don't let freezing temps keep them from enjoying the lake and expressing their creativity.

Minnesotans really know how to throw events no matter rain, shine, or winter. Reflecting on this…read morepast winter reminded me of the surreal experience of standing on top of this frozen lake having moved from a two season state. If you've never been when it's frozen over I would highly recommend coming during their kite festival which also happens during the art shanty exhibits. If you show up to the kite festival on a whim, no worries, the park will have kites for sale. I would highly encourage coming with footwear that has good traction or added cat tracks to get secure grip on the ice.

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Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary

4.6

(31 reviews)

12.4 mi

A lovely, adorable little spot near downtown Minneapolis, away from the city hubbub. At 15-acres,…read moreit's by no means a sprawling adventure, but it's incredibly peaceful and teaming with life. There's a one way road leading to the entrance, with a small standard parking lot (including a couple of handicap spots), but additional parallel parking available as overflow for busy days as well. There is also a walking path that can be followed to the sanctuary's entrance as well, as it is fully gated, and the entrance is down the steps from the parking lot. There is a volunteer booth just outside of it where you can grab a map if desired, as well as additional pamphlets with info about events taking place, charitable donations to the garden, etc. Depending on the hour, there may be a helpful volunteer there to answer any questions you may have. Once you step inside you'll be greeted by a path to the left and a path to the right. Immediately to the right are some privies (fairly primitive, but there is running water for the sink to wash your hands), which are all-gender. There are also benches here, as well as throughout the trails at quite regular intervals. This place is meant less for extensive hiking and more for soaking up nature (I recommend bringing a book, journal, or plan to meditate). The trails loop, with various off-shoots you can explore. The terrain has some mid-level elevation changes, and the paths are either a soft mulch or wooden boardwalk, which make for very pleasant walking on the feet. In particular, my favorite section was the sunnier wildflower segment, which had many pollinators (mostly bees) flying about. It was great for photos. Also neat is the nature center, which is a repurposed old house. Inside is a crafting table for kids to color, as well as additional info on the sanctuary and the kinds of birds and plants you'll encounter there. We encountered a number of volunteers/employees while there who were busy working to beautify the space or providing info to guests. Our visit only took around an hour, but I'm already planning to visit again, most likely in the fall when the leaves begin to change color. I'm certain it'll be even more gorgeous then!

Wow! Mother Nature was showing off here today! We "hiked" for about 1.5 miles. It was an easy…read morewalk with not much elevation changes, but the trail is not paved, and covered with leaves and hay, so it could be slippery after a good rain. The trails are well marked and there was even a volunteer at the entrance telling us all about the flowers and birds we could expect to see during our visit. It was lovely and I'm already planning to bring my family back here soon.

Martha Crone Visitor Center

Stairs down to entrance

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Como Regional Park Pool

4.1

(30 reviews)

16.8 mi

The abundance of seating, both in shade and sun; the variety of pool options from zero entry to…read morepsuedo cliff diving. The abundance of life guards, no annoying ". safety breaks". The random first aid drills are interesting and fun to watch.

I love Como pool- I go almost every day and I love every minute of it; the community, the…read moreammenities, and the food. 10/10 would recommend

Water aerobics August 2025

Opening day! June 2026

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July 2025

Jim Lupient Water Park

3.5

(8 reviews)

15.6 mi

Yesterday they had they had filtration problem when you couldn't go. And today somebody broke glass…read morein there and now it's closed you know it's closed in and I'm not going back there anytime soon except tomorrow And this park ruined my day because it was closed

I dunno what to say. It was cheap to get in, but it is a bit chaotic here. I have taken the kids…read morehere a couple of times, once for a birthday. On the plus side, it is pretty big, so you can spread out, but that is also a bit scary as there can be a lot of kids in the water and you really work to stay on top of your kids to make sure they are safe and/or playing nice with others. They have some big waterpark-type slides but those were closed for some reason. The staff were really nice and gave us advice as to the best times to come to beat the crowds, etc. There is also free parking, but it is somewhat limited, so best to plan your visit accordingly.

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Bay Rentals Inc

3.9

(29 reviews)

16.2 mi

Overall we got to have fun on the lake but I will say these machines are a bit beat up and seem to…read moreneed a tune up. As I would turn the machine would lose a lot of power and my partner ran out of gas with a hour left, so they didn't fill up both machines asine still had half a tank left. $600 deposit and make sure to take a good video of the machines. The process of receiving instruction was a little odd as a younger kid was giving us rules then a seemingly drunk older man in a truck kept talking over him who I assume is the owner? Kind of a weird dynamic going on here. The process of taking off and riding was good no issues there.

Ohmygoodness, not enough good to say!!…read more My friend and I had never been paddle boarding, it was 95 deg out with 72% humidity and we were feeling adventurous. Did a quick google search and found this place. Gave a call and the voicemail said to leave a message and they would get back. Yeah right. Well, about 30 minutes later the phone rang! Learned that SUPs were first come first served, but mentioned we were headed to them in mound from Coon Rapids and it would kinda suck to drive that far. I asked what our chances were and they were sweet enough to make sure they didn't all disappear! The process is super easy, tou check in and then walk the few hundred feet to the beach. They bring the boards (or whatever you've rented) over to you and you're set! When you're done you just beach the items and they come grab them. Only down side is SUP is kinda hard for a newbie as the lake is clearly a play lake. Constantly rough from all the jet skiiers.

Things to do in Minneapolis

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Dred Scott Fields and Park - parks - Updated August 2026

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McMurray Field

(2 reviews)

Such a great park for all activities. Myself, I'm here for the soccer and broomball. Both are…read moreeasily accessible with easy parking. The soccer field on the south side has a great big hill which is nice if your shots miss the goal. It also offers a great space to sit and watch games on two of the fields. The warming house in the winter months is always warm and clean and offers a great space to change into your gear.

Great artificial grass fields. Awesome to shoot around on because the south side has a massive hill…read morethat essentially rebounds shots for you!

Bryant Square Park

(4 reviews)

Took a night time stroll around Bryant park in uptown. I thought it was a nice open park with…read morereally unique art displays wrapped around the community center and some art installations centered around the playground. Playground is modern and up to date as well as a nice and clean half court basketball court. Nice large open field to run around or play some games in.

Pros: Jungle gym for…read moresitting. Wading pool for wading. Grassy fields for games in the summer. Sidewalk all the way around for strolling/jogging. Converts into two relatively vacant ice rinks in the wintertime: One for Minnesotans to play hockey on and one for skating-impaired Californians (me) and small children to fall upon. MUST SEE: The "Ballerina-Baller": http://www.yelp.com/biz/ballerina-baller-minneapolis Cons: Bryant Square Park isn't actually a square.

Nicollet Commons Park

(8 reviews)

Best kept secret and splash pad!! Super lovely park with all these places for kids to play in the…read morewater. They have public restrooms by the flags if you need them. Cool murals and beautiful flowers. Very beautiful peaceful place. Lots of places to sit - concrete benches and grass.

My son absolutely loves this park! Such a cool splash pad and wading pool area for kids and the…read morecommunity to use for free. They also host party on the plaza here during the summer which we've enjoyed. They have music, food trucks, movies in the park, and other festivals held here. During the winter they light up the trees, so beautiful!

Hamlet Park

(2 reviews)

A genuinely beautiful park, complete with a lake, cross bridge and plenty of open fields…read more They have enough paved roads to host a free 5K every Saturday at 9 am. https://www.parkrun.us/hamletpark/

We love this park. The courts are really nice to have. I can't wait till the extend it more with…read moremore baseball fields.

Lake Ann Park

(10 reviews)

Great place. Nice pic nic, great concerts, very clean. Will be back to rent a paddle boat.read more

Since retirement, my wife and I would bring our young grandchildren here for a stroll every…read moremorning. Very peaceful here and I truly enjoy the scenery. The kids love the playground here.

Sheridan Veterans Memorial

4.0

(3 reviews)

He Said: Great place. There are so many activities to do…read morehere: Mini-golf, sand volleyball, walking paths, playground, and so much more. The place is right next to Highway 62 and Portland, so it is easy to get to, but the place does not feel like it is that close to a highway. Plan on a playdate and picnic when it is nice out! Pros: - So many things to do - Clean porta potty Cons: N/A

A nice informative park. There are lots of plaque's that you can read about different wars and how…read moreMinnesota was envovled.

Antlers Park

(8 reviews)

This park is SPECTACULAR!! I really wish we lived closer!…read more While there is a lot of free parking, this place can get really full! Because it is such a large park with a playground, it doesn't feel crowded though! There is street parking and an overflow lot as well. This place has a playground, clean indoor bathrooms, spots for fishing, food and drinks(including ice cream!) My favorite part was the fire pit! There are so many picnic tables and other pavilions! I couldn't believe how well taken care of this place is! The beach was pretty and also taken care of! You can swim in the lake! We will definitely be back this season!! Great spot for families!!

City of Lakeville spent 'thoughtful' time planning and investing money remodeling this park!…read more It's so perfect! This has been our family's go to park since 1982. Three generations! The new design, materials used and the layout are amazing! Something for everyone! And there's a restaurant on site now! Thank you Lakeville! We'll continue coming here for another 40 years! The Brown Family

Hyland Lake Park

(38 reviews)

Hyland Lake Park is one of my favorite places to rent a kayak and fish for bass in the Twin Cities…read more The lake is never too busy and the bass are always biting :) I easily rented a single-person kayak online and walked up to the rental booth to pick up my life jacket and paddle - off I went! There is a nice sandy beach, and other boats available to rent (including paddle boats!) This is a must-stop for your summer itinerary in Minnesota!

This is a nice park with a lot of walking trails. You can enjoy some nice views of water and…read morefoliage. Easy to get to with plenty of parking spots.

Water Power Park