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!

This place is AWESOME! I decided to get my boys (9,5) out of the house and they had a blast! They…read morehave already been asking when we can go back! There is free parking. Walk in and pay the fee for the kiddos. As of Jan 2026 it was $10 a kid with unlimited time. Parents/guardians are free. There is a large park towards the end of the building! It kept my kiddos plenty busy! There is seating for the adults. There is also a gym space for kids to run, balls to play with, mini basketball hoops and items for the little kids to push ride on! There is also a pool to do laps and a gym with equipment, but I'm unsure if those cost extra. You can do birthday parties here! Check the website for additional information!! They do have 2 spots where you can get snacks and picnic tables to eat! Overall this was a very solid experience and we will happily be back!

Perfect indoor park for toddlers during the long winter months but can be super busy.read more

The park feature lots of trees with ample canopy. I was impressed with how shaded the park was…read more If you come on a sunny day, you will not have to worry about the refulgent rays of sunlight beaming you on your forehead. There are also several benches you can sit and eat your meal.

Great fun park for all ages. It has a fence around it minus the entrance. Handicap accessible. I…read morelove this park! See the pictures.

Had some extra time to spare before an event nearby and it was reasonably nice outside (aka,…read moreforties in March lol), so I decided to take a hike around the lake. You won't manage to escape road noise really because it's surrounded on three sides by fairly busy roadways, but still better than nothing! It's not a long walk around, just about forty-five minutes worth at a leisurely pace. The park actually features two paved trails that run parallel to one another, with the outer ring for bicyclists and other wheeled conveyance usage, and on-foot folk on the inner ring. Dogs do need to be on leash. Occasional benches around the lake, and a cute man-made waterfall. There are a couple of gazebos near the parking lot for if you'd like to have a picnic. The bandshell structure was particularly impressive and neat. There are bathrooms built into the back of it, which were even open during off season, so that was highly appreciated. Water fountain was currently turned off though, unsurprisingly. Parking lot seemed a bit small, but perhaps most folks who visit are from the surrounding office buildings on their lunch break.

Walked around here for the first time today.. and wow, I wish I had found this place sooner! I have…read moredriven past here many times but did not realize that it is the perfect over lunch walk around a lake. It is perfect because you get water front walking, woods walking, you can see the changing of the leaves. There are multiple places to park as well and you don't pass many cars at all. There is also a cute little waterfall (very mini) but nonetheless, some lovely nature for in the middle of the day. Will definitely be back there!

Urban Oasis for a Peaceful Stroll! Centennial Lakes is a…read moregreat outing, earning five stars from me. I wanted a nice place to stretch my legs, and this park was just right. The paved paths make for an easy and accessible walk, suitable for a quick escape or a leisurely stroll. What really stood out to me was how quiet it felt. Even with buildings in the background, the park feels remarkably peaceful. The gentle sound of water, the rustling of leaves, and the overall calm let you forget you're in a busy area. It's a fantastic bubble of serenity. The scenery mixes urban sophistication with natural beauty. Modern buildings create a sleek backdrop for the beautifully designed waterways and landscaped grounds. Even without full bloom, you can see a real commitment to diverse plants here. I can't wait for a return visit in the spring! I can only imagine how bright and colorful it gets when everything is in full bloom. If you want a peaceful place to clear your mind, enjoy some fresh air, and take a nice walk, Centennial Lakes is a must-visit. Whether you have 15 minutes or an hour, it's the perfect spot. I left feeling refreshed and energized. I can't wait to see it come to life in the spring!

I was in the area just to shop at Blick's art supplies, but it was a sunny winter day out and I…read morenoticed this was right nearby, so I decided to have a walk along the path and soak up some of the sunshine. It was way fancier than I'd been expecting from just finding it on the map on Google. I read on the historical plaque that it was designed in 1988 to replace some old gravel pit! Considering how gorgeous it is, that was a really good choice. I got the feeling from how many folks were enjoying the grounds that this park is a staple of the area for communal recreation. It is very much built into the cityscape to reside alongside it. You won't be escaping the buildings and roads nearby, but still, it was a nice bit of natural relief. The primary attraction this time of year is the ice skating between three man made lakes and paths between them. Rentals were available at the warming house, which also had a concessions stand (reasonably affordable fare!), restrooms, water fountain, lockers, and ample benches to put on your skates or warm up awhile (with two fireplaces on either end). There were also exterior restrooms for when the building itself isn't open, which are available year round (the outdoor water fountain though was understandably switched off). During other seasons there is apparently golf, fishing, and paddle boat rentals. Cute! Towards the south end sits an amphitheatre. There are various sculptures along the outer path to see as well, including a giant pine cone, crane, a golden retriever ready to shake your hand, and more. Lots of benches and even swinging benches to rest and relax. Plenty of maps at intervals. The park connects to the Edina Promenade pedestrian/bike trail that goes north and east. I think next time I'm in the area, I'll take a stroll down them. In the future I believe there are plans to connect them to other sections. There's plenty of parking to choose from in any of the nearby shopping centers with garages, but I believe there's also parking specific to the park as well.

We love frequenting this playground! The many play structures are perfect for all kids…read more Bathrooms on site.

Best park hands down I been here for 10 years I seen a lot of parks but this the best oneread more

If you're looking for a great spot for you and/or your kids to run around and climb stuff, this is…read moreit! Really great playground structures with plenty of different types of equipment, including things like balance beams, teeter-totters, and spinners, in addition to more standard playground fare like swingsets and slides. There's also a splashpad that you can activate for playing around. Water squirts or dumps from various water features. A lot of fun. It was even still running in October when I was there! Lots of gazebos (which can be reserved, if desired) with picnic tables and grills and trash/recycling cans. An ice cream truck swung by while I was there, much to the delight of the kids there. Massive parking lot. Only port-a-potties. Nearby is also a large grass field for soccer. If you go a little deeper in, you'll see it also connects with the Black Dog Trailhead. Be aware however that this is a "minimal maintenance" trail. I tried to follow it for aways after the railroad track but felt a little lost and ultimately turned back. Not sure how often or at what time of year they maintain it to make it easier to follow, but it's understandable that they don't because it is part of a specific biome of wet meadow known as a "fen". These are fairly rare and thus requiring protection, so tread lightly and respectfully if you do go! It's important nature be preserved as much as possible.

There are not a lot of amenities at Cliff Fen but it could be educational as I learned what a 'Fen'…read moreis and realized I learned about this in 5th grade. It's too nerdy scientific to explain here so if you have a quest to know search away. I was looking for walking paths but none were to be found. Otherwise it's a nice family style park with a large playground and covered picnic area. There is a parking lot which is large for a park this size so they must plan to have events with the large open fields ready for different sporting events. I was creating my own walking area without a path until I tripped over a branch and went tumbling and decided that's enough Fen and lack of Zen for the day.

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!

Been going to this park for years. The play structure alone is worth the drive! It's taken some…read morewear and tear, though, so some maintenance is in need to bring it back to its full potential. There's a beautiful walking path next to the park and many areas to have a nice picnic! Overall, a great area to spend the day with family/friends!

A fantastic little 1.1mi loop around a lake in Eagan. This park also features an impressively sized…read moregazebo with picnic tables, fire pit, restrooms (seasonal), grills, trash/recycling, and even concrete cornhole. There is a children's playground as well with a wide variety of features like swings, climbing walls/ropes, diggers, slides, spinners, and more-- you and/or your kiddos are gonna have lots of fun here. The playground is on gravel. There's also a volleyball court with sand, and lots of open grassy space to kick or throw about a ball. Seriously excellent amenities. The trail has inconsistent surfaces-- some of it is paved, other parts are dirt and gravel. Just something to be aware of (it wouldn't work well for skateboarding or rollerblading, for example). There are a couple docks you can fish off of or just sight-see from. A wooden bridge across the lake makes for excellent photographs. There is also a boat ramp (walk to, not drive to). The parking lot is pretty large with many spaces.

I liked this park. They had a nice mile loop around the lakes. They have a small free lot.read more

Clean park, with a large playground ages 5-12, with multiple rotating play toys, and climbing…read morestructures. Small playground for under 5, two sets of swings. Large soccer field and volleyball area. Two large shelters with picnic tables and grills and a really nice water splash pad.

My 4 year old had so much fun playing at this park. It's a really unique place with tons of little…read moreplaces to explore.