Such a neat nature preserve! It feels like a hidden gem! I wouldn't have know about this place, but…read moreluckily a friend brought me here a couple of months ago! Then just recently, I brought a friend here. There are trails and plenty of picnic spots! I like getting local takeout or coffee, eating and catching up with a friend, then walking the trails. (While eating we enjoyed seeing plenty of cute dogs)! It's also a cool place to get creative with portrait photography! I'll definitely be back

This is a great place to walk around and enjoy the sights and sounds of Minnesota nature and not…read morehave to go too far from the city. It's also a free park with plenty of amenities so you can't beat that. Trails are very easy to traverse and the loops available you could do a very short or moderately long walk (or run, bike, whatever). There is a small lake you can walk over if water is your thing and lots of birds and deer. The Discovery Center does have events every so often, so check the website for a calendar of what's happening.

We stopped here to do some geocaches and to check out the view of the St Croix River from the land…read more The day before we had boated by and saw the park from the river. The park does have a nice overlook down to the river and you can walk the path down to the beaches at the river level. If you have a boat you can tie-up here though I don't know it you can camp overnight in your boat. The park did not appear to have a campground though it did have a number of hiking trails. No surprise that this time of year also attracts lots of mosquitoes! Overall an OK state park.

This is a park on the Wisconsin side of the St Croix River. We have been here in the summer which…read morewas nice. It is completely different in the winter. The trail down to the river is very steep. It is a long climb up. The river when it was frozen allows you to walk along the swampy area and see several bald eagle. It was also very quiet and peaceful.

We did a quick walk down to the falls. It was impressive and pretty. There were a few people around…read moreso I didn't get the greatest nature only picture but it was worth the 100+ steps down and back and only took maybe about 15 minutes.

So beautiful. Worth the stop. You can either make a quick…read moretrip down the stairs or take the trails. The waterfall has a picnic area for family to hang out. Keep it clean cause it is so beautiful. You can get up behind the falls or play in it.

TOP SECRET! This hiking destination is well, the BOMB! Lots of wildlife, you can't get too lost…read more(lots of maps/signage/follow-the-path), free, scenic vistas year round. Your mission-to find one of the elusive parking unpaved parking lots. Watch out for tiny enemy agents: mosquitoes & ticks! Be sure to don your special agent spray (bug spray) before you enter the woods!

Great hiking trail for the whole family and beautiful. Not a ton of incline and even my dog loves itread more

Good for walking breaks. Nice park that I used to take my kids to when they were small. The bike…read morepark was new to me so glad to see it being used. The bike repair stations are a nice touch. I love the trails and boardwalk but it's not my favorite lake to swim in due to the algae.

6/3/22: Compared to La Lake Park, Carver Lake is an actual park. It has a park loop trail that's…read more3.8 miles and is good for walking, running, hiking & mountain biking. There's a section with a free parking lot, a small beach for swimming (no lifeguard), bathrooms and an actual paved trail, as well as dirt trails. There is also a slight incline on the trails, which is nice for those wanting an extra workout challenge. The trails are also well maintained. The bonus was that the weather was perfect today (no bugs) and we saw a deer! If you go deep into the woods, you don't hear the traffic and it really feels like you're deep in nature. Carver Lake is better for outdoor activity compared to La Lake Park. They're probably less than a mile apart, so if you're close to both, just go to Carver.

The address is a little mislabeled, it will take you to some public school. Back up, about 0.5…read moremiles away from the underpass, there's a little bridge with a parking lot, that's the trail head. The Trail itself is really wonderful. Deep vegetation, a little too many insects but otherwise great. There's a beautiful creek that runs alongside the trail. The animals you'll see the most are dogs that are being walked. It seems to be a favorite among Bloomington locals.

Beautiful park! I went in the winter and between the snowy creek, bubbling brook, and bird noises…read moreit just can't get much better. Yes it's hard to completely escape the road noise, but a small price for a lovely hike so close to the city.

This park has something for everyone. Plenty of paved and unpaved hiking trails. The boardwalk…read moreacross the lake offers plenty of scenic views and opportunities for bird watching. Some moderate hills, but for the steepest ones, there are more-accessible alternative paths available. Is it a chilly winter day and you need to warm up? Pop into the Discovery Center. There's some taxidermy animals to check out, often has a local artist art gallery, and frequently holds free and open to the public events, including farmers markets.

My wife and I walk with our dogs here several times a year. About two miles of paved trails that…read moreincludes some brief hills, which are the best section. Some shorter unpaved trails, as well. Heavily wooded, with a view of a small lake. Great place for a picnic, either in the well-kept picnic shelter near the parking lot, or stopping at one of the many benches along the paths. Absolutely beautiful in the Fall, but on a mild day in early April the sounds of the symphony of the mating frogs is something to behold. Beautiful Discover Center building that hosts many activities. Restored one-room schoolhouse also on the grounds (open only for special activities, though). The nature center is a bit out of the way and a little difficult to find, but worth the effort.

We wanted a spot that offered outdoor fun with a nearby city for lunch, and this park delivered!…read moreIt's huge.... offering hiking, camping, biking, swimming, and even skiing in the winter. There's always something to do no matter the season. Parking is $8, and on busy days you might wait a few minutes, but it's worth it. At the entrance, you'll get a helpful map (also available online) that shows all the trails and recreation options. We parked near the boat launch and took the 1.5-mile loop to the waterfall, a beautiful, family-friendly walk with no complaints from the kids! The waterfall itself is stunning. We kicked off our shoes, dipped our feet in the cool water, and climbed around the rocks above the falls. There are more challenging hikes if you're feeling adventurous, and it's only about 10 minutes to great Hudson riverfront dining afterward. We left smiling and saying, "That was so fun maybe we should get an annual pass!

Everyone is even thinking about going to check out these falls needs to know this. There's 2 paths…read moreto get there. No signs warning hikers of how steep the path is. No rails or anything to hold onto while going down this steep path. Me and my dad attempted to walk down this steep trail and it ended with my dad being taken by ambulance to the ER. Had several people tell us while waiting for the EMT's that they see people get taken to the hospital on a pretty regular basis. Both the hospital in Hudson and then the one we visited the next day in Oakdale said they get a lot of business from that place. So you'd think if so many people are getting seriously hurt they'd take precautions to make it safer. But, they don't. This was our first day of a 2 and 1/2 week vacation. So please use caution on that trail. Park Rangers should tell you this when your paying for admission or buying your park pass.