Lake Elmo Park's 2,165 acres contain a variety of landscapes and opportunities for wildlife viewing.

Located in Washington County, Lake Elmo Park Reserve is a place to reconnect with yourself and your family. From the moment you step foot in this park, you may feel as if you are miles from any highway. However, the beauty is that it's not a very far drive from local roads and other points of interest. We went here on a Saturday afternoon, and while the parking lot was full, we didn't feel as if the park was overcrowded.

There are a variety of hiking trails to choose from, which are both paved and dirt trails. The tracks are shared amongst bikers and hikers, so be aware of this when using the course.

We took the trail around Eagle Point Lake. The route from the Inwood Ave trailhead lot was roughly five miles. You can make the loop longer if you choose, go into the campsite area and all the way to the Lake Elmo shoreline. This course extends across the whole park. You could easily spend a whole day, or even a few days exploring all the beauty this park has to offer. It's also convenient to visit for a day, and go back another day to explore a new area of the park! 

In addition to hiking, there are plenty of activities to choose from for your outdoor adventures, ranging from fishing to boating to biking and nature watching. The park is known to be a habitat for pheasants, weasels, red foxes, woodpeckers, cardinals, cottontail rabbits, squirrels, and white-tailed deer. One of the highlights of the lake loop was the bird-watching box. It features a sliding door that gives a different perspective of the lake habitat and the opportunity to look for birds from a unique vantage point. It's a very snug area to go into but perfect for kids to explore. We were there in early October making it a perfect time to see the fall colors beginning to change. There were some scenic views in the open valley of the leaves changing into the fall colors. This would be an ideal place for fall family photoshoots, too! 

We did not go into the campground area of the park but there are group campsites, hike-in campsites, and modern campsites. The campsite price will vary based on the type of site you chose. Note that pets are not allowed at any of the campsites, however, horses are allowed. 

I look forward to taking advantage of the cross-country trails this summer and seeing the beauty of the park in the wintertime. There are even some snowmobiling shelters set up along the trails where you could take a break. The shelters have walls on three sides along with a table and fire ring. Enjoy your lunch here while you warm up from your outdoor adventure! This park is a beautiful area to explore with the whole family. Be sure to download the park map for free using the Avenza app and check your route before you head out.