Minnehaha Creek Preserve
Minnehaha Creek Preserve - Town of Hopkins, Hopkins Crossroad, Hopkins, MN, USA
Seasonally from 5 am - 10 pm
$
run, outdoor-adventures, hikes
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This Large Nature Preserve in the Heart of Town Is a Beautiful Place to Spend the Day!
This gorgeous nature preserve is the result of an expensive partnership between the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and the City. Financed by a grant from the Clean Water Fund, this area only opened to the public in 2015. The creek was lengthened, and its natural curves were restored. This preserve forms the cornerstone of the Minnehaha Greenway and allows access to 29 of the total 109 acres of the Greenway.
Be sure to bring the bikes along if you’re a biking family. Otherwise, just pack those comfy shoes, snacks, and water. The preserve offers 2200 feet of boardwalk and 4600 feet of paved trail. This area is only open seasonally, so please check their website before venturing out. This area also serves as a nature area for many schools and community groups. I recommend you also consider taking along a photo of the trail maps on your phone.
While enjoying this natural area, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for all sorts of wildlife ranging from gorgeous Midwest birds to white-tailed deer, owls, and squirrels. This is the sort of outing where I highly recommend bringing along wildflower or bird identifiers if you have them. My kiddos personally love searching for flowers and animals in their identification booklets.
After enjoying a nice hike in this preserve, head over to Munkabeans coffee shop for a hot drink or a tasty bite to eat.