Hello everyone. Relatively short notice, but I was hoping to get some advice: I’m going to be in Minneapolis, MN for a weekend later this month, and I was hoping anyone who’s been in the area might point me toward some nice natural areas to explore. I’m planning to make a day trip up to Duluth and see Sax-Zim bog (and hopefully some early winter birds) and do a little exploring along the shore of Lake Superior. But I’ll have at least one more day open during my trip to fill. Does anyone have suggestions for places around Minneapolis to check out?
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Here are some of our favorites within about a 45-minute bubble of Minneapolis area:
Grey Cloud Dunes: rare restored sand prairie on Mississippi River
Afton State Park: Prairie, woods, big for hiking
Fort Snelling State Park: right next to the airport, so loud, but woods, two rivers, a lake
Wolsfeld Woods Scientific and Natural Area: rare intact big woods
Carleton College Cowling Arboretum: restored prairie, river, woods
Miesville Ravine Park Reserve: Upper Ravine is wilder and we also enjoy Trout Brook Trail
Spring Lake Park Reserve—Schaar’s Bluff: river views, prairie, woods, regional trail access
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For the number of visitors that it gets every year, Minnehaha Park has some beautifully wild areas.