Lilydale Regional Park – Neaton Adventures

Lilydale Regional Park-St. Paul-Minnesota

March 9, 2025Posted in Adventure, Christi Neaton, hiking, Hiking Minnesota, Minnesota, Mississippi River, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, Christi Neaton, exploring, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Hiking Minnesota, Hiking St. Paul, Lilydale Regional Park, Minnesota, Mississippi River, nature photography, Outdoors, Raspberry IslandLeave a comment

Today’s hiking adventure was at Lilydale Regional Park.

Minnesota was hit with lots of snow this past week. Thankfully, we have had some warmer temperatures so most of the snow has melted. With that said, we wanted to hike a paved trail. Lilydale trail was perfect!

Pickerel Lake had several geese enjoying the rising sun.

Old and new train tracks could be seen alongside the Mississippi River.

Mississippi River and Downtown St. Paul in the near distance.

Hiking under the High Bridge/Smith Ave.

One of the poles on the dock had writing on it. I zoomed in to see if I could read what was written on it. It has water levels going back to 2013.

We hiked through Harriet Island Regional Park towards Raspberry Island.

We looped back to our starting point.

Today’s hiking adventure was 7.8 miles.

Big Rivers Regional Trail-Mendota Heights-Minnesota

January 7, 2023Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Mississippi River, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, Big River Trail, exploring, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Lilydale Regional Park, Minnesota, nature photography, Outdoors, Parks, Robert Piram Regional Trail, Winter2 Comments

Today’s hiking adventure began at the Big Rivers Regional Trailhead.

After a week of heavy snowstorms, it felt great to get outside while the sun was shining. The temperature was a bit cool at -1 as our adventure started.

Big Rivers Trailhead has an amazing year round view of the Minnesota River and the airport. Planes were flying low overhead coming and going from the airport.

The paved trail was freshly plowed.

Giant snowballs gripped the branches of the trees. It gave the appearance of fluffy cotton balls.

The trail continued through the small town of Mendota.

Frozen water cascaded down the side of the rocky cliffs.

The confluence of the Mississippi River and the Minnesota River at Pike Island

Train tracks lay parallel to the Big River Trail at times. A long train passed by us as we hiked.

We reached the Lilydale trailhead and decided to hike the Robert Piram Regional Trail.

Tree branches were covered in snow. The snow shimmered in the sunlight.

We decided to turn around and head back to our starting point.

Once back at the Big Rivers Trailhead we took in another view of the Minnesota River.

Today’s hiking adventure was 10 miles.