Tag: Three Rivers Park District

Cedar Lake Farm Regional Park-New Prague-Minnesota

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Today’s hiking adventure was at Cedar Lake Farm Regional Park.

A light covering of snow coated the trail. Minnesota’s temperature has been unseasonably warm so far this December. I sure hope we get more snow soon.

We hiked past a barn they had on the property on our way to Cedar Lake.

Cedar Lake looked frozen but we weren’t taking any chances. We decided to stay on the cold dry land.

As we hiked past the playground we saw a unique swing. Of course we had to give a spin. We also saw an old fireplace, it was built in 1942.

The unpaved trail brought us past farms, through wooded areas and over little creeks.

Once back at our starting point we noticed a tree that had tons of burls on it. This poor tree has been through a lot!

Today’s hiking adventure was 5.2 miles.

Cleary Lake Regional Park-Prior Lake-Minnesota

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Today’s hiking adventure was at Cleary Lake Regional Park.

The beach may have been closed but it was definitely not empty. Canadian Geese were everywhere! I have never seen so many geese in one location before. Cleary Lake must be a safe location for them from all the duck hunters we heard nearby.

Our hiking adventure began on the paved trail along Cleary Lake.

Fallen leaves lined the creek we crossed over.

Not far in front of us an owl took flight from a nearby tree. It landed close enough for us to take in its beauty. Seeing an owl on a hike is such a magical experience.

The sun tried to make an appearance several times as we rounded the lake.

Most of the trees were bare except for a few that were still hanging on to a bit of color.

The trail looped us back to our starting point.

We decided to continue our hike on the non paved trails. I love the sound of the leaves crunching underneath our feet.

This old tree fell, trapping the upper part of two trees. The trees’ trunks didn’t break, they bent into an archway. Maybe a portal to another dimension? Nah, I walked through the archway and I’m still here.

Today’s hiking adventure was 5 miles.

Hyland Lake Park Reserve-Bloomington-Minnesota

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Today’s hiking adventure was at Hyland Lake Park Reserve.

Watching the sunrise over Hyland Lake was a magical way to begin our adventure.

We followed the trail closest to the lake to enjoy all the views the lake had to offer.

Most of the brilliant fall colors are past their peak however, some trees are still holding strong.

We briefly hiked on the paved trail towards the Lake Trail. The Lake Trail was littered with crunchy leaves.

Hyland Lake looked like glass. The sun highlighted the trees across the lake creating a beautiful mirrored reflection.

We diverted from the Lake Trail and began hiking on Oak Knob Trail.

Frost still coated the tips of the grass.

As a sliver of ice coated the edges, it made some of the fallen leaves so artistic.

The rolling hills offered an impressive landscape.

We hiked on the paved trail to loop us back to our starting point.

Out of the corner of my eyes, something grabbed my attention. I stopped, backed up and took a good look through the trees. Boy, am I glad I did. A giant buck was laying down just out of view from people on the trail.

We made our way back to Hyland Lake. The clouds had rolled in and gave the lake a completely different appearance.

Today’s hiking adventure was 6 miles.

Baker Park Reserve-Medina-Minnesota

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Today’s hiking adventure was at Baker Park Reserve.

My usual hiking partner, my cousin, was out of town today. I was very happy to have my mom join me on my hiking adventure.

The trails are nicely paved in Baker Park. Many people were out hiking, biking and rollerblading. We hiked the trail that loops around Lake Katrina.

The birds were singing to us throughout our entire hike. A Tree Swallow was perched on a birdhouse.

Signs of spring were still present. Wildflowers and baby leaves were popping up everywhere.

The sun shining through the trees created beautiful shadows along the trail.

The sun was beginning to get warm. The cool shade of the trees felt nice.

The water was so blue next to the vibrant greenery.

We found a sign that marked the 45th Parallel at Baker Park Reserve. Where we were standing marked the midpoint between the Equator and North Pole.

The sumac was so colorful against the blue sky.

We continued along the trail enjoying all the colors around us.

We took a rest at a bench with Lake Katrina in the distance.

Today’s hiking adventure was 6 miles.

Cleary Lake Regional Park-Prior Lake-Minnesota

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Today’s hiking adventure began at Cleary Lake Regional Park.

We began our hike on the unpaved trails. The trails were wide and well maintained.

A mama deer and her fawn greeted us as we completed the Poplar Creek Trail loop.

The Lakeside Trail offered a beautiful view of Cleary Lake.

The birds were singing and the mosquitoes were buzzing as we hiked through the trees.

A frog hopped by us. He appeared to be enjoying a leafy snack.

The Ironwood Trail allowed us to see the frothy spittle from the Meadow Spittlebug and little mushrooms.

The paved trail loops around Cleary Lake and through a variety of tree groves.

Nature continued to surprise us. A Garter Snake slithered past us as we made our way closer to the lake.

We ended our hiking adventure at 8.3 miles.

I decided to cool down and relax by the lake for a few minutes before leaving the park. A Black Swallowtail decided to join me.

As I walked to the dock, I noticed giant water-lilies close to the shore. They demanded a closer look.

Cleary Lake Regional Park offers a variety of outdoor fun. I will definitely return in the future.

Spring Lake Regional Park-Prior Lake-Minnesota

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After a week of rain, ice and snow, today felt like Spring! The sun was shining with fluffy clouds scattered across the sky; a perfect day for a hiking adventure. The trails throughout the park were well marked and nicely paved.

The winding trail allowed us to see different tree groves and areas of wetlands.

We even found some pussy willows.

Even though the trees are bare, they offer their own beauty as they dance with the wind.

We briefly left the park to visit the still frozen Arctic Lake. The lake is on the Mdewakanton Tribally owned land.

As we looped back to our starting point, we stopped and watched people play pickleball at the Spring Lake Park Pickleball Court. I definitely need to learn how to play pickleball!

Today’s hiking adventure was 6 miles.