Fridley/Anoka County • No fee Locke County Park is a small but lovely wooded park in urban Fridley. Rice Creek West Regional Trail goes through the park, and older children will love a little “mountain biking” here. I visited this lovely oasis in the middle of the city in early May, when the leaves were …
Columbia Heights, Anoka County • No fees Kordiak County Park is a small 29-acre park—the oldest park in Anoka County. It won’t challenge an active hiker, but it’s ideal for families with young children and anyone who wants an easy stroll in a beautiful setting. Hiking the 1-Mile Loop There’s a paved trail around most …
Fridley, Anoka County • No fees Locke County Park is a wooded oasis tucked away in urban Fridley between Highway 65 and University Avenue. With its mature trees and Rice Creek meandering through the entire length of the park, it’s a relaxing and beautiful hike. What’s to Love about Locke County Park Take a look …
St. Francis/Anoka County • No vehicle permit needed Rum River North County Park in St. Francis has both paved and natural-surface hiking trails with lovely views along the river. Since neither the Park’s page on the website nor the PDF map lists distance, I relied on my pedometer to tell me how far I hiked. …
Ramsey, Anoka County • Daily or annual park pass needed We had just gotten several inches of fresh powdery snow, so I grabbed my snowshoes and headed over to Rum River Central. This is a great place to snowshoe! Here’s why… Not as Crowded as Some other Parks This may or may not be an …
Blaine, Anoka County • No fee Pioneer Park is a lovely little wooded city park in Blaine with a couple miles of both paved and natural surface trails. I don’t write about many of the city parks in the metro area, but this one has sentimental value. I used to walk here with my dad …
Lino Lakes/Centerville, Anoka County • No fee for Peltier Lake Public Access The Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve has one of Anoka County’s three main water trails (the others are the Rum River Water Trail and the Mississippi River). You can paddle within the Reserve and have plenty of room. Or continue down Rice …
Centerville, Anoka County • Park pass needed (depending where you park) There are a couple options for biking at Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve: Paved Trails at Rice Creek Most months of the year, the paved multi-use trails are open to bikers. Not only are there trails right in the Reserve, there are …
Coon Rapids/Andover, Anoka County • Park pass needed (if you drive in) Several miles of multi-use paved trails wind through Bunker Park that are wonderful for biking. Why Bunker is Great for Biking There are so many loop options here, it would be hard to get bored. Not only that, the scenery changes from woods …
Ramsey, Anoka County • Daily or annual park pass needed Of the three Rum River Parks in the Anoka County Park system, Central is the largest and best for hiking and running. Why You’ll Love Hiking Here This Park feels off-the-beaten path and so is very quiet. It’s very beautiful, too, and definitely worth checking …