Hiking at Springbrook Nature Center • Twin Cities Outdoors

Fridley, Anoka County • No fee

snowy trail, bench and pond — *Springbrook has a lot of seating areas throughout the trails*

Springbrook Nature Center is a 127-acre reserve surrounded by urban development—both neighborhoods and businesses. This little pocket of wetlands, native prairie and forest has 3 miles of hiking trails open year-around.

Springbrook’s Hiking Trails

Springbrook is great for young families. Not only because most kids can handle 3 miles of trails, but because of the variety of landscape, the chance to see wildlife and, of course, the floating boardwalk.

map of the springbrook nature center trail system — *The hiking trails wander through a wide variety of terrain*

If you have a weak stomach, that might not sound fun to you! But being able to walk right across a pond is pretty cool.

The trails are well-marked, but if you’d like to bring your own map, you’ll find it here as a PDF download. Young children would probably enjoy using it to navigate as it has pictures of some of the natural landmarks.

Springbrook and its trails get a lot of use, especially on the weekends and during the warmer months. But plenty of people like to hike it even in the winter. It’ll be beautiful no matter what season you go.

Bring Your Binoculars

Bring your binoculars and camera—Springbrook is known for its wildlife, especially the wide variety of birds. It’s a designated Important Bird Area by the Audubon Society. Deer, otter, fox and coyote have all been seen in this urban natural area, too.

trail intersection sign — *The hiking trails are well-marked*

Besides hiking, there’s a brand-new Interpretive Center at Springbrook, with hands-on exhibits and a few live reptiles.

There’s also a “nature-based play area.” It’s like a playground, but with objects of natural structures instead of swings and slides. It’s open year-round.

How to Get There

Springbrook Nature Center is between Highway 47 and East River Road in Fridley. The main entrance is off 85th Avenue NW, just west of Northtown Mall.

(All photos courtesy of Cheyenne Peden)

Sharon Brodin

Founder & Publisher of Twin Cities Outdoors at Brodin Press LLC

Sharon loves to hike, paddle, camp, snowshoe and cross country ski...and she bikes sometimes, too! Besides maintaining Twin Cities Outdoors and her other blog, Heaven and Nature, Sharon works on client writing and design projects.