For some lovely running about a 30-minute drive of Minneapolis, we recommend Baker Park Reserve & Lake Rebecca Park Reserve. These two areas each feature a nice variety of road and trail running options, with hills, lakes, and wooded areas. Pro tip: In summer, enjoy a post-run dip in the reserves’ lakes!
Baker Park Reserve. This 2,700-acre reserve features paved & unpaved trails around lakes and a golf course. Katrina Lake is also popular in summer for swimming. In winter, it’s popular for X-C skiing. The terrain is a combination of open & wooded. A popular run is around the lake (though it’s a bit away from the water). The loop is about 10k (6.1 miles), with adjoining paved & unpaved paths. You can also combine with the ~3.4 mile loop adjacent to the golf course.
- Add-On: Lake Independence Regional Trail is a bike path that follows HWY 19 north of the park for 10+ miles to Crow-Hassan Park Reserve.
Lake Rebecca Park Reserve. Located 15 minutes west of Baker Park Reserve in Rockland, Lake Rebecca is another nice spot for a run. It’s gently rolling hills, with a combination of open & wooded terrain. Lake Rebecca is a popular spot for water recreation. There are both paved paths and unpaved paths, so there’s something for road and trail running! A popular loop on the main, paved ‘orange’ trail is 4.4 miles. There are also great trail running options on the unpaved paths, some of which roughly parallel the orange loop. A nice additional trail running option is the ~3 mile loop around the Sarah Creek area at the northeast end of the park. Note: keep an eye out for mountain bikers on the unpaved trails.
For some lovely running about a 30-minute drive of Minneapolis, we recommend Baker Park Reserve & Lake Rebecca Park Reserve. These two areas each feature a nice variety of road and trail running options, with hills, lakes, and wooded areas. Pro tip: In summer, enjoy a post-run dip in the reserves’ lakes!
Baker Park Reserve. This 2,700-acre reserve features paved & unpaved trails around lakes and a golf course. Katrina Lake is also popular in summer for swimming. In winter, it’s popular for X-C skiing. The terrain is a combination of open & wooded. A popular run is around the lake (though it’s a bit away from the water). The loop is about 10k (6.1 miles), with adjoining paved & unpaved paths. You can also combine with the ~3.4 mile loop adjacent to the golf course.
- Add-On: Lake Independence Regional Trail is a bike path that follows HWY 19 north of the park for 10+ miles to Crow-Hassan Park Reserve.
Lake Rebecca Park Reserve. Located 15 minutes west of Baker Park Reserve in Rockland, Lake Rebecca is another nice spot for a run. It’s gently rolling hills, with a combination of open & wooded terrain. Lake Rebecca is a popular spot for water recreation. There are both paved paths and unpaved paths, so there’s something for road and trail running! A popular loop on the main, paved ‘orange’ trail is 4.4 miles. There are also great trail running options on the unpaved paths, some of which roughly parallel the orange loop. A nice additional trail running option is the ~3 mile loop around the Sarah Creek area at the northeast end of the park. Note: keep an eye out for mountain bikers on the unpaved trails.
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