Hidden Walkies (Minneapolis, Bloomington, Plymouth: apartments, to move, housing)

[yakimono]

We're looking to move, though (for now!) staying in the TC area.

We like to take a daily walk. In nature is essential. We currently have a loop of about 2 miles. Almost 1/2 of it is a paved walking path through woods. The rest is on residential roads.

Do you know of a nice place that provides:

• Ability to walk a 2-mile loop (not a there-and-back-on-the-same-path). Longer legs also appreciated!
• Low traffic on any road portions (that also means about a mile minimum from freeway)
• About 1/2 the length - or more - on pedestrian-only paths, preferably at least partially wooded
• Within a 10-mile radius of, say, Loring Park

Despite us being in the information age, it's hard to find something like this! It's a below the radar type of knowledge.

Just a few examples we have sussed out so far, to give an idea of what we're looking for:-
• The northern part of Hyland Park in Bloomington
• French park in Plymouth
• A short segment in a residential part of Plymouth, off of NW Blvd
• Hilloway or Big Willow parks in Minnetonka

[golfgal]

Pretty much all of Eagan east of about Johnny Cake Road would give you what you want...but I think Loring Park might be a bit more than 10 miles away--not much more though. In Rosemount you can walk for all over the town and never step off a sidewalk/walking path. It would be mostly residential walking but there are a couple larger parks that would give you some of the wooded walks.

[northsub]

Locke Park in Fridley. Fantastic wooded trails along Rice Creek. Half paved, half unpaved.

Maybe Long Lake Park in New Brighton. Difficulty would be finding housing from which you could walk there easily. I think there is some new stuff along the eastern side. Apartments so far, but I thought a small amount of single family was planned as well.

Tony Schmidt Regional Park in Arden Hills.

Hansen Park in New Brighton. Probably not my first choice for your purposes.

More like 11-12 miles from Loring Park there's a nice trail through the old ammunition plant (TCAAP) in Arden Hills. That's a 2 mile loop. Not particularly wooded. You could extend that north about as far as a person could walk in a day. There's also a nice park-and-ride at the County H entrance (I'm not sure about why proximity to Loring Park is important, but if work is a concern that might help).

Also more like 11-12 miles are Snail Lake and Sucker Lake in Shoreview/Vadnais Heights. Nice wooded trails there.

I don't know much about it, but Central Park in Roseville might be worth looking into.

Como Park also could be worth a look.

[dravogadro]

A little over 10 miles away but you might like Pike Island in Fort Snelling.

[pete6032]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Pretty much all of Eagan

Is Eagan ever not the answer you give?

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by pete6032

Is Eagan ever not the answer you give?

[pete6032]

Originally Posted by golfgal

OP has requested something within a 10 mile radius of Loring Park. Eagan is 20.4 miles away from there.

The best answer would probably be to find something near Wirth Park or the Westwood Hills Nature Center or find something along the Luce Line trail, which connects to Medicine Lake or Parkers Lake in Plymouth.

Here is a PDF showing all trail loops in the city of Plymouth. Parker's lake loop is 2 miles.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by pete6032

OP has requested something within a 10 mile radius of Loring Park. Eagan is 20.4 miles away from there.

The best answer would probably be to find something near Wirth Park or the Westwood Hills Nature Center or find something along the Luce Line trail, which connects to Medicine Lake or Parkers Lake in Plymouth.

Here is a PDF showing all trail loops in the city of Plymouth. Parker's lake loop is 2 miles.

Your suggestion is outside of the 10 miles from "say, Loring Park" too....

[pete6032]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Your suggestion is outside of the 10 miles from "say, Loring Park" too....

Don't be childish. I suggested 4 locations, 3 of which are within 10 miles of Loring Park. The fourth is 12 miles away.

[chessgeek]

Originally Posted by northsub

Locke Park in Fridley. Fantastic wooded trails along Rice Creek. Half paved, half unpaved.

Maybe Long Lake Park in New Brighton. Difficulty would be finding housing from which you could walk there easily. I think there is some new stuff along the eastern side. Apartments so far, but I thought a small amount of single family was planned as well.

Tony Schmidt Regional Park in Arden Hills.

Hansen Park in New Brighton. Probably not my first choice for your purposes.

More like 11-12 miles from Loring Park there's a nice trail through the old ammunition plant (TCAAP) in Arden Hills. That's a 2 mile loop. Not particularly wooded. You could extend that north about as far as a person could walk in a day. There's also a nice park-and-ride at the County H entrance (I'm not sure about why proximity to Loring Park is important, but if work is a concern that might help).

Also more like 11-12 miles are Snail Lake and Sucker Lake in Shoreview/Vadnais Heights. Nice wooded trails there.

I don't know much about it, but Central Park in Roseville might be worth looking into.

Como Park also could be worth a look.

I also recommend Locke Park in Fridley. I am a bit biased having grown up within walking distance of that park and loved it as a kid. I would guess if anything the trail system is even nicer than in the early 70's (family moved away in 1972) and would guess about a 9 or 10 mile distance to Loring Park.