Carver County Minnewashta Park

3.4 mi

Nice park. Two open fields. Beautiful sunsets. And most of the people and dogs are super friendly…read more I had a couple of wonky experiences...I don't recommend this park for small dogs that don't play well with any other dog or doesn't play well with big dogs. There are A LOT of big dogs that visit here and there's no designated area for small dogs. If your dog is aggressive (big or small), also not a good spot to bring your dog. I've had one small dog that ran up to me and tried to bite my ankles. And another small pooch that didn't want to play and tried to bite my dog. Not cool and not the right place for your dog.

I love this dog park. I almost didn't move out of the area I love this dog park so much…read more Unfortunately it's now an hour drive one way for us so we very rarely get out here anymore. It's 27 (roughly) acres, all fenced in of tall grass, trees, some water, and walking trails. My dog and I used to spend hours here, it was a sanity saver when she was a puppy, bring her here in the morning for an hour or two and she'd be good and worn out so I could actually get something done in the afternoon. So details about the park, it does cost money, $5/day or $35/year. The year runs out on Dec 31. If you buy a $35 pass Dec 30, you'll need to get a new Jan 1. That said, you pay to *park* there. So if you walk in, it's free. There's a parking lot just down the hill for the bike paths, it's tiny, but it'll fit a few cars. Park there, walk up the hill to the park, and it's free! Do not, I repeat, do not get caught parking in the dog park lot without a permit. It is a *huge* fine, like over $100 fine (luckily I do not know this from personal experience, but from others who got caught). And it is pretty regularly checked for non-permit cars. There is a small dog section of the park that people are picky about being for small dogs, but it is rarely used. There are also free bags at the entrance, and unfortunately it's where the only garbage can is too. So sometimes there's issues of people not picking up the poop on the other end of the park because they don't want to carry it back to the entrance. The regulars are super nice and I met many good friends this way, as did my dog. If you go a mile further down the road from the dog park you'll find Lake Zumbra, which is a public boat access. Dogs are welcome, but must be leashed. The park ranger regularly patrols down here too to make sure dogs are actually leashed. I would just go swimming with my dog, we both loved it. Often I would leave the leash on her, but not always hold it, if you hear a truck coming down the dirt road, grab the leash and pretend like you've always been holding it. (shh)

My sister and my dog and a stunning sunset.

My dog's butt and a beautiful sunset.

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Staring Lake Dog Park

4.3

(8 reviews)

6.9 mi

This is our favorite dog park in EP. Sometimes I go to the smaller park on Flying Cloud because it…read morehas a separate little-dog area, but I've never had any trouble at Staring with either my mini dachshund or chihuahua. This is a great park for dogs who love to run fast, like our corgi, or dogs who just like to sniff, pee on every blade of grass, and wander along. I love that the park is a fully fenced 4-acre hilly woodland place and even if a dog runs away, they can't get out and will find you eventually. There's no open or standing water, so your pooch won't get wet and stinky for your ride home. Spring and fall are my favorite times here because these woods get buggy in summer; that's when I switch to the park on Flying Cloud. It's smaller, just over an acre, but more open (wear sunscreen!) and there is agility equipment for both the large dog side and the little dog side. It's hilarious to watch my doxie "leap" over the 4" hurdle!

I wish we had a Dog Park like this in my state. It is so forested that you feel like you're in the…read moreopen woods except it is completely fenced in and safe for your dogs with the exception of this one lady Who sits back passively as her dog is being very aggressive... all of the other dog owners are very responsible and Intervine when their dogs get over excited or aggressive or jump on you. Every other dog and owner I encountered there during my 10 day visit was friendly two other dogs and dog owners. People are very good about picking up their poop. Plus it has an out house toilet in case the humans need to use it.

Small tan dog named "Abby" and her owner observing, but never intervening

A view of the entrance from the trail.

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My dog chillin

Lions park Off-Leash Dog Area

5.0

(1 review)

5.6 mi

Great off leash area for dogs. They have two areas. A smaller area that is fenced in and a larger…read morewooded area. Dogs must be current in vaccinations and display a rabies tag. Great place to take the dog off leash.

Bryant Lake Dog Park

4.2

(5 reviews)

7.5 mi

Great dog park for the area. A small dog area and a big looping big dog area which I brough my…read moresmaller hounds in without any problems. There is some nice shade from trees and a shelter where people can relax. It also looks like an active volunteer group providing water and poop bags. The parking lot can get a little tight when it's busy but overall a nice place.

This dog park is fantastic! There is a water fountain right in the recombobulation area which helps…read moreto allow the dogs have access to water. The park has a nice trail that covers a variety of different terrain giving the dog all the sniffing adventures. In addition there is a nice open grassy area that the dogs can just play with each other. There is a pond that is fenced off, but has a gate so you can choose to let your dog access it. It is covered in algae which is unfortunate because it would be great if there was a fenced in pond the dogs could swim in that was safe.

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Plymouth Dog Park

13.1 mi

Our new place to take our fur baby! Beyond the turf, there are two gated parks--one for small dogs…read moreand one for larger dogs. It would also be a fantastic place to take sunset pictures by the bridge because of the amazing scenery.

I'm always looking for a dog park where I can bring my pup and let him run around unleashed. I…read morereally like that this park has two separate areas - one is fenced in and meant for small dogs (under 20 lbs) and the other is a big open area without a fence. It's meant to be enclosed by private property that has tall grass. I personally feel more comfortable with my dog being fenced in on the off chance he sees or hears something and bolts. But my dog isn't under 20 lbs so that's a bummer. I suppose if no smaller pups are using it, that we could play in there until another pup comes.

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Carlson Dog Park

4.0

11.7 mi

This is a lovely little dog park perfect for my bichon mix. Today there were a lot of friendly…read morepeople and other pups to play with. Elwood really enjoys running around the trails and going up and down the hill. I appreciate it because it wears him out.

Small but very friendly people and dogs. My vet is over there so I take my dog whenever I can. Nice…read morepeople to talk to but it should be a larger area the small dogs section is nice because it has grass, bring water!

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Dakota Woods Dog Park

4.7

(9 reviews)

28.6 mi

I feel like my dog should be writing this review, but she doesn't have the best written…read morecommunication skills so I will fill in on her behalf. Dakota Woods is an all around good off-leash dog park. It's about 40 acres in size with half being wooded and the remainder a combination of mowed grass and some taller grass (there are no ponds or lakes to worry about). Paths cut through the woods that are great for walking with or without your furry companion. The only downside to this park is it's quite close to a landfill which can add a bit of an unpleasant aroma to the air. I've never found it to be that bad, but those with sensitive noses should take note. We've found the people and their dogs to be friendly. If you're looking for a spot to take your dog this is it!

I love this dog park. It is not free. You can buy an annual pass or pay a pay box each time you…read morego there. This place is well maintained with wood chips on the paths. Most owners pick-up after their dog. There isn't any mud, no smell. Since this is a pay lot, the owners and animals are better than the free places. Our Puggle, Sammie likes this place also. We have been going here for years.

Great walking trails, even in the winter

Even on the worst days, it's great here!

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Bassett Creek Park

14.5 mi

This is a great park. It has two different parking areas that I have never seen completely full but…read moreif they would be there is also street parking. It has a nice walking path around the park, there is a disk golf course, baseball fields, and off leash dog areas. I especially like there is separate small dog and large dog off leash areas. There are also areas to picnic at with charcoal grills but you have to bring your own charcoal . Definitely worth going checking out.

Nice neighborhood park , great for dog walking and if you play disc golf this is the spot to go…read more They also have dog park in the back area

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Wildlife

Bloomington Dog Park

(24 reviews)

12.3 mi

Well maintained! There's a special spot for little dogs and a huge open area where the big dogs can…read morerun wild. After a rainy day, expect some muddy patches--your dog will think it's the best thing ever, even if you're cringing as they roll in it. Bonus points for the clean porta-potty on site!

It's a great park to take your dogs. Lots of space to run and owner's can get exercise too…read more Friendly people and well maintained. The city of Bloomington does a great job providing us with this park.

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Staring Lake Park

6.8 mi

The city revamped this beautiful park two years ago and it is one of the favorite destinations in…read moreEden Prairie. The Amphitheater seating is reflected in a smaller seating area surrounding a smaller, more flexible space for concerts and kid-friendly productions as well as private parties. The enormous playground is multi-level and has play structures for everyone from toddlers to teens. Today a group of tweens was climbing the web structure, laughing and playing and challenging each other to get to the top. The different playground levels are all accessible by slides and steps and ramps and the wood chip base is interspersed with flexible, bouncy "miracle turf," the springy rubber paths perfect for differently-abled children. There is a large swing with safety straps, spinners, acoustic drums, bells, and a rolling rain maker - thousands of BBs encased in plexiglass that shower endlessly with the turn of a wheel. My grandson calls this the Big Playground and spent well over an hour running and shrieking and playing on this gorgeous spring day. There are plentiful picnic tables, actual restrooms in the park building, lots of parking, and easy access to the trails to walk around Staring Lake. (Tip: it's pronounced "Starring," something residents know but newcomers may not. Don't ask me, I said "Staring" for years after moving here ...) Bring a snack or bring lunch and relax while your kids burn off all that energy!

Lots to do at Staring Lake. There's also three unique entrances with their own parking lots, one at…read morethe south end, one at the north end, and one on the west side. Depending on where you enter from, you can enjoy different activities. The south entrance has a very extensive playground, as well as basketball courts, bocce ball courts, a volleyball court, and disc golf. There's lots of benches and tables to sit at or eat at, as well as a full amphitheater. There is a building with indoor restrooms (well kept), a water fountain and water bottle refill station, and a couple of rentable rooms and a rentable gazebo with BBQs, as well as an office (though that was closed when I was there midday on a Monday). There's plenty of parking spaces at this entrance. The north entrance has a smaller playground as well as a garden, a couple of cabins that serve as a place for community events, a firepit, canoe rentals, a pier, a red tail hawk enclosure, an observation station (for their stargazing activities), a minimal wildlife blind, and a nature trail. There is limited parking at this entrance. The west entrance was lamest by far. It had a sizeable parking lot, but the only amenities were a port-a-potty, a pier, and access to the paved trail that goes all the way around Staring Lake. Speaking of the trail, which is what I hiked while exploring here, it is entirely paved and has a line down the middle to delineate directionality. The east side is quite lovely, taking you through shaded secluded-feeling forest; the west side is not as nice, with less shade and a loud road right next to the trail as well as lots of residential housing. Yuck. It also connects with the nearby lake north of it, Purgatory Creek Wildlife Area.

Staring Sunrise

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Trail map

Lake Ann Park

(10 reviews)

1.8 mi

Great place. Nice pic nic, great concerts, very clean. Will be back to rent a paddle boat.read more

Since retirement, my wife and I would bring our young grandchildren here for a stroll every…read moremorning. Very peaceful here and I truly enjoy the scenery. The kids love the playground here.

Cool critters to climb through. Soft ground surface too.

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Lake Ann lily pad flora. the water is so clean and clear you can look down 15 feet and see fish and aquatic plantlife.

University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

It much one need or should say about this place, one has to experience it !!!…read moreMake it a days event walk about the most wonderful flowers one can fine in MN and one would think not to find in MN ! It is a great experience and I say: You will be back ! Visit the gift shop and support the place with a purchase ! O matter what: I'm sure you will not be disappointed !

This is an amazing place to spend a day or extended afternoon in the twin cities. I was gifted a…read moremembership and have had the chance to come here twice, once for an event and once for the 3 mile walk, and both times have been blown away by the breadth of planning and botanical mastery that has gone into these gardens. We saw the setup for a wedding while we were there and it was breathtaking. The small gardens near the front are beautiful, but it's a true feat to walk (or drive) the three mile walk and to see the entirety of the gardens. There's a fun (and quite difficult) maze, a sculpture garden, many different tree and flower displays, shrub displays, and way more! We haven't had the chance to check out the farm that's on the property, but are really looking forward to it! This is a great place to spend a day with energetic kiddos, or to just lose yourself in nature for a little while. And each month something new is in bloom, so there's always new to see and do!

Cafe at the arb!

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Madison's Place Playground

(16 reviews)

31.6 mi

Found this place on accident and very happy I did. The playground is very large and splash pad is…read moredirectly next to it. The location is clean and it has a very great story about why it was created. I highly suggest it

This is an amazing playground and one of our favorites...not only is this a playground but it also…read morehas a splash pad. Madison's is named after a little girl who passed away when she was young. The cool part of this playground is that it is accessible to those who are handicapped. Lots of fun ramps, slides and more modern playground fun stuff. Try to score one of the trees to put a blanket under so you can chill in the shade.

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Eden Prairie Community Center

3.4

(25 reviews)

4.8 mi

I'm not a member. This is for the toddler / family swim time at the Eden Prairie Community Center…read moreand overall, it's a wonderful experience. The water play area is perfect for little ones -- warm, safe, and sized just right. The staff has always been friendly, and the atmosphere feels welcoming for families with young kids who are still getting comfortable in the water. The only thing holding this back from a five-star experience is the family area bathrooms. They aren't dirty, but they definitely need more frequent cleaning and restocking during busy toddler swim hours. With so many young families coming through, a little more attention there would make a big difference in comfort and overall impression. Still a solid place to bring the little ones for a fun swim -- just hoping the bathroom upkeep improves to match the rest of the experience. Price is okay for someone that only comes occasionally - but it's a good resource to have if you're local - Try them out!

This is regarding the fitness classes. The pools are wonderful…read more With the Y and Lifetime members coming here it's getting busier. Most of the classes fill up fast-you need to get on a list a week before usually when you're in class. which can be stressful. The management doesn't seem to care. Plenty of space open in the studios after late morning and wouldn't add classes especially cycle, mix it up and body pump! Pretty sad that management doesn't really care

Kids swimming area

Fabulous pools

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Bay Rentals Inc

3.9

(29 reviews)

5.3 mi

Overall we got to have fun on the lake but I will say these machines are a bit beat up and seem to…read moreneed a tune up. As I would turn the machine would lose a lot of power and my partner ran out of gas with a hour left, so they didn't fill up both machines asine still had half a tank left. $600 deposit and make sure to take a good video of the machines. The process of receiving instruction was a little odd as a younger kid was giving us rules then a seemingly drunk older man in a truck kept talking over him who I assume is the owner? Kind of a weird dynamic going on here. The process of taking off and riding was good no issues there.

Ohmygoodness, not enough good to say!!…read more My friend and I had never been paddle boarding, it was 95 deg out with 72% humidity and we were feeling adventurous. Did a quick google search and found this place. Gave a call and the voicemail said to leave a message and they would get back. Yeah right. Well, about 30 minutes later the phone rang! Learned that SUPs were first come first served, but mentioned we were headed to them in mound from Coon Rapids and it would kinda suck to drive that far. I asked what our chances were and they were sweet enough to make sure they didn't all disappear! The process is super easy, tou check in and then walk the few hundred feet to the beach. They bring the boards (or whatever you've rented) over to you and you're set! When you're done you just beach the items and they come grab them. Only down side is SUP is kinda hard for a newbie as the lake is clearly a play lake. Constantly rough from all the jet skiiers.

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Metro Lakes Marina

3.1

(25 reviews)

4.9 mi

We rented 2 pontoons for a work function…read more It went well. The boats were well maintained and we had 0 problems with them. They were easy to drive. The back part had a canopy so you could stay out of the sun if you wanted to or sit in the front for the full sun effect. It was a fun day.

I give them 3 stars solely for the fact they had pontoon rentals available a week before we wanted…read moreto go out on the lake. Everything thereafter was not worth the reservation. All week there was going to be chance of storms so we wanted to wait it out and see if it was going to be accurate or not. The cancellation policy on the day of is for weather only (rain, high winds etc). So it's now the day of a reservation (11-7) at 9 am and it's severe thunderstorm watch all day. I call at 9 and ask if we're able to get a full refund, they say no because they have to wait to see if it's going to be bad weather during our reservation time. Fair. I call back at 1045 to cancel because I see it's going to be bad all day, not worth going out at all for $750 or even a partial refund of 375 to go out for half the day. I was still charged the $100 cancellation fee even though the weather was no good. It's upsetting they tried to get me to do a half day on the water when an hour into our reservation it's been lighting. We live an hour away from this location so none of it made sense for us to commit to this reservation unfortunately. If you don't want to go through what I did with no sympathy, either book another company, but your own boat, or cancel 3 days ahead of time

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Carver County Minnewashta Park - dog_parks - Updated August 2026

People who viewed Carver County Minnewashta Park also viewed

Dog Park at Fish Lake Regional Park

4.0

We really enjoy this off-leash dog area which is smaller than its sister parks within Three Rivers,…read morebut arguably more enjoyable with its woods and trails to walk around with your pup. My dog loves being able to run around the trees and play with the other pups around! Really clean and well maintained! They have dog bags around the park you can use to clean up after your dog. The yearly pass for the Three River parks is so affordable - definitely worth it!

This dog park is great! It has a large wooded fenced area with trails to let your dog play,…read moreexplore, and chase squirrels (they love to tease the dogs)! They also have a smaller fenced area for small/frail dogs that is still about the length of a football field so plenty of room for fetch! There are numerous picnic tables throughout both areas as well as plenty of shade. There is a water fountain outside the fenced area with a dog bowl filling station and a dog water fountain. There are also real bathrooms right outside as well. There is a fee of $7 per day or $40/year to use the facility. If you buy the year pass, you have your sign up each family member (not pet) for a pass but is only $40/household. I have never had my pass checked while there, but in theory they could be checking.

Cedar Knoll Park

3.4

(5 reviews)

Shady nice spot I found it on yelp and had a great hour…read morewith my dog while traveling across the country

poop everywhere, trail is poorly kept and the mosquito present was annoying. other dogs tended to…read morebug my dog which was frustrating.

Victoria Dog Park

Nice park. Two open fields. Beautiful sunsets. And most of the people and dogs are super friendly…read more I had a couple of wonky experiences...I don't recommend this park for small dogs that don't play well with any other dog or doesn't play well with big dogs. There are A LOT of big dogs that visit here and there's no designated area for small dogs. If your dog is aggressive (big or small), also not a good spot to bring your dog. I've had one small dog that ran up to me and tried to bite my ankles. And another small pooch that didn't want to play and tried to bite my dog. Not cool and not the right place for your dog.

I love this dog park. I almost didn't move out of the area I love this dog park so much…read more Unfortunately it's now an hour drive one way for us so we very rarely get out here anymore. It's 27 (roughly) acres, all fenced in of tall grass, trees, some water, and walking trails. My dog and I used to spend hours here, it was a sanity saver when she was a puppy, bring her here in the morning for an hour or two and she'd be good and worn out so I could actually get something done in the afternoon. So details about the park, it does cost money, $5/day or $35/year. The year runs out on Dec 31. If you buy a $35 pass Dec 30, you'll need to get a new Jan 1. That said, you pay to *park* there. So if you walk in, it's free. There's a parking lot just down the hill for the bike paths, it's tiny, but it'll fit a few cars. Park there, walk up the hill to the park, and it's free! Do not, I repeat, do not get caught parking in the dog park lot without a permit. It is a *huge* fine, like over $100 fine (luckily I do not know this from personal experience, but from others who got caught). And it is pretty regularly checked for non-permit cars. There is a small dog section of the park that people are picky about being for small dogs, but it is rarely used. There are also free bags at the entrance, and unfortunately it's where the only garbage can is too. So sometimes there's issues of people not picking up the poop on the other end of the park because they don't want to carry it back to the entrance. The regulars are super nice and I met many good friends this way, as did my dog. If you go a mile further down the road from the dog park you'll find Lake Zumbra, which is a public boat access. Dogs are welcome, but must be leashed. The park ranger regularly patrols down here too to make sure dogs are actually leashed. I would just go swimming with my dog, we both loved it. Often I would leave the leash on her, but not always hold it, if you hear a truck coming down the dirt road, grab the leash and pretend like you've always been holding it. (shh)

Bloomington Dog Park

(24 reviews)

Well maintained! There's a special spot for little dogs and a huge open area where the big dogs can…read morerun wild. After a rainy day, expect some muddy patches--your dog will think it's the best thing ever, even if you're cringing as they roll in it. Bonus points for the clean porta-potty on site!

It's a great park to take your dogs. Lots of space to run and owner's can get exercise too…read more Friendly people and well maintained. The city of Bloomington does a great job providing us with this park.

Locke County Park

3.7

(3 reviews)

Wooded ravine park sheltering the Rice Creek meandering through it. Between Highway 65 and…read moreUniversity Avenue, this park has the Rice Creek Regional Trail run through it. Multiple parking lots, picnic pavilions, four footbridges across the creek, many unmarked non-asphalted hiking trails. There are 2 playground areas, and an off-leash dog park. Come and explore the park when you're in the area!

This is an OK dog park. It's big, wood chips everywhere. Trees for shade, seems to be well…read moreattended. With one glaring problem. There are no trash bins inside the fence?!?!?!?!?! Did the people who planned this place not realize that dogs poop? I tend to give humanity the benefit of the doubt and believe most people want to pick up their dog poop, but to have to physically leave the park with your bag (which freaks my dog out to no end) throw it in the dumpster and then come back in? Really? There was so much poop in the park I spent the whole time looking at my feet trying not to step in anything, so I didn't talk to anyone and can't comment on the cliental. Throw us a bone with ONE TRASH CAN PLEASE!

Carlson Dog Park

4.0

This is a lovely little dog park perfect for my bichon mix. Today there were a lot of friendly…read morepeople and other pups to play with. Elwood really enjoys running around the trails and going up and down the hill. I appreciate it because it wears him out.

Small but very friendly people and dogs. My vet is over there so I take my dog whenever I can. Nice…read morepeople to talk to but it should be a larger area the small dogs section is nice because it has grass, bring water!

Brookdale Park & Dog Park

5.0