Minnesota has always impressed me with the effort it puts into its green spaces, parks, trails and especially its playgrounds. There are a lot of good ones scattered throughout the Twin Cities, but the Hyland Play Area is operating on a different scale. The first thing that hits you is simply the enormity of it. A landscape photo barely does it justice. This isn't a playground with a couple of oversized structures--it's an entire playscape built around elevation, exploration and seemingly endless ways for kids to disappear upward and reappear somewhere completely different. There are distinct areas that make it approachable for kids of different ages, select water features, and plenty for younger children to explore without making the bigger kids feel like they've outgrown it. But the stars are those towering structures and enormous climbs spread throughout the park. If you've got a kid who needs to "get their zombies out," this ought to do it. A determined child could probably accumulate the equivalent vertical ascent of Minnesota's Eagle Mountain before lunch. What impressed me almost as much as the playground itself was how well the space handles people. There can seemingly be hundreds of kids here and somehow it doesn't feel like hundreds of kids. The scale absorbs everyone. Instead, you get this constant background soundtrack of giggles, playful screams and kids absolutely exhausting themselves. And somebody clearly thought about the adults. There are huge umbrellas providing shade along with benches, tables and places to settle in while the kids go explore. You quickly understand why the crowd is such an interesting mix: stay-at-home parents making a morning of it, grandparents with their grandchildren, friends meeting up with their kids, and even remote workers squeezing in some laptop time while periodically looking up to make sure everyone is still accounted for. It's less "take the kids to the playground for 30 minutes" and more pack some food, bring water and make this the destination. We're only reviewing the play area for now, but based on this alone, Hyland deserves the five stars. It's enormous without feeling chaotic, ambitious without forgetting the little kids, and thoughtfully designed for the adults who inevitably spend half their day here too. Minnesota does parks exceptionally well. This is one of the ones worth going out of your way for. read more

Hyland Lake Park - Parks Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hyland Lake Park is one of my favorite places to rent a kayak and fish for bass in the Twin Cities. The lake is never too busy and the bass are always biting :) I easily rented a single-person kayak online and walked up to the rental booth to pick up my life jacket and paddle - off I went! There is a nice sandy beach, and other boats available to rent (including paddle boats!) This is a must-stop for your summer itinerary in Minnesota! read more

Hyland Lake Park - Single person kayak rental - Parks Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

This is a nice park with a lot of walking trails. You can enjoy some nice views of water and foliage. Easy to get to with plenty of parking spots. read more

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Been going to this park for years. The play structure alone is worth the drive! It's taken some wear and tear, though, so some maintenance is in need to bring it back to its full potential. There's a beautiful walking path next to the park and many areas to have a nice picnic! Overall, a great area to spend the day with family/friends! read more

I've only ever been here for chutes and ladders! I've loved the play area since I was a child, and I enjoy introducing it to other children I know and love. There are tables with large umbrellas at the entrance to the play area, where parents/guardians can sit and be shaded or families can eat. There's also a small misting area where the children can be watered - perhaps to cool down, or maybe just to increase the fun. The play area, of course, is amazing, and my boys could stay there all day, and come back often. read more

I used to play at this park as a kid and now I was able to bring my son back here to play. Long gone are the days of the hot metal slides and it's a much newer redesigned park but still the same great location. read more

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Another great three Rivers Park to go to. I absolutely love almost all of their parks. They maintain them very well. I love that they have a free parking lot. They have both indoor bathrooms and a nice visitor center where you can get snacks during their opening hours. You can also rent cross country's keys and snow shoes. They also have nice lakes that you can kayak, swim and fish in in the summer. They have nice picnic areas and outside seating areas. The most of the time also have a nice playground for the kids to play out. I went during the winter months to do a cross country ski lesson with a group of mine.. read more

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A lot of folks have already said great things about this park-- I'm just echoing the same. The city of Bloomington most clearly prides itself on maintaining excellent park grounds for its inhabitants to enjoy. I say this because I walked here from Shakopee, over the pedestrian bridge along the Wilkie trail, and the change to Bloomington was distinct and immediate-- suddenly there were benches to sit on, water fountains to refill at, and restrooms to utilize, along with frequent maps of the entire trail system as it interconnected throughout the town. If you've got a bike, you're good to go just about anywhere using these paved trails in the network. Hyland Lake Park specifically is a large piece of that network boasting both paved and unpaved (wood chip) trails to choose from. I didn't have a lot of time, but I enjoyed the two mile loop around the lake, which had many points at which to stop, sit on a bench, and absorb the scenery. I liked how frequently maps appeared at intersections so you never felt lost or uncertain where you were. Lots of available picnic tables and green grass, as well as port-a-potties. I wish I could've stayed longer... I'll be making an effort to come back before I have to leave for home (Texas). I noticed that canoe and paddleboat rentals are available on the lake from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but if you have your own boat, you can put in at any time. Apparently you can also rent things like skis and snowshoes and the like in the winter when there has been snowfall. I spoke with the woman operating the Visitor's Center; she was kind, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic about the available activities at the park, and showed me the various maps and informational pamphlets available for me to take. You can also grab a snack here if so desired. The playground is right beside it and it is an impressive 3-story jungle gym for the kiddos! Wow! There also seemed to be plenty of parking areas at various key points/entrances. There is also a Nature Center, but I did not arrive in time to see it. read more

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Oh daylight savings time, oh how I hate you. The sun now approaches the horizon about 5 PM... and many of us question our sanity, including myself. This day in early November I found myself with some strange cabin fever, with the sudden streak of nice 70° weather in Minnesota. Wanting more than my casual stroll around the neighborhood I did a quick search on Parks. Cue: Highland Park. Now mind you this is November in Minnesota as everything is dead and brown... but what I saw was well-kept, the trashes were empty, and overall it was a great experience. I clocked just over two miles on the good ol' Smart Watch and my three month old enjoyed the stroll enough on the paved roads to fall asleep for most of it. Any mother or smart person can assume the bike trails have to be well-kept enough for an infant to stay asleep in a crappy used stroller. Enjoy your visit to the park, maybe I'll see you picnicking in the spring. read more

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In the Land of 10,000 Lakes, this is one of them! A good one at that. If you were looking to make a DIY calendar from CVS or Walgreens, you could definitely fill up all 12 months after a visit to Hyland Lake Park! read more

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Great park to hike, bike, fish, ski, and enjoy. The park has beautiful paved trails for biking and walking and non paved trails for hiking

Nice place. Get out and walk and exercise while enjoying nature. Easy place to park and find. Information area good.

Gathering parks for summer and places to take our little one. Googled best parks for kids and this place came up. Excellent playground aka Chutes and Ladders. Playground: Water misters that come in handy when really hot out Number of slides Sandbox Benches Picnic Tables Little kids area Lots to climb and play around on Restrooms Water Fountains with cold water Consession stand Paddle Boats Row Boats Walking Paths Picnic Tables and Grills Wonderful park! Will defintely go back. read more

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If you haven't taken your kids to Chutes and Ladders park then you are going to have to wait until April. They close in October. It's very family friendly and tons of climbing, sliding, spinning and playing in a mostly fenced off area! Great fun! read more

They make snow here in the winter, give xx ski lessons, etc. and do a great job of it! If you want to fall in love with winter, come here & ski a few times, get the hang of it & fall in love with life all over again. This park system is one of the gems that puts Minneapolis and surrounding areas on the National map of why we are a great city to live in: we've got trails, nature, beauty, preservation & a community that loves & supports outdoor sports & activity, beauty and nature. You'll find this here all year long. read more

We are from out of town and my kids needed to burn some energy. This park was amazing! I have never seen a playground so huge!!!! My kids could have stayed here all morning if time had allowed. So many fun things to do and they had the mist on so the kids could cool off. The playground had so many different types of equipment to challenge the kid's motor, cognitive, and creativity skills. Well done city of Bloomington! read more

Hyland Lake Park - Playground - Parks Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Very nice and clean place to walk or sun etc. overall pleasant park! Is also dog friendly if your dog likes to splash around in the water!

This is a large park that is only one of many that are connected. This park has everything you will need. Nice lakes, trails, rentals of all kinds, fishing, bike trails, outdoor exercise area and other things. I am an avid walker. I like to try out different parks to check out different scenery. I noticed at this park, dogs and bikes are only allowed on paved trails by the looks of it and the wood chip trail is a hiking trail that bikes and dogs are not allowed. I wonder why that is? The walking trail is wider than a normal driveway. I have been to a lot of parks, I don't find their signage, trail markers or maps very easy to read at all. They have some trail posts with stickers to try to help, it says a trail name but that name isn't on the trail maps posted that are not to scale either. This park has anything you would like here, they have boat rentals, group camps, visitor centers and a giant playground for the kiddies. They also have a disc golf course here. They have paddle boats, row boats, water bottle filling fountain in the visitor's center. If you want to compare this signage to a park that does it very well is Lebanon Hills in Eagan/Apple Valley and White Tail Woods park in Rosemount. Their maps are clear and to scale. each intersection is numbered so it is easy to compare the map with the trails and signage on the sides of the trail. This is the first park where I have seen lights for night hiking on the wood chip hiking trails. I would like to come back when it is dark and see if it is pretty or pretty scary. It sounds cool. I have taken very nice photos of this beautiful park. Please look at them and enjoy your stay. The playground is the largest i have seen, if you are looking to wear out little kids, this is the place!! It is nicknamed Chutes and Ladders. Have a great day. Thanks for the Yelping hand!! read more

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The entire Hyland area is just gorgeous, worth a visit whether you live in Bloomington or not

I'm in love with this park. Trails run forever and the playground is possibly the most extensive jungle gym I have ever seen out of the six states I have lived in. We come here with our kids all the time. read more

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You have plenty to do here all year round. This park has hiking trails, cross country trails, bike paths, walking paths, a play area for kids, rentals for water activities. Great for summer time picnics and grilling, and they do have a visitor's facility as well as a nature center. Great for some peace and quiet or for fun outdoor activities. A very good size park for plenty of outdoor activities! read more

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I love this park! Perfect for the kiddos with lots of energy. My brother in law who's 7 loved it. There's a small splash pad for hot days, lots of slides, climbing structures. We couldn't tear him away even to eat! There's a place to get food also, mostly just quick things like hot dogs, nachos, hot pretzels. For $4.50 you get a hot dog, chips, and a drink which is pretty good. The bees and wasps are so terrible though, I wish they would spray they're everywhere if you have food. It's also a perfect place for a birthday party, I had mine here in 4th grade. There's a lot of grills, pick nick tables, and space to run around. There is a big lake where you can rent paddle boats too. read more

Hyland Lake Park - Perfect day for the park! Remember to bring sunscreen I got burnt - Parks Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Absolutely amazing, had the best time ever and fun for all ages. It was so much fun and I recommend it to everyone

This is one of those parks that make me appreciate the outdoors. Living in a big city makes me realize how much of the quiet is missed. It's so green and plush. There is a huge playground for kids that varies from the tiny toddlers to the more grown up kids. This makes adults and even grandparents want to crawl inside and play, too! There's an outdoor workout area that uses your own weight resistance that's very cool! The bike paths are wide and great for walking. You can go kayaking, canoeing, paddle boating, swimming and fishing. I can imagine that over the winter cross country skiing and snow-shoeing could be done as well. There are picnic table areas and you could probably grill out here, too. There's a snack area to buy food as well. What a great way to get people out of the house. No more tv and video games people and kids! read more

Always clean, good walking trails with uphill steps for a little extra workout. Calming nice stream and damn area. Good mix of through the woods and open air with plenty of parking for all. read more

The playground is spectacular. My 3-4 year old was in heaven, and if we didn't live so far away we'd be here often. The worst thing about the park that I've found is the lack of respect by some people in the picnic area by the lake with all the rental boats. On Sunday morning there was a lot of dog crap in bags and out and just a bunch of litter laying on the ground, not 30 feet from garbage bins. Not sure how to fix that except to go back in time and give them better parenting. read more

This is a wonderful park! The bathrooms and visitor center are well maintained, and always have staff present, the trails are newly paved and extensive, the picnic tables are well spread out and equipped with grills, and the "Chutes and Ladders" park is huge and fun for the kids! The park has a small misting water area (no pool), and several structures with climbing rope ladders and plastic slides - which are an improvement over the overwhelmingly HOT sliver metal slide that used to be here. Pets are allowed in the park area as long as they're leashed, but not up by the play equipment. This park is an AWESOME place to have a family get together. read more

Amazing cross country ski trails in the winter and an amazing playground and trails in the summer! Best place to go for a run and best place to cross country ski. Very nice chalet and concessions. Note that there is no longer a sledding hill due to the manmade cross country ski trails! read more

Honestly, we've never tried any of the trails but the one attraction we love is the playground, aka: Chutes and Ladders. Pros: Free entrance into the park. Pretty much only one way into the playground area and one way out so your kids are mainly contained in one area. There is 5 different areas of the playground which will cater to different ages and skills. Clean bathroom facilities are on site as well as concessions (check schedule), plenty of picnic benches and a small outdoor exercise area is down by he entrance. During the summer, there are sprinklers that run which is nice. Cons: Lots of bees and mosquitoes. For the most part, the bees can be controlled if the park adds more signs reminding groups not to spill juice or any food that can attract bees. I've never seen the bee problem as bad as this summer. I wish they would've kept the huge silver slide, but I guess it had to go. Tip: Have the kids wear tennis shoes, makes it much easier to climb the ropes. This playground gets EXTREMELY crowded during the summer months. If you come in summer, come right when the park opens or about 6-8 pm to avoid crowds. read more

This place is great! As a beginner, I was able to rent skis and stumble my way through the course. They have many cross country loop options (for beginners as well as pros). I would definitely return (once my muscles are done being sore). :) read more

Great play area! The sprinklers are even running at the end of May at 81 degrees! My kids love playing hard and then running through the misters to cool off. There is even a visitor's center with restrooms and a concession stand! read more

Hyland Lake Park - One of the play structures - Parks Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Probably one of the best playgrounds I've been to. I got to go down one of slides and it was pretty thrilling! I would say it could be for adults who can fit through the holes and ladders inside. It's pretty equivalent to a hamster cage! Super fun! And also the little outdoor gym was cute and fun:) read more

This playground is awesome! The nickname chutes and ladders pretty much says it all. The maze of climbing nets and ropes lead to an array of slides that every child (eeehm, and some adults) dreams about! Even better yet, the play area is mostly contained, and there is plenty of seating for those with little ones, or those who deem themselves 'too old' to play. There is also a play area for the little tykes, and a misting station that proved to be fun for all ages. The only thing that could possibly make this place better is if they had an adult play night once a month! read more

Awesome well maintained park for kids. Literally the biggest kids park I have seen outdoor or indoors. The kids mouth dropped when we arrived. The place is overwhelming at first however there is only one entry/exit. There are areas of shade to sit in and sunny areas. We were here during the week and it still had limited seating due to the number of people present. It is very loud as you can imagine with all the kids running and screaming. It felt like a giant ant farm with ants busily going in all different directions. There are some sprinkler/misting things the kids can run through to cool off. The boys who are 8 and 5 had a wonderful time and were pretty independent. The 4 year old girl was afraid to venture off to far yet she had fun playing on the smaller stuff. I did bring her up in the climbing area which was a bit claustrophobic for my self but I didn't get stuck in any slides. The smell in some of those tubes were unbearably sour...like dirty old wet socks that have been lost for a few weeks. read more

Hyland Lake Park - Cooling off - Parks Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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This and Richardson is my favorite place for biking and jogging. They have many more activities that can be done also, like boat rentals and kids playgrounds. read more

Awesome park! Kids love it. Great fun in the summer. Be prepared to move around to keep an eye on little ones. The playground is HUGE.

This is a awesome place for taking your young children. I would have given it a 5 star rating, except for apparently some parents do not know how to watch their children. I saw a child climbing on the outside of a big tube slide and if he had fallen he easily could have broken an arm. Since this place is pretty big, as a parent you do need to keep an eye on your children or at least teach them some manners. Since there are smaller children trying to play also, I saw plenty of bigger kids pushing little kids out of the way or hog areas of slide openings. We definitely will be coming back again. read more

We have only been a few times even though we live close by... so far we have enjoyed the walking paths and the youngest loved the park/playground. Next trip will be the rentals for kyaking or canoeing. Parking can be a bear if they have an event going on, but what else would you expect from a pretty awesome park. read more

The playground itself is great. However, we left after about 30 minutes because it just wasn't safe due to the number of kids and lack of supervision. While we were there four bus loads of kids came. The chaperones basically stood at the entrance to make sure none of the kids left the play area and went out into the parking lot. The bigger kids literally just ran over smaller ones. Even the play area that was for toddlers appeared to be fair game for the older kids. Seems like it would be very fun if you managed to go at a time when there weren't buses of unsupervised kids there at the same time. read more