Long ago I took a "forest bathing" class here in the summer months and adored hiking through the…read moretrails and listening to nature. Flash forward to present day, and I attended the winter wonder hike with lead Michael at the sister property to Dodge in Cottage Grove. My friend and I were the only one on the hike along with our mini baby and despite some hiccups of the baby crying, we loved that Dodge had something to offer in the cold winter months. As a human, I appreciate anyone who can lead a walk in the cold as it's extremely hard to get out in nature solo when it's dark and the sunsets so quickly. Thank you, Michael and Dodge Nature Center! Offering community classes for all 4-seasons is clutch. Looking forward to more visits.

This is quite the gem of a place. The grounds are great for a walk and offer so much to see. From…read morefarm animals to raptors and all sorts of creatures in the area. I should add if you like to walk with your dog you can't hear as there are farm animals so dogs are not allowed. This is a perfect place for a little family outing / hike.

Took a nice walk around Thomas lake park and enjoyed the scenery. It has well paved paths that are…read morewide. There are many benches along the path, some overlooking the lake which make for a nice rest. There are ample parking spots available and a park pavilion down one of the paths. Only drawback was all of the poop that has been left behind by pet owners.

Pros- lots of green, clear trails for walking, running , lots of entrances and exits. Lots of…read morebenches and places to rest . I saw at least one large playground. Can't wait to bring the rest of my family. No cons.

The address is a little mislabeled, it will take you to some public school. Back up, about 0.5…read moremiles away from the underpass, there's a little bridge with a parking lot, that's the trail head. The Trail itself is really wonderful. Deep vegetation, a little too many insects but otherwise great. There's a beautiful creek that runs alongside the trail. The animals you'll see the most are dogs that are being walked. It seems to be a favorite among Bloomington locals.

Beautiful park! I went in the winter and between the snowy creek, bubbling brook, and bird noises…read moreit just can't get much better. Yes it's hard to completely escape the road noise, but a small price for a lovely hike so close to the city.

Good for walking breaks. Nice park that I used to take my kids to when they were small. The bike…read morepark was new to me so glad to see it being used. The bike repair stations are a nice touch. I love the trails and boardwalk but it's not my favorite lake to swim in due to the algae.

6/3/22: Compared to La Lake Park, Carver Lake is an actual park. It has a park loop trail that's…read more3.8 miles and is good for walking, running, hiking & mountain biking. There's a section with a free parking lot, a small beach for swimming (no lifeguard), bathrooms and an actual paved trail, as well as dirt trails. There is also a slight incline on the trails, which is nice for those wanting an extra workout challenge. The trails are also well maintained. The bonus was that the weather was perfect today (no bugs) and we saw a deer! If you go deep into the woods, you don't hear the traffic and it really feels like you're deep in nature. Carver Lake is better for outdoor activity compared to La Lake Park. They're probably less than a mile apart, so if you're close to both, just go to Carver.

Absolutely beautiful park. Went jet skiing with my family there and had a great time. They have…read moreplenty of parking and lots of shaded seating to get a break from the sun. The beach part is just gorgeous too. Water is pretty peaceful. On a non windy day like this, it was easy to ride the jet ski around. There was a decent sized separated area to go swimming in, which sd enjoyed. I loved that there was a playground and also a small splash pad nearby. My toddler loved it. Definitely plan to be back some day to explore more of the park, as we were mainly on the water.

Came for a few hours for hiking, which was great! The kids played in the splash pad area for a few…read moreminutes, they almost didn't get to use the splash pad because we couldn't figure out how to get it running, it started going after we started walking away....other than that it is a unique design. The beach was good size but I don't recommend swimming, the water is nasty green and scummy.

Perfectly adequate experience for hiking. Definitely got the impression that this park is more…read moregeared towards winter cross-country skiing purposes. Though there is also a mountain biking path. There is both an East and a West entrance to this park. The East entrance seems to more be the main entrance with a tennis court, hockey rink, children's playground, and little free library. The West end however has a younger children's playground and a gazebo with ample picnic tables and a grill. Both ends have trash/recycling bins and a port-a-potty. No plumbed toilet facilities and no water fountains (this fact admittedly lowered my rating of the place). Trails are all pretty wide (again, to accommodate the cross-country skiers), and there are a decently number of maps posted periodically along the route to help you keep track of where you are. The outermost loop is 3.2 miles, so this would be a decent place to practice your 5k, especially if you want frequent elevation changes. I didn't find the scenery to be all that stunning compared to some other spots I've found around MN, but it was still reasonably pretty here and there. Nice large parking lots on either end.

I love this Burnsville area! Feels like I am hours away from the city. The trails here were nice…read more Took my dog around the loop. Very peaceful....

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.

We took our pup for a walk around purgatory creek park and appreciated the approximately one mile…read moreloop around the water. Having the loop non-paved, and the section crossing the water being uneven, may be difficult for those with accessibility concerns. The seating area and landscaping seemed to be well maintained. We appreciated having a bathroom as well.

Well this park is close to my place and i often visit it. Great place for long walks, morning jog,…read morekids and fishing. Its Quite decorative in festive seasons. Viewing Sunsets & sunrise sitting by the lake is an awesome experience. I have shared few pictures trying to capture the beauty of the place. Hope you guys like it.