쉬운 헤네핀 카운티 하이킹 및 워킹 코스

Normandale Lake Park in Bloomington, Minnesota, centers on Normandale Lake and the meandering Nine Mile Creek. The lake, created in the late 1970s from a marsh and floodplain, serves both as a scenic retreat and a vital flood-control basin for the area. On the east side of the lake, a cascading waterfall marks the spot where water flows from the lake back into the original channel of Nine Mile Creek. This creek, stretching approximately 15 miles, continues its journey from the lake to the Minnesota River. Visitors enjoy the park not only for its natural beauty—especially at the waterfall, which is particularly striking during the spring melt—but also for its amenities, including picnic areas, a reservable picnic shelter, seasonal restrooms, and access to water activities like canoeing and fishing.

Neat big lake, the trail is a little rooty, it'll wake you up if you get too busy staring off into the distance.

Lake Smetana is a perfect location for a lunch break. It features a paved 1.6-mile loop, picnic areas, and a fishing pier. The lake is home to a variety of fish species, including black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead, yellow perch, common carp, white sucker, and golden shiner. The South Fork of Nine Mile Creek flows through Lake Smetana before joining Nine Mile Creek, which eventually empties into the Minnesota River.

Elm Creek Park offers a large parking area near the Elm Creek Chalet and trailhead. The chalet, a blend of modern and rustic design, is a venue for events. It features a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, a cathedral-style ceiling, and large windows that provide beautiful views of Elm Creek Park Reserve.

You can get great views of the parks wetlands here and maybe even spot some critters along your hike.

Here, you'll come across a beautiful bridge that stretches over Nine Mile Creek, leading to Lake Normandale. It's a stunning sight, particularly amidst the lush surroundings, especially in the summer.

There is a parking lot with space for about 6 cars at the upstream end of this trail and a larger lot with space for 20 cars at the downstream end of this trail.

This pier extends out onto Round Lake, providing excellent fishing opportunities and some of the best views of the water in the park. It's a perfect spot to take a break and enjoy nature.