October 4, 2012: Long Lake Regional Park (New Brighton)

Join the hiking group for a hike along Long Lake and a portion of the Rice Creek Regional Trail. Long Lake Regional Park is the last place to truly see virgin vegetation of New Brighton. Burr oak trees, over 200 years old can be found within the park, as well as fields of the native prairie grass Big Bluestem. If you look closely in the park you can find where the old farms were as well as planted bushes in the woods that were once part of a farmhouse lawn. Long Lake Regional Park once contained a railroad line, stockyards, and ice houses. Today, only foundations remain of these buildings. The park makes up the entire east shore of Long Lake and the west shore of Rush Lake. The shoreline, with the exception of the swimming beach, is undeveloped. There is a small prairie planted along the edge of Rush Lake. The uplands are a mixture of oak woods and old fields. The park is divided by two railroad lines. The shorelines are good for herons, belted kingfishers, Willow Flycatcher, Eastern Bluebird, and warblers in migration. Black Terns nest on Rush Lake. The Rice Creek North Regional Trail also runs through the northern portion of the park.

If driving: Take I-694 to the Long Lake Road exit. Proceed North on Long Lake Road about one-tenth of a mile to the Beach Road and turn East (Right.) The Beach Road ends at the boat launch and parking area. We will meet by the boat launch.

Map to hike start point, near Long Lake Rd At Beach Rd
St Paul, MN 55101

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This webpage was last updated on October 3, 2012.