September 24, 2015: Rice Marsh Lake Park Hike (Eden Prairie/Chanhassen)

Join the hiking group for a hike along Rice Marsh Lake to Lake Susan, in west Eden Prairie and east Chanhassen. Rice Marsh Lake and Lake Susan are in the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District. Riley Creek has a 10 square mile watershed, with mild topography in the upper and middle portions of the watershed. Riley Creek originates from lakes Lucy and Ann, and flows through Lake Susan, Rice Marsh Lake, and Lake Riley before it begins its descent to the Minnesota River. The Riley Creek watershed was primarily agricultural until the 1980's, when urbanization rapidly developed. A few portions of the creek were straightened in meadow areas to provide better field drainage for farming. Recently, the floodplain revegetated with grass, willows, dogwood, and other shrub vegetation. In 1852, Joseph Vogel had the first claim settled in Chanhassen Township, on land west of Rice Lake. In the early 1850's, Clarissa Cleaveland reportedly selected the name "Chanhassen," the Dakota name meaning "the tree with sweet sap," or the sugar maple tree.

DirectionsGo west on I-494 to Highway 5. Continue west on Highway 5 to Dell Road, about 8/10ths of a mile west of Eden Prairie Road. Go south on Dell Road about 6/10ths of a mile to Rice March Lake Park, just south of the intersection with Erin Bay/Cascade Drive. Meet in the parking lot.

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This page was last updated on August 30, 2015.