May 7, 2015: Minnetonka Singing Frog Hike (Minnetonka)

Join us for a hike along a rail corridor trail which passes by a number of wetland areas to sample the musical ability of the local amphibian community. The city of Minnetonka was first settled in 1852 at Minnetonka Mills on Minnehaha Creek. A post office operated in the area from 1855 to 1909. In 1860, the sawmill closed. In 1869, a flour and grist mill was constructed which operated until the late 1880's. Charles H. Burwell came to manage the Minnetonka Mill Company in 1874. Most of the earliest settlers were from New England and other eastern and central states. Later, the Irish settled in northern Minnetonka. In the 1860's, Scandinavians came where the climate and terrain reminded them of their native land. Immigrants from Czechoslovakia settled in the southern part of Minnetonka from 1854 to 1871. The city was incorporated in 1956. The name of the city came from the name of the adjoining large lake. The name for the lake was coined in 1852 by Governor Ramsey, when he journeyed to the lake with several prominent citizens from St. Anthony and St. Paul. It means "Big Water," combining "Minne," the common Dakota word for "water," and "tonka," their common word meaning "big" or "great." The area also has a number of pot hole ponds and other bodies of water, where the singing frogs are located.

Directions: From I-494, go west on Minnetonka Blvd, approximately 1/2 mile, to Williston Road, and turn right. There are three parking lots in or adjoining the complex, with one on the east (right) side of Williston Road almost immediately after making the turn from Minnetonka Boulevard, which is the parking lot for the Civic Center, a parking lot a bit farther north on Williston Road, again on the east (right) side, for the Ice Arena, and a third, on the west (left) side, midway between the other two parking lots, for a church school/Seventh Day Adventist Church. Because the Civic center/Ice arena complex frequently is heavily used, parking can be problematic. If parking is available, the group should park in the parking lot of the Minnetonka Ice Arena (3401 Williston Road) and City Hall. If the complex is very busy, the group should park in the church school parking lot. Meet by the parking lot entrance from Williston Road.

Map the hike starting point: 3401 Williston Rd
Minnetonka, MN 55345-1515

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This webpage was last updated on May 3, 2015.