Carver Park Reserve

Overview
Photos
Slideshows
Videos
Observations



			Carver County
			Metro Area

		Driving Directions Get driving directions from Google Maps to this destination from any address, and send those directions to your phone. Your Address (street address and either city and state or ZIP code)

Size

3,300 acres

Maps

Summer

Winter

Lowry Nature Center

Parking

Lowry Nature Center
N44 52.916, W93 40.943

Hiking Trails

Turf hiking trails – 21.6 miles
Paved hike/bike trails – 8.5 miles

One leg of the Lake Minnetonka LRT Regional Trail begins in the park.

Hunting

No hunting

Ecological Classification

Province

Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province

Section

Minnesota & NE Iowa Morainal

Subsection(s)

Big Woods

Land Type Association(s)

Maple Plain Moraine

Native Plant Communities¹

Southern Mesic Maple-Basswood Forest

Sugar Maple - Basswood - (Bitternut Hickory) Forest

Sugar Maple Forest (Big Woods)

Tamarack Swamp (Southern)

Ownership

Links

Three Rivers Park District

Carver Park Reserve

Lowry Nature Center

Comments

No Parking Fee
Beginning December 1, 2019, visitors to Carver County Parks are no longer required to purchase a daily or yearly vehicle pass.

Visits

4/27/2006

7/8/2011

3/2/2015


Visitor Photos

Share your photo of this destination.
		This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption.

Kirk Nelson

Floating walkway on the Maple Trail at Lowry Nature Center


Sliding hill at Lowry Nature Center


Part of the Maple Trail at Lowry Nature Center


Oak Trail at Lowry Nature Center


Visitor's Center at Lowry Nature Center


MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos

Horse Trail Entrance


Lowry Nature Center and Hiking Trail Entrance


Crosby Lake


Stone Lake


Shorebird Sanctuary


Summer Trails


Boardwalk through Cattail Marsh


Winter Trails


Tamarack Swamp (Southern)

Camera


Slideshows

	Carver Park reserve 2012 MN Chris Kratzke

	About Published on Feb 14, 2014 I created this video with the YouTube Slideshow Creator (http://www.youtube.com/upload)

slideshow


Visitor Videos

Share your video of this destination.
		This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach one or more videos or YouTube link(s) and, if you like, a caption.


Other Videos

	Cross Country Skiing in Carver Park Reserve, Minnesota Philippe Debaty

	About Published on Dec 29, 2013 Filmed with a GoPro Hero 3+. Cross Country skiing with my brother, sister in law and 3 nephews in Carver Park Reserve, near Minneapolis.

Camcorder


Visitor Observations

Share your sightings, observations, or impressions of this destination.
			This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.

Kirk Nelson

Reptiles	common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina)


MinnesotaSeasons.com Observations

Amphibians	boreal chorus frog (Pseudacris maculata)

Birds	Trumpeter Swans can be seen on Crosby Lake, at the Fred E. King Waterfowl Sanctuary on Lutsen Lake, and from a blind at the end of Carver Park Road.

	One bird species with conservation status in Minnesota has been seen here:
	Threatened	Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)

	eBird Field Checklist (Complete) eBird Field Checklist (Grimm Rd. Picnic/Rec. Area) eBird Field Checklist (Lowry Nature Center)

	American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) Eastern Wood-peewee (Contopus virens) Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) Great Egret (Ardea alba) Green Heron (Butorides virescens) Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)

Insects and Arachnids	band-winged meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum) common wood nymph (Cercyonis pegala) four-spotted skimmer (Libellula quadrimaculata) goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis) great spangled fritillary (Speyeria cybele) Halloween pennant (Celithemis eponina) monarch (Danaus plexippus) ruby meadowhawk (Sympetrum rubicundulum) twelve-spotted skimmer (Libellula pulchella) western honey bee (Apis mellifera) widow skimmer (Libellula luctuosa)

Mammals	American beaver (Castor canadensis) American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Plants	One plant species with conservation status in Minnesota are found here:
	Threatened	Sullivant’s milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii)

	Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Plant List

	Plants frequently found in: Southern Mesic Maple-Basswood Forest MHs39 Sugar Maple - Basswood - (Bitternut Hickory) Forest MHs39a Sugar Maple Forest (Big Woods) MHs39c Tamarack Swamp (Southern) FPs63a

	Common Name Scientific Name alfalfa (Medicago sativa ssp. sativa) American basswood (Tilia americana var. americana) American bugleweed (Lycopus americanus) American elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis) American elm (Ulmus americana) American red raspberry (Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus) American vetch (Vicia americana ssp. americana) American white waterlily (Nymphaea odorata) bastard toadflax (Comandra umbellata) bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus var. corniculatus) bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) black cherry (Prunus serotina var. serotina) black medick (Medicago lupulina) black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima) black-seeded plantain (Plantago rugelii var. rugelii) bland sweet cicely (Osmorhiza claytonii) bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) blue spruce (Picea pungens) blue vervain (Verbena hastata) bluntleaf sandwort (Moehringia lateriflora) boxelder (Acer negundo var. negundo) broad-leaved arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia) broadleaf enchanter’s nightshade (Circaea lutetiana ssp. canadensis) bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare) bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa) butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa ssp. interior) butternut (Juglans cinerea) Canada moonseed (Menispermum canadense) Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) Canadian tick-trefoil (Desmodium canadense) Canadian woodnettle (Laportea canadensis) chokecherry (Prunus virginiana var. virginiana) clammy groundcherry (Physalis heterophylla var. heterophylla) cleavers (Galium aparine) clustered bellflower (Campanula glomerata) common bladderwort (Utricularia vulgaris ssp. macrorhiza) common blue violet (Viola sororia) common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) common burdock (Arctium minus) common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale) common duckweed (Lemna minor) common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) common motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca ssp. cardiaca) common mullein (Verbascum thapsus ssp. thapsus) common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) common St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum) common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum) cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum var. perfoliatum) curly dock (Rumex crispus) cut-leaved toothwort (Cardamine concatenata) Deptford pink (Dianthus armeria ssp. armeria) eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana) false sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides var. occidentalis) foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum ssp. jubatum) garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida var. trifida) glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus) gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa) green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) hairy wood mint (Blephilia hirsuta var. hirsuta) hairy vetch (Vicia villosa ssp. villosa) heal-all (Prunella vulgaris) ironwood (Ostrya virginiana var. virginiana) jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) kidney-leaved buttercup (Ranunculus abortivus) large-flowered bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) leadplant (Amorpha canescens) marsh skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata) Missouri gooseberry (Ribes missouriense) Morrow’s honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii) narrow-leaved cattail (Typha angustifolia) northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) northern hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) northern lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina ssp. angustum) northern pin oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis) northern red oak (Quercus rubra) paper birch (Betula papyrifera var. papyrifera) plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides ssp. molinifera) pointed-leaved tick-trefoil (Desmodium glutinosum) prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) prairie peppergrass (Lepidium densiflorum var. densiflorum) purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea var. purpurea) quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota ssp. carota) red clover (Trifolium pratense) rough cinquefoil (Potentilla norvegica) round-headed bush clover (Lespedeza capitata) round-leaved dogwood (Cornus rugosa) rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides) sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis) sharp-lobed hepatica (Anemone acutiloba) silver maple (Acer saccharinum) smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) smooth yellow violet (Viola pubescens var. scabriuscula) spreading dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium) staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) starry false Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum stellatum) sugar maple (Acer saccharum ssp. saccharum) swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata ssp. incarnata) tamarack (Larix laricina) Tartarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica) timothy (Phleum pratense) variegated yellow pond lily (Nuphar variegata) Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum var. virginianum) white avens (Geum canadense) white campion (Silene latifolia ssp. alba) white clover (Trifolium repens) white prairie clover (Dalea candida) white snakeroot (Ageratina altissima var. altissima) white spruce (Picea glauca) white sweet clover (Melilotus albus) wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) wild grape (Vitis riparia) wild leek (Allium tricoccum) wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) wood anemone (Anemone quinquefolia var. quinquefolia) woodbine (Parthenocissus vitacea) woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca ssp. americana) woundwort (Stachys pilosa var. arenicola) yellow goat’s beard (Tragopogon dubius) yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis) yellow wood sorrel (Oxalis stricta) Acer negundo var. negundo (boxelder) Acer saccharinum (silver maple) Acer saccharum ssp. saccharum (sugar maple) Achillea millefolium (common yarrow) Ageratina altissima var. altissima (white snakeroot) Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) Allium tricoccum (wild leek) Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed) Ambrosia trifida var. trifida (giant ragweed) Amorpha canescens (leadplant) Anemone acutiloba (sharp-lobed hepatica) Anemone quinquefolia var. quinquefolia (wood anemone) Apocynum androsaemifolium (spreading dogbane) Aralia nudicaulis (wild sarsaparilla) Arctium minus (common burdock) Arisaema triphyllum (jack-in-the-pulpit) Asclepias incarnata ssp. incarnata (swamp milkweed) Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed) Asclepias tuberosa ssp. interior (butterfly weed) Athyrium filix-femina ssp. angustum (northern lady fern) Betula papyrifera var. papyrifera (paper birch) Blephilia hirsuta var. hirsuta (hairy wood mint) Campanula glomerata (clustered bellflower) Cardamine concatenata (cut-leaved toothwort) Celtis occidentalis (northern hackberry) Circaea lutetiana ssp. canadensis (broadleaf enchanter’s nightshade) Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle) Cirsium vulgare (bull thistle) Comandra umbellata (bastard toadflax) Cornus racemosa (gray dogwood) Cornus rugosa (round-leaved dogwood) Dalea candida (white prairie clover) Dalea purpurea var. purpurea (purple prairie clover) Daucus carota ssp. carota (Queen Anne’s lace) Desmodium canadense (Canadian tick-trefoil) Desmodium glutinosum (pointed-leaved tick-trefoil) Dianthus armeria ssp. armeria (Deptford pink) Fragaria vesca ssp. americana (woodland strawberry) Frangula alnus (glossy buckthorn) Fraxinus pennsylvanica (green ash) Galium aparine (cleavers) Galium boreale (northern bedstraw) Geum canadense (white avens) Heliopsis helianthoides var. occidentalis (false sunflower) Hordeum jubatum ssp. jubatum (foxtail barley) Hydrophyllum virginianum var. virginianum (Virginia waterleaf) Hypericum perforatum (common St. Johnswort) Juglans cinerea (butternut) Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana (eastern redcedar) Laportea canadensis (Canadian woodnettle) Larix laricina (tamarack) Lemna minor (common duckweed) Leonurus cardiaca ssp. cardiaca (common motherwort) Lepidium densiflorum var. densiflorum (prairie peppergrass) Lespedeza capitata (round-headed bush clover) Lonicera morrowii (Morrow’s honeysuckle) Lonicera tatarica (Tartarian honeysuckle) Lotus corniculatus var. corniculatus (bird’s-foot trefoil) Lycopus americanus (American bugleweed) Maianthemum stellatum (starry false Solomon’s seal) Medicago lupulina (black medick) Medicago sativa ssp. sativa (alfalfa) Melilotus albus (white sweet clover) Melilotus officinalis (yellow sweet clover) Menispermum canadense (Canada moonseed) Moehringia lateriflora (bluntleaf sandwort) Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot) Nuphar variegata (variegated yellow pond lily) Nymphaea odorata (American white waterlily) Onoclea sensibilis (sensitive fern) Osmorhiza claytonii (bland sweet cicely) Ostrya virginiana var. virginiana (ironwood) Oxalis stricta (yellow wood sorrel) Parthenocissus vitacea (woodbine) Phleum pratense (timothy) Physalis heterophylla var. heterophylla (clammy groundcherry) Picea glauca (white spruce) Picea pungens (blue spruce) Plantago rugelii var. rugelii (black-seeded plantain) Populus deltoides ssp. molinifera (plains cottonwood) Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen) Potentilla norvegica (rough cinquefoil) Prunella vulgaris (heal-all) Prunus serotina var. serotina (black cherry) Prunus virginiana var. virginiana (chokecherry) Quercus ellipsoidalis (northern pin oak) Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa (bur oak) Quercus rubra (northern red oak) Ranunculus abortivus (kidney-leaved buttercup) Rhamnus cathartica (common buckthorn) Rhus glabra (smooth sumac) Rhus typhina (staghorn sumac) Ribes missouriense (Missouri gooseberry) Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus (American red raspberry) Rubus occidentalis (black raspberry) Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima (black-eyed Susan) Rumex crispus (curly dock) Sagittaria latifolia (broad-leaved arrowhead) Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis (American elderberry) Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot) Scutellaria galericulata (marsh skullcap) Silene latifolia ssp. alba (white campion) Silphium perfoliatum var. perfoliatum (cup plant) Solanum dulcamara (bittersweet nightshade) Sporobolus heterolepis (prairie dropseed) Stachys pilosa var. arenicola (woundwort) Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale (common dandelion) Thalictrum thalictroides (rue anemone) Tilia americana var. americana (American basswood) Tragopogon dubius (yellow goat’s beard) Trifolium pratense (red clover) Trifolium repens (white clover) Typha angustifolia (narrow-leaved cattail) Ulmus americana (American elm) Utricularia vulgaris ssp. macrorhiza (common bladderwort) Uvularia grandiflora (large-flowered bellwort) Verbascum thapsus ssp. thapsus (common mullein) Verbena hastata (blue vervain) Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver’s root) Vicia americana ssp. americana (American vetch) Vicia villosa ssp. villosa (hairy vetch) Viola pubescens var. scabriuscula (smooth yellow violet) Viola sororia (common blue violet) Vitis riparia (wild grape)

Reptiles	painted turtle (Chrysemys picta)