Minnesota Seasons - Sunfish Lake Park

About

Ownership

Links

Overview

When searching for a location for a nature hike, nature lovers and amateur naturalists may not consider city parks. They are too small, too crowded, over developed, and unless they are nearby, too little known. Sunfish Lake Park should be on the radar for those looking for a nature site in the Twin Cities seven-county metro area.

At 284 acres, Sunfish Lake Park is a small park but the largest park in the City of Lake Elmo park system. It is conveniently located just north of Lake Elmo Park Reserve and unlike that park it does not charge a fee. The City of Lake Elmo calls it the “crown jewel of the Lake Elmo park system.” The Minnesota DNR designated it as a regionally significant ecological area (RSEA). The park includes two native plant communities, Oak - (Red Maple) Woodland and Red Oak - Sugar Maple - Basswood - (Bitternut Hickory) Forest. Thirteen bird species designated as of “greatest conservation need” have been seen here, including Acadian Flycatcher and Hooded Warbler, both species of special concern, and Bald Eagle, a tracked species. American ginseng, a plant species of special concern, is also found here.

Nine miles of wide mowed trails wind through woodlands, around wetlands, and through a 17-acre prairie restoration. On winter weekends the trails are well used by cross-country skiers, dog walkers, and the occasional amateur naturalist.

History

Management

Comments

Location

Size

278.26 acres

Driving Directions


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				Washington County
				Metro Area

Parking

10000 Stillwater Ave N
Lake Elmo, MN

N45 0.160, W92 54.239

Hours

All public parks are open from sunrise to one half-hour after sunset.

Fees

Unlike Washington County Parks, there is no fee at this City of Lake Elmo park.

Maps

Printable Map(s) with GPS coordinates

Activities

Hiking

Trail running

Biking

Mountain biking

Horseback riding

Picnicking

Camping

Swimming

Boating

Canoeing

Birding

Nature photography

Horseshoes

Volleyball

Geocaching

Cross country skiing

Skate-skiing

Winter hiking

Snowshoeing

Snowmobiling

Trails


Hiking (multi-use)	5.5 miles
Mountain biking	4 miles (walking on bike trails is prohibited)
Cross country skiing

Hunting and Fishing


Ecology

Ecological Classification
Ecological Province			Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province
Ecological Section			Minnesota & NE Iowa Morainal
Ecological Subsection			St. Paul-Baldwin Plains and Moraines
Land Type Association			Maplewood Moraine

Native Plant Communities*
Oak - (Red Maple) Woodland Red Oak - Sugar Maple - Basswood - (Bitternut Hickory) Forest
* Source: The Minnesota Biological Survey, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological Resources

Natural Features


Visitor Photos

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Kirk Nelson
Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center
The Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center was opened in Sunfish Lake Park on June 2, 2018. It is operated by the Friends of Lake Elmo’s Sunfish Lake Park. Sally Manzara was a teacher, librarian, community and church volunteer. She loved Birding, nature centers, and Sunfish Lake Park. After she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2012, she and her husband, Tony, decided to use the money they had saved for travel during their retirement as seed money for building a nature center in the park she loved. After Sally passed away 2½ years later, Tony and others worked with the City Council, and final plans for the nature center were approved in 2017.
More information can be found on their website: https://sminc-lake-elmo.org/


Prairie Restoration area


Sign in parking area


MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos



Park entrance: spring


Park entrance: winter


Parking


Prairie restoration


Sunfish Lake


Ernie’s Trail


Rabbit Trail		Camel Back Trail


Camel Back Trail

Camera

Slideshows

slideshow


Visitor Videos

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Other Videos

Sunfish Lake Park Trail Ride, Early October
Jane Gilgun

About

Uploaded on Oct 5, 2010

What better way to spend a Sunday than to ride in the dappled sunshine of Sunfish Lake Park in Lake Elmo, Minnesota, USA. My friend Sandy and I loaded Strike the Gold and Padron's Elegante into Sandy's trailer and off we went to enjoy a trail ride in the warm autumn sun. Along the way, we saw a bald eagle, a wasp stung Ellie, a fallen tree across the trail led to bushwhacking, and trees in the bright colors of early fall. At the end of the ride, a little girl who loves horses rode Ellie, the first time she had been on a horse.

Sunfish Lake Park Cross Country Ski Trails
cityoflakeelmo

About

Published on Jan 22, 2015

Take a virtual ride on the trails in Sunfish Lake Park. Located off of Highway 5 in Lake Elmo, Minnesota, this hidden gem features more than 9 miles of trails weaving through beautiful and protected natural parkland.

First Annual Lake Elmo Volksmarch
cityoflakeelmo

About

Published on Sep 15, 2014

The first annual Lake Elmo Volksmarch event will be held on Saturday, October 11, 2014, from 10 am to 3 pm in Sunfish Lake Park. The event will feature several walking routes through the park with interpretive stations along the way, traditional German fare and drink, music, raffle prizes, pony rides, and more. Proceeds from the event will benefit FamilyMeans, a local non-profit that offers many programs to help families and individuals in need.

For more information and to register visit www.lakeelmo.org/volksmarch.

Camcorder


Visitor Sightings

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