Wandering Pine is reader-supported. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.  Thank you!  Learn more.

TRIP DETAILS 

LENGTH 5 miles
DIFFICULTY Easy and accessible for all abilities
DATE  April 3, 2016
MAIN FEATURES  Coon Rapids Dam, Bald eagles and accessibility for all abilities

img_5396.jpgThree Hikes in one week! I don’t know about you guys, but I’m pretty stoked that the weather has been so great! Today’s featured local hike is Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park in Brooklyn Park/Coon Rapids, MN. Today’s group hike was the largest I’ve ever led with 31.5 people (counting the humanized coconut).  When I am leading a large group hike, I like to stay on a paved or wide trail just because it’s less of an impact on the environment and has lots of places to stop and re-group. This trail is also great for those who have mobility issues, are new to hiking or are walking with younger kids/strollers.

fullsizeoutput_d29.jpegWe started our 5 mile hike along the river at the parking lot on the Brooklyn Park side, headed down to the bridge, over 610 and back through the dam. We crossed the Mississippi twice and saw a few bald eagles overhead. Going down to the shoreline and later crossing over the dam were the highlights for the kids in our group, it was pretty cool to be able to see the water rushing close up.

img_5395.jpgThe park was acquired by the Three Rivers Park system, re-dedicated in the Fall of 2015 and is truly a gem nestled in the suburbs of Coon Rapids and Brooklyn Park. Note: The BP side is run by the Three Rivers Park District and the CR side is run by Anoka County Parks. The only difference I really noticed is that the CR side will charge $5 for parking and the BP side does not.  Happy Trails!

LET'S KEEP IN TOUCH

Subscribe to our handy newsletter for curated Art and Adventure content, upcoming events and new releases!

Thanks for being here!

privacy policy

Let's Keep in Touch!

Our curated art and adventure content features trip reports, outdoor skills, upcoming classes and shop updates delivered straight to your inbox 1-2 times per month.

We don't spam and you can unsubscribe at anytime.


2 thoughts on “Hiking Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.