Guest Pass: Lebanon Hills Park In Eagan
We all love living in the Twin Cites, right? But it's easy to fall into a rut when you're entertaining visitors. We know there's plenty to explore in the Twin Cities -- other than a few restaurants and Mall of America. So we asked our viewers to help uncover it all in a new segment we're calling Guest Pass.
EAGAN, Minn. (WCCO) -- From the parking lot, you can tell that this is more than a run-of-the mill municipal park.
"It's called a green roof, and so it's filled with more than 8,000 plants," said Beth Landahl, of the Dakota County Parks Department.
Once you get past the Vistors' Center, there are more than 40 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Most of them around the water.
"In Lebanon Hills, there are 100 lakes, ponds and wetlands. Yeah, it's really amazing," Landahl said.
In the summer, canoers and kayackers make this park a destination.
"There are trails that connect, portage trails, that connect lake-to-lake so you could either rent a canoe, or bring your own, and paddle the lakes, portage, paddle, portage," she said.
Think of it like a mini-Boundary Waters trip -- without the five-hour drive. And while you're paddling, or hiking, there's plenty of wildlife to keep you company.
"White tail deer, coyotes, lots of birds," Landahl said. "You often see turkeys when you're driving into the park. So there's a real variety of wildlife."
There's also a campground at Lebanon Hills, where your out-of-town friends can stay if they don't want to pay for a hotel.
The park is free to visit and Dakota County is opening a new park next weekend.