Archery Ranges around the Twin Cities
Several area parks have archery ranges. Some offer programs that provide everything you need to try out the sport. The DNR even offers free archery programs in some State Parks.
If you are interested in learning archery as a family, you may want to start with the Minnesota State Archery Association’s article on Starting Kids in Archery. It has tips for getting the right equipment and finding mentors.
Note that Minneapolis Parks that offer archery provide the space and the hay bales, the rest is the responsibility of the guest. However, they do offer Archery in the Parks program at neighborhood parks throughout the City. Information on this can be found on the Minneapolis Park’s website by searching keyword “archery”). There are many Three Rivers archery programs for families throughout the year that provide all the equipment, basics and safety training during a two-hour class. If you just want to dabble in the sport, this may be a good place to start..
Carver Park Reserve Archery – Image Courtesy Three Rivers Parks
Minneapolis Parks with Archery Ranges
Columbia Park
The range is not reservable. Bring your own equipment and targets, hay bales are provided. You will find these ranges on the south end of the park just off Central Avenue, across St. Anthony Boulevard from the golf course and main park area.
Ed Solomon Park
This is an undeveloped park at 58th St and 13th Ave. Hay bales provided. Bonus fun, watch for the park’s resident eagle (but please don’t shoot at it).
Bde Maka Ska/Lake Calhoun Park
Non-reservable range. Equipment and targets are not provided, but hay bales are on site.
Theodore Wirth Park
The range is not reservable. Bring your own equipment and targets. Hay bales are provided. You can find the archery range across from the parking lot at Plymouth Avenue and Theodore Wirth Parkway.
St Paul Archery Ranges
Pig’s Eye Regional Park
Located at 1200 Warner Rd and open sunrise to sunset during the spring through fall. The range has six targets, and one paved, ADA accessible lane with turn-around pads at 10 and 20 yards. There is no cost to use the range, but bring your own equipment. Reservations can be made.
St. Paul Archery Club
The St. Paul Archery Club has an indoor facility for year-long practice. It is located in the basement of the Downtown Mall on main street St Paul. Family memberships are $400/year.
North Metro Parks
ANDOVER: Bunker Hills Regional Park
Bunker Hills has several different types of ranges and costs only $5/pp. Bring your own equipment. Closed during cross country ski season because we don’t want inadvertent human targets.
BROOKLYN PARK: Mississippi Gateway Regional Park
No permanent range, but they sometimes family archery programs w/ equipment provided. Ages 8 & up, $10/pp (discount for groups of 4+).
MAPLE GROVE: Elm Creek Park Reserve
30-acre archery range is on the northwest side of the park. Daily pass required $6/adult; kids free or annual pass $35.
East Metro Parks
LAKE ELMO: Lake Elmo Park Reserve
A year-round seven target archery range with yard markers and shooting stands. This the only range in Washington County parks. Open during park hours. A $7 vehicle permit is required.
MAPLEWOOD: Keller Regional Park
The archery course has 12 lanes and is free to use during park hours; bring your own equipment.
South Metro Parks
BELLE PLAINE: Belle Plaine Archery Park
A park dedicated to the sport of archery. Use of the park is free; bring your own equipment.
Image courtesy City of Belle Plaine
BLOOMINGTON: Marsh Lake Archery Range
Bloomington’s archery range offers both Olympic and gaming targets at distances from 10 yards to 70 meters. It has 18 stations open from sunrise to sunset and is free. Kids under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
BURNSVILLE: Burnsville Archery Site
Located off Zenith Avenue. Open year round featuring 11 targets at various lengths. Kids under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Bring your own equipment.
CHASKA: Veterans Park
The City’s archery range is found at Veterans Park though others sometimes offer lessons in conjunction with Three Rivers Parks.
EAGAN: Walnut Hill Park
In 2019, all 8 shooting lanes were updated to make them accessible with improved features. The lanes range between 10 and 50 yards.
LAKEVILLE: Ritter Farm Park
Youth archery lessons are traditionally offered during the summer. There is an archery range and archery building on the “SouthForty”. Horses are not allowed in this area.
LONSDALE: Rezac Nature Preserve
The archery course includes six stationary targets, two portable targets, and concrete pads where archers can stand and shoot. Bring your own equipment. Each target can accommodate up to 2 archers. It is free to use and open during park hours.
NEW PRAGUE: Cedar Lake Farm Regional Park
No permanent range, but sometimes offers family archery programs. These programs allow families to learn archery basics together. You’ll learn to shoot at targets and play games. Equipment provided, $10/pp (discount for 4+).
PRIOR LAKE: Cleary Lake Regional Park
No permanent range, but sometimes offers family archery programs. These programs allow families to learn archery basics together. You’ll learn to shoot at targets and play games. Equipment provided, $10/pp (discount for 4+).
SAVAGE: Hidden Valley Park
The park occasionally hosts outreach programs from Three Rivers Park District. If you are coming on your own, the course is 100 yards long with 2 targets. Bring your own equipment.
West Metro Parks
EDEN PRAIRIE: Staring Lake Park
Features 12 stations at ranges from 10 to 40 yards on the East side (see a map in our directory). The range is free and open for use during park hours (6 a.m.–10 p.m.), unless it is being used for a Park & Rec program. Bring your own equipment.
MAPLE PLAIN: Baker Park Reserve
No permanent range, but sometimes offers family archery programs. These programs allow families to learn archery basics together. You’ll learn to shoot at targets and play games. Equipment provided, $10/pp (discount for 4+).
VICTORIA: Carver Park Reserve
Stationary archery range open year-round; walk-through course is open April 1 to mid-November. Daily pass required $6/adult; kids free or annual pass $35.
Amazon affiliate link.
Note: It looks like many of these archery ranges have remained open amidst closings and this activity can definitely be done while maintaining proper social distance. However, we still recommend giving the park service of your choice a call before heading out and risking disappointment.
Where to Start With Archery?
Many of the park archery ranges, including Minneapolis, require you to bring your own equipment. A search for a “beginner set” on Amazon left me a bit overwhelmed. Do I buy the rubber-tipped beginner sets? Will they work with a standard archery range? The sets without rubber tips tend to be for shooters taller than me and definitely taller than my kids. The example above is one I found with really good reviews. (Note that if you shop through this link, FFTC receives a small commission on sales). I am leaning toward starting with a Family Archery program through Three Rivers Park District. At $10 per person, the price of this class for a family adds up quickly, but it may beat purchasing a starter kit and getting it wrong.
Map of Twin Cities Archery Ranges
The map below is a public Google map of archery ranges. It was not created by Family Fun Twin Cities. We have no control over the contents. However, it suggests parks in addition to the ones we have listed and offers links to reviews.
*Amazon links are affiliate links and Family Fun Twin Cities receives a small commission on any sales.
This content was most-recently updated February 13, 2020. Many archery ranges are easy to dismantle and remove, since they are just hay bales set up in an open space. We recommend checking ahead before heading out.