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..
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.
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
Environmental Nature Area, 10201 West River Rd
The city’s archery range is available for use during between 6am and 10pm. It offers six stations with targets at 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50-yd distances. Nearby Mississippi Gateway Regional Park sometimes offers family archery programs w/ equipment provided.
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.
OAKDALE:
Northdale Park
Four year-round targets.
East Metro Parks
ARDEN HILLS
Marsden Archery Range
An 8-acre range near Lexington Avenue and managed by Ramsey County Parks.
COTTAGE GROVE
Pine Tree Pond Park
Follow the path heading northeast from 81st Street.
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.
LAUDERDALE
Lauderdale Community Park
This small archery range has two target bales.
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
APPLE VALLEY
Scott Park
This park is mainly an archery site, with four bales set up throughout the year.
BELLE PLAINE
Belle Plaine Archery Park
A park dedicated to the sport of archery. Use of the park is free; bring your own equipment.
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. Kids under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Bring or rent equipment. Free.
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.
CARVER
Riverside Park
Open sunrise to sunset. Note that this park is subject to flooding and will be closed when water levels are high.
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.
Hopkins
Valley Park
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+).
ROSEMOUNT
Spring Lake Park Reserve
Seasonal range is open April through November, conditions permitting. Passes are required: $6/day or $30/season.
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.
SHAKOPEE
Archery Range/Boat Launch Site
The park has 10 targets or you an bring your own. Open sunrise to sunset. Free.
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 LAKE
Hasty – Silver Creek Sportsmen’s Club
The range offers 10 practice targets and is open a half hour after sunrise to a half hour before sunset daily during the warmer months (usually May 1 through September 30). Children should be accompanied by an adult.
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.
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.
*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.
Thanks for the nice summary of ranges around the Twin Cities.
Note that the Saint Paul Archery Club listed above is in St. Paul, Alberta Canada not here in Minnesota.
Thank you for letting us know, Mick. That explains why it was so hard to find it on a map. I’ve removed that listing.