Address: 8946 70th Street S, Cottage Grove, MN , 55016
Upcoming Events: Jump to Shepard Farm Events
Website Shepard Farm
Phone 651-455-4531
Hours Sunrise to sunset
Shepard Farm in Cottage Grove is managed by Dodge Nature Center. It opened to the public in the spring of 2022 and offers a one-mile trail that families can explore any day of the year for free between sunrise and sunset. Dodge Nature Center offers nature programs for children, adults and families at the farm. Farm animals include goats, cows, sheep, honey bees. Families can also rent a garden plot on the property.
A new education center was added to the historic farm house at Shepard Farm in the fall of 2023 with classrooms, a patio, accessible restrooms, and gathering spaces.
Shepard Farm trails
A trail map can be printed from Shepard Farm’s webpage. It shows where the walking path is paved, gravel or road and also includes markers for finding the pavilion, restrooms, community gardens, historic buildings and bee apiary – as well as entrances and exits. The trailhead is marked by a white kiosk to the west of the parking lot and their are trail markers throughout the path. The trail is only about a mile long, so it is ideal for walking with younger kids. Explore the 100-year-old woods and restored prairie, check out the historic farm buildings from the 1920s, view the community gardens and bee apiary along your walk.
Family programs at Shepard Farm
Naturalist led programs and guided hikes can be found on the Dodge Nature Center activities calendar. Look for programs on raising bees and chickens as well as agricultural and environmental education. In 2023, Dodge Nature Center built a smithy to host blacksmithing classes.
Summer camps at Shepard Farm
Summer camps are managed by Dodge Nature Center. Campers should expect to be outdoors and get dirty. Find more information in our annual summer camp guide.
More information
- Register: Upcoming programs
- Find: a trail map here
Related content
- Twin Cities Summer Camps: Nature & Outdoor Adventure Camps
- The Mile-Long Trail is one of our recommended Kid-Friendly Hikes That Are One Mile or Less
Upcoming Family-Friendly Events
- Down On the Farm - 04/25/2026 - 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Fun Past Events We Hope to See Again
- Universe in the Park (FREE) - 08/22/2025 - 8:30 pm - 10:00 pm
- Locally Grown Theatre: Dracula (FREE) - 10/12/2025 - 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
- Shepard Farm Halloween Extravaganza - 10/25/2025 - 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
- Snowshoe at Shepard Farm - 01/24/2026 - 10:00 am - 11:30 am
- Light up the Night Luminary Hike (FREE) - 02/20/2026 - 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
- Stories at Shepard Farm - 03/27/2026 - 9:30 am - 11:30 am
- Shepard Farm Barnyard Meet & Greet - 03/28/2026 - 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Please Note: FamilyFunTwinCities.com is an independent website run by Twin Cities families for Twin Cities families. We attempt to include the information we find most essential as parents. We make every effort to keep up with changes. However, we are not employed by or connected to this venue, and information sometimes changes without our knowledge. We recommend calling or checking the venue’s website for up-to-date information.
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