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Spring Lake Park Reserve is a large Dakota County Park that stretches from Hastings to Rosemount. The park offers year-round family fun, including archery, community gardens and a playground. We recommend visiting in the fall to get the full effect of the colors in the Schaar’s Bluff portion of the park.

10 Ideas for Family Fun at Spring Lake Park Reserve

1. Take in one of the best birdseye views of the Mississippi. The elevation of the Schaar’s Bluff section of the park (near Hastings) makes for some incredible views of a wide spot of the great river. Some trails run close to the edge of the bluff so keep an eye on your little ones.
2. Practice archery​. The archery range is in the Rosemount section of the park and requires an archery pass to use ($6/day or $30/season). Archery season is from early April to late November, weather dependent. We include it among our favorite archery ranges in the Twin Cities.
3. Pack a picnic. Eat lunch before exploring and playing.
4. Play on the playground equipment.
5. Go for a hike. The park has 5 1/2 miles of hiking trails. If you prefer to bring a stroller or kids bikes, they have over 6 miles of paved trails.
6. Bring your leashed dog on a hike. Dogs are only allowed on hiking trails, not the paved trails.
7. Geocache. Bring your own GPS and get the app from Geocaching.com to find the hidden caches around the park.
8. ​Rent a garden plot and see what you can grow. Plots are available from May through October and reservations are taken beginning in mid-February.
9. Take a nap in a hammock. Dakota County Parks are among the Twin Cities parks that actively encourage visitors to bring and use hammocks.​ Just make sure to be tree friendly.
10. Play a game of horseshoes.

Biking in Spring Lake Park Reserve

The paved Mississippi River Regional Trail travels through Spring Lake Park Reserve. Head east out of the park and you can make your way to the charming city of Hastings. The ride is approximately five miles long and connects to more lovely parks and attractions. See our list of the BEST THINGS TO DO IN HASTINGS, MINNESOTA, WITH KIDS for travel ideas!