Hike Wetlands Trail Loop at Crosby Farm Regional Park

Rating	★★★★☆(4/5)
Overall Difficulty	Easy
Navigation Difficulty	Easy
Distance	1 mile roundtrip
Time	1 hour
Terrain	Mostly flat
Best Seasons	All
Family Friendly	Yes
Dog Friendly	Yes
Accessible	Yes

Highlights

Floating wood boardwalk through the marsh
Interpretive signs to learn about Crosby Farm and native wildlife
Mississippi River views

Hike Summary

This is probably one of the most beautiful places in the entire city of St. Paul. Thanks to the high bluffs and floodplain adjacent to the Mississippi River, urban development was not desirable. This area was originally a farm owned by Thomas Crosby and operated by other families until 1962, when the land eventually became the park you see today.

This trail is perfect for all ages and dogs are allowed on leash. The entire trail is flat and paved with a boardwalk in one section and is accessible. However, the pavement on the north side of Upper Lake is in rough shape and not advisable for those in a wheelchair; instead, hike on the opposite side of the lake and turn left to do the boardwalk segment, then turn around to continue the rest of the hike. Be mindful that most of this trail is shared with cyclists and is especially popular on warm summer weekends.

From the parking lot, follow the paved trail east into the open grassland that looks like the picture below. Depending on the time of year, prairie flowers may be in bloom like the black-eyed Susans in the second picture below. On the left side of the trail, you will see the first of several educational signs posted throughout the hike to inform you about the history of Crosby Farm and the wildlife within.

The grassland near the parking lot
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Black-eyed Susans in the grassland
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At the T intersection ahead, turn left to begin the Wetland Trail; for those needing an accessible route that skips the rough pavement, turn right here instead. There's nothing special about the forest in this section. Soon you will reach the boardwalk, where you can view the pretty Upper Lake from a dock (pictured below) and wander through the marsh with cattails towering over your head (pictured at the top of the page). If you're lucky, you will see blue herons or other waterfowl.

Clouds reflecting in Upper Lake
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The boardwalk ends and the trail returns to pavement. On the right, there will be a wooden wall with slits to view wildlife on the lake and you can have a nice view of the dock like pictured below. At the next intersection, continue straight to walk towards the river. Here, you can look across the Mississippi to Pike Island, part of Fort Snelling State Park. There is a nice sandy beach area if you want to spend some extra time, see the second picture below.

The dock on Upper Lake
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The sandy beach on the Mississippi River
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Continue straight on the trail as it bends to the right away from the river and you will return to the building by the parking lot. You will definitely enjoy this gorgeous hike through nature, and its location in St. Paul is ideal for an easy getaway within the Twin Cities. Let me know what you thought about this hike in the comment section below and remember to use #nocoastbestcoast on Twitter and Instagram!

Directions

By Bike
This is an excellent destination for arriving by bike. You can access Crosby Farm Regional Park from the bike trail on Shepard Road (an extension of the trail on East River Road/Mississippi River Blvd); this trail runs from Downtown St. Paul adjacent to the Mississippi River all the way to Northeast Minneapolis and connects with many of the main bike trails throughout the Twin Cities. From Shepard Road, head downhill on the bike trail on the right side of Crosby Farm Road -- this is near the giant airport parking garage on Davern Street -- all the way to the trailhead. Once you finish hiking, there are several beautiful and tree covered bike trails in the park for you to try!

By Transit
Metro Transit Bus Line 84 stops near the corner of Davern Street and Shepard Road. It is a half mile walk to the trailhead. Cross Shepard Road at the crosswalk, then turn right on the multi-use path. Follow the path and use the crosswalk to cross Crosby Farm Road, then turn left to continue on the multi-use path down the hill to the trailhead.

By Car
The entrance is off Shepard Road just to the west of Davern Street, easily accessible from Minnesota Highway 5 or Interstate 35E. There is no designated turn lane for Crosby Farm Road on either side of the road, so pay close attention and look for signage for the park. Note there is another parking area for Crosby Farm Regional Park also on Shepard Road closer to Interstate 35E; this is a little cul-de-sac shaped lot on the top of the hill and has a paved trail that eventually connects with the hike described below after 1 mile.

Google Maps Directions