Parks & Nature

Nature Centers

Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area: 5463 W Broadway Ave, Columbus, 651-539-3300; Headquarters 7 miles west of Forest Lake on Anoka County Road 18. Primarily used for hiking, hunting and bird-watching.

Tamarack Nature Center: 5287 Otter Lake Road, White Bear Township; 320-acre park preserve with picnic shelter, half-mile paved trail, more than 5 miles of woodchip paths, indoor exhibit area with restrooms. Building hours: 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday- Saturday, noon to 4p.m. Sunday. 651-266-0360 or www.ramseycounty.us/residents/ parks-recreation/tamarack-nature-center

Joseph E. Wargo

Nature Center:

7701 Main St., Lino Lakes; Trails, gardens and a visitors’ center with restrooms. Exhibits, summer camps and other youth activities, as well as senior programs and other special events. Home to native plant and animal life including muskrats, red foxes, grey and red squirrels, woodchucks, weasels, deer and birds. Part of 5,500acre Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park Reserve. Rents canoes, kayaks, snowshoes and kicksleds. Hours April through October: Closed Monday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. open Tuesday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Winter hours: Closed Saturday through Monday, open Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 763-324-3350 or anokacountyparks.com.

Wildlife Science Center: 22830 Sunrise Rd. NE, Stacy;

Nationally recognized education and research facility; home to 90 animals of different species and Minnesota’s largest wolf pack. Tours available. 651-464-3993 or wildlifesciencecenter.org.

State Parks

Please note:

A Minnesota Ski Pass is required for skiers and a Horse Pass is required on trails for riders age 16 and older in any state park or state forest. Purchase at the park ($6 daily ski pass and $5 daily horse pass), by telephone (1-888-665-4236) or at any DNR-licensed facility (dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/agentlist.html).

Afton State Park

Description: Rugged, rolling landscape of 1,620 acres; trails follow prairie landscape, deep ravines and bluffs, overlooking scenic St. Croix River. Adjacent to Afton Alps ski area, popular downhill ski spot for the Twin Cities.

What to do: Hike, cross-country ski, ride horses, backpack, picnic, swim and camp. Visitor center. Contact: 651-201-6780, afton. statepark@state.mn.us; Group camp reservations: 866-857-2757

Location: 6959 Peller Ave. S., Hastings

William O’Brien State Park

Description: 1,653 acres of rolling, wooded hills along the banks of the St. Croix River.

What to do: Hiking, fishing for northerns, walleye, bass and trout, bird-watching, canoeing, snowshoeing, skiing and camping. Contact: 651-539-4980, williamobrien.statepark@state.mn.us

Location: 16821 O’Brien Trail N., Marine on St. Croix (12 miles north of Stillwater on State Highway 95)

Interstate State Park

Description: 298 acres along the scenic St. Croix River with spectacular views and a variety of recreational opportunities. Minnesota’s oldest state park was established in 1895 in a joint venture with Wisconsin Interstate Park directly across the St. Croix River, creating the first interstate park in the nation.