Carver Park (West) Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Fishing · Historical Significance · Lake · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This is a loop on established natural surface trails around the entire west side of Carver Park Reserve, part of the Three Rivers Park District. Starting from the Springview Trailhead (there are other trailheads available), it takes you south across open prairie lands, past the west side of Lundsten Lake, and then east through patches of forest to the parking lot at the King Waterbird Sanctuary. From there, it climbs north to an overlook, passes Lake 2, and circles west to Parley Lake under a thick forest canopy. After passing the lake, it takes you up to the trailhead. It's a great introduction to the landforms, ecosystems, wildlife, and wildflowers (in season) of central Minnesota.

Some of this trail is open to equestrian use; none of it is open to bicycles. The reserve has the usual toilet and drinking water facilities at the Springview, Parley Lake, and Grimm Road parking areas. More services are available in the town of Victoria to the south. The reserve is a 30 minute drive due west of Minneapolis International Airport.

From the parking lot and trailhead at the end of Springview Drive, follow the unpaved, grass-covered trail south past the west side of Lundsten Lake and a rest area and bench to the southwest corner of the reserve.

The trail now turns due east and follows along the reserve's southern boundary to the parking lot and trailhead at the King Waterbird Sanctuary. A short side trail here will take you to a viewing area on the SE side of Lundsten Lake which holds migrating waterfowl in season.

After a short run north on gravel Carver Park Road, the natural surface trail resumes again, going first due west and then climbing due north to a viewing platform overlooking Lundtsen Lake. From here the natural surface trail continues north, crosses a paved trail, and continues north to a crossing of another paved trail and Grimm Road north of Lake 2.

North of Lake 2, the natural surface trail continues north to the northern boundary of the reserve, which it follows west for about 0.6 mi before turning south to another crossing of Grimm Road (the Grimm Farm Historic site is just east of here), followed by a run along the east shore of Parley Lake and then a short climb to the Springview Trailhead.

In season, you may see trumpeter swans, osprey, mink, white-tailed deer, barred owls and a variety of waterfowl and songbirds.

The reserve has the Grimm Farm Historic Site. The seed-saving practices of the Grimm family were responsible for the development of the first winter-hardy alfalfa in North America. This new source of animal feed lead directly to the creation of the Dairy Belt.