And then there’s Fort Snelling State Park, which provides an oasis of wilderness in the heart of the Twin Cities metropolitan area, but can’t be accurately described as secluded or serene.
Your first indication of how close the park is to all that makes Minneapolis / St. Fun and exciting Paul is a “birding guide” stationed near the park’s sprawling beach. Instead of sparrows, swallows, and the like, the guide will tell you the difference between a Boeing 747 heading for Europe and a short-haul turboprop bound for International Falls. The park sits in the floodplain where the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers converge, and is literally next to Minneapolis / St. Paul International Airport, which means you are as likely to see and hear airliners as you are to see birds.
At the far northeast of the park is Pike Island, named after Zebulon Pike, who was the most important among the military who “discovered†the confluence of the two rivers in September 1805. Although it is folly to claim discovering an area that the natives had called home for centuries before. Pike also got his name on a notable peak in Colorado’s Front Range, so apparently he was a big deal over 200 years ago.
So much happened in this part of Minnesota that the term “Fort Snelling” is used today for this park, for the nearby historic site, for the old military base, for the light rail station. Metro Transit nearby and to the golf course and recreational facilities there too.
Snelling Lake, inside Fort Snelling State Park, has a public beach and swimming area which is a popular spot to beat the heat in the summer. Contribution / Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Depending on the time of day, Pike Island and Picnic Island lie partially in the shadow of the towering Mendota Bridge, one of the main thoroughfares in this part of the Twin Cities. Thus, the ambient noise of cars and trucks passing overhead adds to the general feeling of activity.
One of the most popular activities for park visitors is a hike around Pike Island. From the parking lot near the Fort Snelling Visitor Center to the tip of the island, where the muddy waters of Minnesota and the clearer waters of the Mississippi meet, it’s nearly two miles along a wide sandy path shaded by towering oaks and poplars, and with the occasional barge or sightseeing cruise by paddle boat. It’s still about a mile and a half to your car, but there are two shorter trails on the island for those who aren’t up for the entire round trip. In winter, it is also a popular cross-country ski loop. If you are visiting in the spring, check with the park office before you hike, as swollen rivers often mean parts of the trail are closed.
The park also offers river access for towed boats (with ample parking) and take-out access for canoes and kayaks. It should be noted that hiking here any time of the year, as long as the rivers are ice free you will see friendly people fishing in all weather conditions and almost all temperatures.
Fort Snelling State Park.
Notable nearby
Minnesota’s most urban state park isn’t just next door to the state’s largest airport, it’s also steps away from the nation’s most renowned retail experience. Those hungry and thirsty after a summer hike around Pike Island must drive less than five minutes to reach the many dining, drinking and shopping options at the Mall of America, which has two full-scale food courts, dozens of places to get a cold drink, and even some upscale restaurants to suit all palates. And if the hike has reminded you that an upgraded pair of boots is in order, they also have plenty of places to purchase shoes.
Series of 20 stages of Forum Communications in 2021.
