HomeMinnesotaSauk Rapids › Bob Cross Nature Preserve

Bob Cross Nature Preserve

4.2 ★★★★☆ 110 Google reviews · Running trail in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Bob Cross Nature Preserve's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

ScenicQuiet

What runners say about Bob Cross Nature Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (110 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 3 mentions

“Beautiful views with a stand to watch the geese on the pond.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 8 mentions

“Great place for peaceful walks in nature although a few of the wooden bridges, ramps and platforms could use handrails and repairs.”

Great trail that is in a small area but feels like you could walk it for hours. Beautiful views with a stand to watch the geese on the pond. A lot of commercial buildings and the middle school can be seen from the trail.

★★★★☆ — Victor , Apr 2017

The Bob Cross Nature Preserve is tucked behind the Sartell Middle School. It’s a peaceful refuge right in Sauk Rapids. It’s a great area to walk and enjoy natural scenery without leaving town.

★★★★☆ — K , Dec 2020

It's a very nice and quiet park and the trails are really nice. I'm also in a wheelchair and it's fairly easy to get around on the trails.

★★★★☆ — Mike , Aug 2017

A nice park with walking paths located in the city of Sauk Rapids. There is a lookout deck where you can watch wildlife in the pond.

★★★★★ — Lisa , Jul 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 110 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 7 mentions

“Great place for peaceful walks in nature although a few of the wooden bridges, ramps and platforms could use handrails and repairs.”

More trails like this →

🏞️ Scenic views 4 mentions

“Beautiful views with a stand to watch the geese on the pond.”

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Plan your run at Bob Cross Nature Preserve

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • Websiteci.sauk-rapids.mn.us
  • Phone+1 320-258-5300
  • Social Facebook

Hours

Monday 5 am–11:59 pm
Tuesday 5 am–11:59 pm
Wednesday 5 am–11:59 pm
Thursday 5 am–11:59 pm
Friday 5 am–11:59 pm
Saturday 5 am–11:59 pm
Sunday 5 am–11:59 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Bob Cross Nature Preserve

Sauk Rapids, Minnesota

Get directions

Running trails near Sauk Rapids

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Lions Park

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under a mile away

Southside Park

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PavedScenic

Small park along the Mississippi River offering 2 fishing piers & a paved trail with water views.

under a mile away

Prairie Lane Park

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Sauk Rapids Municipal Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 304 reviews

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PavedShadedScenic

Shaded park with playgrounds, swings and well-maintained equipment, plus trails for hiking and biking.

1.2 miles away

Island View Park

4.1 ★★★★☆ 23 reviews

Sauk Rapids, MN

Scenic

1.6 miles away

Wilson Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 549 reviews

St Cloud, MN

ShadedScenicDog-friendly

Open park featuring a playground and a sand volleyball court, plus a dog park.

1.6 miles away

All running trails in Sauk Rapids, MN →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.