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General Mills Nature Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 57 Google reviews · Running trail in Golden Valley, Minnesota · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from General Mills 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

Nature preserve with a short trail for exploring native plants and a habitat for monarch butterflies.

What runners say about General Mills Nature Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (57 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

“The trail is very short but there are a lot of beautiful birds you can see.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 6 mentions

“BEAUTIFUL and very peaceful and relaxing.”

Good paths that bring a little nature even with highways close by. Better this than another development, the paths are very nice tow walk.

★★★★★ — Timothy , Jul 2022

Great park for bird watching. The trail is very short but there are a lot of beautiful birds you can see.

★★★★★ — Urvashi , Aug 2021

Nice short trail with native flowers and plants around. In the summer you can see monarch butterflies.

★★★★★ — Alisa , Jul 2023

Nice short walking trail, lots of native plants and it is fun to watch it change with the seasons.

★★★★★ — Ashley , Apr 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 57 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.

🏞️ Scenic views 5 mentions

“The trail is very short but there are a lot of beautiful birds you can see.”

More trails like this →

🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 5 mentions

“BEAUTIFUL and very peaceful and relaxing.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at General Mills 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.
  • Phone(763) 512-2345

Hours

Monday 5 AM–10 PM
Tuesday 5 AM–10 PM
Wednesday 5 AM–10 PM
Thursday 5 AM–10 PM
Friday 5 AM–10 PM
Saturday 5 AM–10 PM
Sunday 5 AM–10 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 General Mills Nature Preserve

9201 Olson Mem Hwy, Golden Valley, MN 55427

Get directions

Running trails near Golden Valley

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

Brookview Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 475 reviews

Golden Valley, MN

ShadedLitScenicDog-friendly

This 33-acre public space offers playground equipment, trails & multiple sport courts & fields.

under a mile away

Westwood Hills Nature Center

4.8 ★★★★★ 971 reviews

St Louis Park, MN

BoardwalkScenic

160-acre nature park featuring prairie, forest & marsh areas, with trails & an educational center.

1.1 miles away

East Medicine Lake Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 786 reviews

Plymouth, MN

PavedScenic

Kids and adults like this park, with playground equipment, a lakeshore beach, picnic tables, and trails.

1.3 miles away

General Mills Research Nature Area

4.6 ★★★★★ 76 reviews

Golden Valley, MN

Paved

Quaint, wooded greenery with paved trails for walking and biking, plus a playground.

1.3 miles away

Golden Ridge Nature Area

4.9 ★★★★★ 9 reviews

Golden Valley, MN

1.3 miles away

Texa-Tonka Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 54 reviews

St Louis Park, MN

Scenic

Kid-friendly park with a playground, picnic areas, and trails.

2.0 miles away

All running trails in Golden Valley, 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.