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Westwood Hills Nature Center
4.8 ★★★★★ 971 Google reviews · Running trail in St Louis Park, Minnesota · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Boardwalk
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Westwood Hills Nature Center'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.
160-acre nature park featuring prairie, forest & marsh areas, with trails & an educational center.
What runners say about Westwood Hills Nature Center
“The rental space is always clean and organized and the staff is very accommodating.”
“My husband and I had our wedding reception at this beautiful location almost 3 years ago on May 20th.”
“The floating boardwalks make for am immersive and peaceful experience.”
“The nature themed playground was so fun and had equipment for all ages.”
Hidden gem. New, well-designed nature center and set of trails around a small lake and wetland. Tucked in among the residential neighborhoods of the first ring suburb and backing up against the (reasonably well-hidden) I-394 corridor, it was an unexpected island of peace on a weekday morning.
I love this place. 🥰 I used to live nearby and I loved to run and walk. The floating boardwalks make for am immersive and peaceful experience. There are a few different sets of stairs going to picnic areas etc ... Sometimes I to like to run up and down as part of my workout.
This nature center is tucked in away in a neighborhood. It has an amazing indoor space to explore, an adorable playground and picnic area. There are walking and hiking trails to explore the grounds. They had a story stroll setup on our visit. Highly recommend for all families with kids of all ages!
So many beautiful walking paths, super fun and interactive education center, and a playground! Lots of fun for everyone. Plus you get to see some real wildlife, too! Two times I have been and seen real deer not too far from the walking paths.
Trail conditions & character
“My husband and I had our wedding reception at this beautiful location almost 3 years ago on May 20th.”
“The trails were great and the boardwalk were also very well maintained.”
“I would greatly recommend Westwood Hills for anyone whether it be a wedding reception, a birthday party or a corporate event.”
“Parking is usually plentiful but can fill up midday on weekends; there is street parking in that event.”
“The floating boardwalks make for am immersive and peaceful experience.”
“The restrooms are clean with many stalls, even in the women's restroom.”
Plan your run at Westwood Hills Nature Center
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
- 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.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- Websitestlouisparkmn.gov
- Phone(952) 924-2544
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM–4:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM–4:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–4:30 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–4:30 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–4:30 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM–5 PM |
| Sunday | 10 AM–5 PM |
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