HomeMinnesotaWayzata › Wood-Rill Scientific and Natural Area (SNA)

Wood-Rill Scientific and Natural Area (SNA)

4.7 ★★★★★ 115 Google reviews · Running trail in Wayzata, Minnesota · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Wood-Rill Scientific and Natural Area (SNA)'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.

ScenicDog-friendlyHillyTrailhead parkingQuiet

Quiet-preserved park featuring miles of trails for hiking, dog walking and nature viewing.

What runners say about Wood-Rill Scientific and Natural Area (SNA)

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (115 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 11 mentions

“The old glacier lake is beautiful and it’s a wonderful little place to get away for a bit.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 5 mentions

“Amazing fall colors, old growth maple basswood forest, off the beaten path, and quiet.”

🐕 dog-walking favorite 3 mentions

“Went with my dog (on leash allowed) and loved the old growth forest, quaint trails, and wild turkeys.”

Beautiful. Trails are unmarked but well trodden. There doesn't seem to be an official entrance but if you Google search "917 Old Long Lake Rd. Long Lake, MN" the resulting map will pinpoint a gravel driveway leading up to a small parking area shown in these images.

★★★★☆ — Jonathan , Oct 2020

Hidden Gem! Worth taking a hike on these trails if you are in the area. I am guessing the fall season will bring awesome colors to this spot!

★★★★★ — Opt , Sep 2021

A wonderful place to see old growth forest near the cities. It must look wonderful once the leaves come in, but I visited in early April and it was very sparse and open without the vegetation. Google Maps takes you to the parking lot, and you cross the street to get into the SNA.

★★★★★ — A , Apr 2022

Good morning I spend wonderful hillside around wood-Rill Nature Reserve so I found some cache from geocaching - this infromation is for you to read - The name given to this natural area by the Daytons (who gifted this land to MN) - Wood-Rill - originates in a line of poetry by Wordsworth, a rill being a brook or small…

★★★★☆ — Mick , Apr 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 115 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.

🐕 Dog-friendly 12 mentions

“If you have a dog, be careful - though they are supposed to be on a leash, many people let their dogs roam free whether or not they are well-behaved.”

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🏞️ Scenic views 11 mentions

“The old glacier lake is beautiful and it’s a wonderful little place to get away for a bit.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 5 mentions

“Long Lake, MN" the resulting map will pinpoint a gravel driveway leading up to a small parking area shown in these images.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 5 mentions

“Amazing fall colors, old growth maple basswood forest, off the beaten path, and quiet.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 4 mentions

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Plan your run at Wood-Rill Scientific and Natural Area (SNA)

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.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitemndnr.gov
  • Phone+1 651-259-5800
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

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 Wood-Rill Scientific and Natural Area (SNA)

917 Old Long Lake Rd, Wayzata, MN 55391

Get directions

Running trails near Wayzata

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

Dakota Trailhead

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Luce Line Trailhead (Plymouth/Vicksburg Lane)

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MixedShadedScenicDog-friendly

Quiet park featuring bike trails and kid-friendly hiking options.

3.0 miles away

Heather Ponds Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 50 reviews

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Shaded

Park with picnic tables and a playground, as well as basketball.

3.1 miles away

Maple Creek Park

4.1 ★★★★☆ 19 reviews

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3.3 miles away

Parkers Lake Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 566 reviews

Plymouth, MN

Scenic

Lakefront recreation area known for swimming & ice skating, plus trails, picnics & a playground.

3.6 miles away

Gro Tonka Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 81 reviews

Wayzata, MN

Shaded

Shady, quiet recreational area set on a hill and featuring picnic tables and playground equipment.

3.7 miles away

All running trails in Wayzata, 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.