City: Maple Grove, MN

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (763) 694-7894

Address: 12400 James Dean Pkwy.

Description: The Elm Creek Park Reserve, located northwest of Osseo, is a beautiful and varied park and nature reserve. A swimming beach, creative play area, and a concession stand with volleyball, horseshoe, and bike rentals are located on the premises, and horse trails, cross-country ski trails, hiking trails, and bicycle paths interlace the park.The Eastman Nature Center includes displays giving a concise overview of the reserve’s habitat. From here hikers can go on self-guided tours ranging from wildflower walks to a trip through turtle country. If the displays don’t move you into the woods, the enthusiastic naturalists and creative courses (on tagging monarch butterflies, for example) offered will. On late afternoon weekend days in January and February, Eastman packs them in to view the white-tailed deer that come to feed.