Hidden gems: Nature preserves in South Saint Paul

Discover the city's hidden treasures—remarkable spots that are relatively undiscovered but offer exceptional experiences. Our selection criteria? A rating of 4.5 or higher with fewer than 150 reviews. Explore these lesser-known yet outstanding places that promise a delightful visit in South Saint Paul. This list contains 21 places from Nature preserve category.

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Drewiske Family Preserve image
1
Drewiske Family Preserve
Nature preserve
5.00 (5 reviews) (~27.9 km from centre)
Belwin Conservancy: Stagecoach Prairie image
2
Belwin Conservancy: Stagecoach Prairie
Hiking area
👍👍 Great grassy prairie flatland kinda style loop. No challenging inclines of any kind. It can be a quick stroll or as long of a walk as you want it to be trails ranging from 1-4 miles.
4.90 (48 reviews) (~19.65 km from centre)
Steve Michaud Park Conservation Area image
3
Steve Michaud Park Conservation Area
Nature preserve
👍👍 A nice walking path with people every so often it's not a packed place til you get over by the park and sports complex.
4.90 (26 reviews) (~27.06 km from centre)
Dodge Nature Center – Main Property image
4
Dodge Nature Center – Main Property
Nature preserve
👍👍 We moved to West St. Paul in May and immediately discovered this gem of a nature center! My wife found the center as she researched all the parks and recreational spots when we arrived and we have visited many times already just to take in the natural tranquility even though it's located in an urban...
4.80 (36 reviews) (~4.93 km from centre)
Lost Valley Prairie Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) image
5
Lost Valley Prairie Scientific and Natural Area (SNA)
Nature preserve
4.80 (23 reviews) (~19.47 km from centre)
Carpenter Nature Center: Wisconsin Campus image
6
Carpenter Nature Center: Wisconsin Campus
Nature preserve
4.80 (14 reviews) (~23.04 km from centre)
Kinnickinnic River Gorge & Delta State Natural Area image
7
Kinnickinnic River Gorge & Delta State Natural Area
Nature preserve
👍 Was a decent state park. You do need a state sticker to enter. Hiking trails. Picnic tables and restrooms where we went. Can see the water below which was pretty awesome. Not many people at all when we went here on a Wednesday. Was not my favorite state park but nonetheless nice.
4.70 (40 reviews) (~22.97 km from centre)
Cottage Grove Trailway Corridor image
8
Cottage Grove Trailway Corridor
City park
👍👍 Great place for a bike ride with a nice pond and beautiful prarrie
4.70 (35 reviews) (~8.81 km from centre)
Fish Creek Natural Area image
9
Fish Creek Natural Area
Nature preserve
👍👍 I don't really want to rate this. I would like to keep it the secret that it is. Great paved path thru some oak woods and restored prairie. A gem of a park in the heart of the Cities.
4.70 (34 reviews) (~3.13 km from centre)
Dodge Nature Center – Lilly Property image
10
Dodge Nature Center – Lilly Property
Nature preserve
👍 Take a lovely walk along the mown paths through grasses and woods. A nice spot with lots of wildflowers and aong birds. Note: parking is in the church lot and there are no restroom facilities.
4.70 (30 reviews) (~6.29 km from centre)
Woodbury Conservation Area image
11
Woodbury Conservation Area
Nature preserve
4.70 (11 reviews) (~26.2 km from centre)
Raven Lake Conservation Area image
12
Raven Lake Conservation Area
Nature preserve
👍👍 Used to have this place ‘all to myself’ back in the early 70’s. Now in an upscale housing tract. Still a nice place.
4.70 (6 reviews) (~29.47 km from centre)
Willow River Nature Center image
13
Willow River Nature Center
Nature preserve
👍👍 This place was totally beautiful and amazing! We will definitely be visiting there again. A family could spend all day there. My wife, kids and I all had a blast exploring all over the place. And I highly recommend water shoes.
4.60 (81 reviews) (~29.52 km from centre)
Blaine Preserve Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) image
14
Blaine Preserve Scientific and Natural Area (SNA)
Nature preserve
👍👍 Beautiful nature. According to the website, "This 63-acre preserve contains the best remaining example of a vast complex of wet prairies and rich fens that existed in association with the Anoka Sand Plain at the time of Minnesota's original land survey (circa 1850). Its biodiversity value is astound...
4.60 (22 reviews) (~29.7 km from centre)
Grey Cloud Dunes SNA image
15
Grey Cloud Dunes SNA
Nature preserve
👍👍 I have lived in St Paul Park for years and thought this was just a dog park. I hiked the whole thing circling around the eastside, loved it. The path coming out of the North parking lot went south and up and under the railroad tracks before winding down to the Mississippi river. fallowing the rive...
4.50 (92 reviews) (~12.46 km from centre)
Rudy Kraemer Nature Preserve image
16
Rudy Kraemer Nature Preserve
Nature preserve
👍 It’s a nice little nature area, tucked away. There is a paved access from one road to the other, kind of confused me. But the main trail is not paved, about a mile loop. It’s late summer now, so the grass is quite high so for much of the path there is limited visibility. However the bridge has a nic...
4.50 (78 reviews) (~26.07 km from centre)
Southwood Nature Preserve image
17
Southwood Nature Preserve
Nature preserve
👍👍 Well maintained paths through natural beauty! Walking quietly, see if you can see deer and owls! Just a block from where North Saint Paul borders Maplewood and Oakdale, where those communities also have some of their nature preserves almost bordering Southwood Nature Preserve!
4.50 (73 reviews) (~12.97 km from centre)
St. Croix Savanna Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) image
18
St. Croix Savanna Scientific and Natural Area (SNA)
Nature preserve
👍👍 Went on an impromptu hike here, and I would recommend wearing pants. I thought I saw poison ivy on the trail but I'm not sure. Its a short, easy hike to the spot that overlooks the river- such a great view! It took me a little less than an hour to make a leisurely hike to that point, snap a few p...
4.50 (57 reviews) (~23.62 km from centre)
Hastings Sand Coulee Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) image
19
Hastings Sand Coulee Scientific and Natural Area (SNA)
Nature preserve
4.50 (33 reviews) (~26.32 km from centre)
Kane Meadows Open Space image
20
Kane Meadows Open Space
Nature preserve
👍👍 It's a nice little pond that carries animals including but not limited to: Ducks, Geese, Cranes, Frogs,and Turtles. The area around the pond also has animals such as: Deer, Rabbit,and Foxes. I've also seen Muskrat and Beaver.
4.50 (21 reviews) (~29.54 km from centre)
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