Crow-Hassan Park Reserve
Located on the Crow River, this park offers an uninterrupted expanse of peaceful wilderness. Among the scenery, the restored prairie is a year-round attraction for its ever-changing color palette. Miles of trails wind through the park reserve and give an opportunity to spot wildlife like deer, fox, coyotes, trumpeter swans, hawks and bald eagles. Scenic trails and group campsites that accommodate horses make this park a popular destination for horseback riders.
5 AM–10 PM
Interactive Map of Crow-Hassan
Crow-Hassan PDF Maps
Things To Do
Camping
Crow-Hassan offers a great escape into nature. The Blue Stem and Riverbend group camps can accommodate horses.
Cross-country Skiing
2.6 miles of trails
Ungroomed/packed multi-use trails offer a serene and isolated experience. The 2.6 miles of trails vary from flat to rolling prairie to hilly woods challenging all outdoor enthusiasts. Make sure to check the trail conditions. Restrooms are at the trailhead and at the outermost area of the perimeter loop.
Dog Off-leash
40 Unfenced Acres
A 40-acre, unfenced dog off-leash area provides lots of space for Fido to run. Daily or annual pass is required. Owners must pick-up after their dogs.
Dog Trails
10 miles of trails
The park has 10 miles of trail designated for dog walking during the summer months and nearly three miles for winter walking. Dogs must be on a six-foot, non-retractable leash and owners must pick-up after their dog.
Geocaching
Geocaching is a family-friendly, high-tech treasure hunt that combines respect for the environment with a sense of adventure. This activity involves placing or looking for a cache using global positioning system (GPS) equipment.
Hiking
18 miles of hiking
Crow-Hassan has one of the most extensive turf trail systems for multi-use activities in all of Three Rivers' parks. Nearly 18 miles are designated for summer hiking and almost 10 miles are designated during the winter.
Horseback Riding
15.3 miles of trails
Crow-Hassan Park Reserve is known for its extensive horseback riding trails - come for the day or spend the night at a drop-in or reservation group camp. The park includes over 15 miles of summer trails that take riders through the reestablished tall grass prairie and along the scenic Crow River. There are nearly five miles of winter trails in the interior of the park with scenic vistas. Check the Horseback Riding page for trail status updates. Three Rivers does not rent horses.
Paddling
A carry-in/out boat access provides access for paddling the scenic Crow River. Paddlers are encouraged to check flow rates of the river.
Skijoring & Dog Sledding
2.6 miles of trails
Ungroomed/packed multi-use trails offer a serene and isolated experience. The 2.6 miles of trails vary from flat to rolling prairie to hilly woods challenging all outdoor enthusiasts. Restrooms are at the trailhead and at the outermost area of the perimeter loop.
Snowmobiling
Nearly six miles of trail provides links through the park along the eastern boundary to state Grants-in-Aid snowmobile trails. Snowmobile trailer parking is available at the park. A daily or season trailer parking pass is required.
Snowshoeing
1.5 miles of trails
Ungroomed/packed multi-use trails offer a serene and isolated experience. The 1.5 miles of trails vary from flat to rolling prairie to hilly woods challenging all outdoor enthusiasts. Restrooms are at the trailhead and at the outermost area of the perimeter loop.
All Programs & Events
See all upcoming programs and events at Crow-Hassan.
Over 50 Years of Prairie Restoration
In 2019, Three Rivers Park District celebrated 50 years of prairie restoration, and it all started with Crow-Hassan Park Reserve. What began in the fall of 1969 as less than 20 acres of grasses has turned into an important ecosystem that supports a large diversity of animals, insects, and plants.
Today, with almost 100 wildflowers, Crow-Hassan contains one of the most diverse restored prairies in the state. Uncommon plants such as puccoon, pasque flower and prairie violet grow successfully in Crow-Hassan, while attempts at other locations have not been successful.
These lands aren’t just a refuge for plants. Bullsnakes, plains hog-nosed snakes, and more recently regal fritillary butterflies have been successfully reintroduced in the park. All the birds you would expect in a prairie can be found, including sandhill cranes and the endangered Henslow’s sparrow. Other threatened and endangered species found in the park include the rusty patched bumblebee and Blanding’s turtle.
Explore this wonderful resource on your own, at a special program this summer or by volunteering for a prairie seed collection to support restoration efforts in other parks. Learn more about prairie restoration in Three Rivers.
Crow-Hassan Master Plan
The Crow-Hassan Master Plan was adopted in January 2021. See the full plan.
Natural Resources
Prairie Restoration
Three Rivers' started re-planting prairies in 1969 and has restored approximately 1,600 acres of prairie habitat. Crow-Hassan has over 840 acres of restored prairie.
We take great care to preserve the natural beauty of this park through the efforts of our Natural Resources division. Volunteers are an important part of this work.
Trails That Connect
#threeriversparks
Related Blog Posts
2024: Three Rivers Parks’ Big Year of Bugs
By: John Moriarty
Join us throughout the year to learn more about the insect world and what makes these creatures fascinating and awe-inspiring.
In Review: Our Big Year of Birds in Numbers
By: Sam Safran & Steven Hogg & John Moriarty
Learn about the number of birds and types of birds observed during our 2022 Big Year of Birds! Our natural resources experts dive into the data logged by park visitors.
Creating a Healing Space in Nature: A Q&A with Innovative SOULutions’ Farji Shaheer
By: Amanda Fong & Farji Shaheer
Learn how outdoor recreation has helped nurture healing in victims of gun violence in this Q&A with Farji Shaheer, founder and director of Three Rivers’ partner organization Innovative SOULutions.
Related News
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Three Rivers Park District is now conducting prescribed burns and will continue until early June. Learn more about where burns take place, why they happen, and how they are managed.
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Learn about the important work happening to eradicate the invasive vine Oriental bittersweet.
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Get a behind-the-scenes look at how small seeds can have a big impact on prairie habitat.
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Read the Star Tribune's coverage of how the prairie at Crow-Hassan Park Reserve came to be and why it's important.
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KARE 11's Hitting the Trails series highlights Three Rivers Parks.
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