Hyland Lake Park Reserve

It’s a scenic retreat in the heart of Bloomington. Hyland Lake Park offers breathtaking prairie landscapes and a major body of water as well as a large play area, the Richardson Nature Center, Hyland Hills Ski Area, an 18-hole disc golf course and a three-hole disc golf practice area. With so much to do, this park has endless opportunities for outdoor fun.

Hyland PDF Maps

Invasive Species Work

Emerald ash borer, a serious invasive pest that kills ash trees, has been found in this park. We are actively monitoring and managing this situation by removing and replacing infected trees. There will be significant tree removal in this park and you may see signs about the work we're doing. Learn more about the emerald ash borer and our management of the invasive species.

Things To Do

Bike Trail

Biking

Biker on paved trail

8.6 miles of trails

Winding through woodlands and a restored tall-grass prairie, miles of paved trails are connected in loops with a spur to Richardson Nature Center. The trails also connect to municipal trails outside of the park making connections for recreation and commuting.

Boat Launch

Boating

Rental boat at shore

84 acres of water

Launch your non-motorized boat on Hyland Lake. No wake allowed. A boat trailer parking pass is required. Canoe, kayak and paddleboat rentals are available most of the summer. Call for boat rental hours.

Campground

Camping

Campfire and tent

A group campsite with shelter is located south of the Visitor Center. Reservations are required.

Cross-Country Skiing

Cross-country Skiing

Friends lined up for a ski lesson

9.5 miles of trails

During the winter, trails are groomed daily for classic and skate skiing. Five miles of trails are lit and over three miles have snowmaking, which guarantees extended hours of skiing each day and a longer season. Trails may close occasionally, so check the trail conditions before you head out. A daily or annual Three Rivers cross-country ski pass is required. Trails begin at the visitor center.

Ski Rentals

Cross-country ski sets can be reserved up to seven days in advance as trail conditions allow; same-day reservations are available. Reservations can be made online (classic skis or skate skis) or over the phone by calling 763-559-6700. Due to limited equipment and indoor capacity, reserving equipment prior to arriving is highly encouraged.

 

Disc Golf

Disc Golf

Disc golf basket and hillside

18 holes

The premier 27-hole disc golf course at Hyland Hills Ski Area offers challenging elevations, tremendous scenery and fantastic amenities. The stunning Twin Cities skyline backdrops an 18-hole tournament course, as well as a nine-hole course. Both feature climbs and descents over ski slopes. An annual or daily pass is required. There is a three-hole practice area near the Visitor Center, which is free to use.

Dog Trails - On Leash

Dog Trails

A man walks two dogs on leashes on a paved trail.

Nine miles of trails

Three Rivers offers abundant scenery for you and your dog to enjoy year round, with paved, turf, regional and skijoring/dog sledding trails that are dog-friendly. Dogs must be on a six-foot non-retractable leash unless in a designated dog off-leash area. Owners must pick-up after their dogs.

Downhill Ski Area

Downhill & Telemark Skiing

Skier in slalom gates

Hyland Hills Ski Area features some of the best snowmaking and grooming in the Midwest. Progressive and innovative downhill features challenge and thrill all snowboarders and skiers from beginners to experts. The SnowSports Academy is one of the finest in the country, teaching thousands of lessons each season for every level of skier or rider. The new full-service chalet opened in 2015.

Fishing / Fishing Pier

Fishing

Kids with fish

88 acres of water

An accessible fishing pier is located on Hyland Lake near the Visitor Center. Anglers must have a valid Minnesota fishing license.

Geocaching

Geocaching

Two girls using a GPS unit

Geocaching is a family-friendly, high-tech treasure hunt that combines respect for the environment with a sense of adventure.

Hiking

Hiking

Hiker on wooded trail

17.8 miles of trails

Winding through woodlands and a restored tall-grass prairie, turf hiking trails span from Richardson Nature Center in the north to the Visitor Center in the south. Miles of paved trails come alive with hikers and bikers in the summer.

Please note: In winter, hiking on cross-country ski trails is not permitted.

Fall Hiking – Lighted Trails

Hike under the lights in fall. The Lake Trail at Hyland has lights on until 9 PM until winter trail operations begin (typically after 2–3 inches of snowfall). 

Nature Education

Nature Education

Kids observing bee hive

Learn about the natural world, the plants and the animals, at Richardson Nature Center. Attend one of many public programs with your family or preschooler. Send your children to a summer camp they will remember. Professional naturalists can customize programs for your school, scout troop, adult group, homeschool or birthday party.

Paddling

Paddling

Children paddling kayaks on lake

84 acres of water

Launch your non-motorized boat on Hyland Lake. Canoe, kayak, paddleboat and stand-up paddleboard rentals are available most of the summer.

Watercraft rentals are available from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day every year. Online reservations are required.

Picnic Area

Picnic Areas

Couple enjoying picnic on a hillside

The Hyland Recreation Area offers picnic areas in beautiful, natural settings with facilities and services to make your day enjoyable and memorable. The picnic area totals 29 acres; approximately 10 acres are for reservations only.

Play Area

Play Areas

hyland lake play area

Closed for the season

The award-winning creative play area includes numerous climbing and sliding structures to engage all elements of healthy movement. A designated accessible play area with sliding, swinging and climbing equipment is designed for children ages four and younger. Open mid-April to October, pending seasonal conditions. Reservations are required for all buses and commercial vehicles.

Sledding

Sledding

girl sledding on her stomach with her arms extended like an airplane

It’s easy to feel like a kid again in Three Rivers, where you'll find some of the best sledding hills in town. Just bundle up and grab a sled for hours of exhilarating fun.

Snowboarding

Snowboarding

a snowboarder in the air with chairlifts in the background

Hyland Hills Ski Area features some of the best snowmaking and grooming in the Midwest. Progressive and innovative downhill features challenge and thrill all snowboarders and skiers from beginners to experts. The SnowSports Academy is one of the finest in the country, teaching thousands of lessons each season for every level of skier or rider.

Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing

Snowshowers in the woods

Five miles of trails

The snowshoe trails are located at Richardson Nature Center and the recreation area. Please note: Snowshoeing is not permitted on cross-country ski trails unless otherwise noted.

Snowshoes can be reserved up to seven days in advance from Richardson Nature Center as snow conditions allow. Reservations can be made online or over the phone by calling 763-559-6700. Advanced reservations are required.

Upcoming Events

Throughout March | Multiple Locations
Attend a maple syrup festival, learn to make your own syrup, discover maple sugaring and more!

Ongoing | Multiple Locations
Search for signs of spring with us!

Ongoing | Multiple Locations
Explore nature through hands-on activities! 

All Programs & Events

Quietly paddle Hyland Lake, take a cross-country ski lesson, get fit outdoors with the GreenFit Club or browse other happenings offered at Hyland Lake Park Reserve. 

With picnic areas, Richardson Nature Center, and the newly renovated Chalet, Hyland Lake Park Reserve offers fantastic indoor and outdoor venues for group events.

More About Hyland

Hyland Lake Park Reserve is part of a larger system recognized as “Hyland-Bush-Anderson Lakes Park Reserve.” The entire 2,565-acre complex is managed by the City of Bloomington and Three Rivers Park District. The City of Bloomington operates the Bush Lake and Normandale Lake facilities, while Three Rivers operates the Hyland and Anderson Lakes facilities. The two agencies work together to coordinate regional trails in the area.

Within the Anderson Lakes unit, there are two areas known as Anderson Lakes in Eden Prairie and Tierney’s Woods in Bloomington. Each provide parking and offer turf hiking trails to explore the spectacular vistas in the heart of our metropolitan area, as well as encounter abundant wildlife.

Natural Resources

Most native forests in the region were cleared for agriculture by the turn of the twentieth century. Three Rivers is committed to restoring these forests.

Volunteering

Three Rivers takes great care to preserve the natural beauty of this park through the efforts of the Natural Resources division. Volunteers are an important part of this work.

#threeriversparks

Related Blog Posts

July 25, 2023

Learn how Three Rivers Park District takes care of precious water resources.

June 07, 2023

Learn about the research Three Rivers conducts to help improve parks and trails for visitors and plan for the future from our research and evaluation analyst, Tyler Thompson.

In Review: Our Big Year of Birds in Numbers

By: Sam Safran & Steven Hogg & John Moriarty

May 23, 2023

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.

Related News

  • December 05, 2022

    Aerations systems are operating in several lakes in and near Three Rivers parks to help fish receive sufficient oxygen during the winter. Operation of the aeration systems may result in unsafe ice conditions on portions of the lakes for the duration of the winter.

  • November 18, 2022

    A Three Rivers interpretive naturalist stopped by Twin Cities Live with a broad-winged hawk and a bullsnake to talk about the wildlife and outdoor opportunities at Richardson Nature Center in Hyland Park Reserve.

Similar Areas

Carver Park Reserve

7400 Grimm Road
Victoria, MN 55386
763-694-7650

Bryant Lake Regional Park

6800 Rowland Road
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
763-694-7764

Elm Creek Park Reserve

12400 James Deane Parkway
Maple Grove, MN 55369
763-694-7894