Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area
Park
123 acres3 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Photo: Appraiser at English Wikipedia · Public domainA+Outdoors
Outdoors in Eden Prairie
17% of Eden Prairie’s land is conserved, and 99% of residents live within a half mile of a park
17% of Eden Prairie’s land is conserved, about 3,546 acres. 37 miles of mapped trail cross Eden Prairie, 1.1 per square mile of land. 3,626 acres are parks and preserves, 58 per 1,000 residents.
Ahead of 97% of U.S. towns · #16 of 274 in Minnesota. What drives it
Conserved land
17%
3,546 acres · of 32.5 sq mi of land
Trails
37 mi
1.1 per sq mi of land
Park land
3,626 ac
58 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
99%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
142 mi
0.1 mi lanes · 142 mi paths
Lakes & rivers
24
3 beaches · 11 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Eden Prairie?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Eden Prairie have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Eden Prairie is ahead of 97% of U.S. towns, #16 of 274 in Minnesota. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; the share of residents near a park ranks highest, park acres per resident lowest.
A+
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Eden Prairie’s overall grade.
Conserved land17% of the land · typical MN town 5% · U.S. 4%ATrails1.1 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (37 mi) · MN 0.5 · U.S. 0.4A−Park land58 acres of park per 1,000 residents (3,626 acres) · MN 24 · U.S. 13A−Parks close to home99% of residents within a half mile of a park · MN 95% · U.S. 72%A
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 97%
LessMore
Minnesota towns of 2,500+ (274)Ahead of 95%
Water is 8% of Eden Prairie’s area (3 of 35 square miles), so every share here is of land; over land and water together, the conserved share would read 16%.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from A to A+. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area, with 3 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Bryant Lake Regional Park
Park
186 acres2.8 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Edenbrook Conservation Area
Park
254 acres2.4 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Riley Creek Conservation Area
Nature preserve
71 acres2.3 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto Riley Creek Woods Conservation Area
Anderson Lakes
Managed by Three Rivers Parks
464 acres1.2 mi of trail
Goldenrod TrailBlacklock Trail
Dogs allowed
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Cardinal Creek Conservation Area
Managed by Nine Mile Creek Watershed District
64 acres0.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Staring Lake Park
Park
403 acres0.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto Staring LakeWebsite ↗
All 34 parks & preserves
Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area123 acres · 3 mi of trail
DirectionsBryant Lake Regional Park186 acres · 2.8 mi of trail
DirectionsEdenbrook Conservation Area254 acres · 2.4 mi of trail
DirectionsRiley Creek Conservation Area71 acres · 2.3 mi of trail
DirectionsAnderson Lakes464 acres · 1.2 mi of trail · Three Rivers Parks
DirectionsCardinal Creek Conservation Area64 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Nine Mile Creek Watershed District
DirectionsRound Lake Park94 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
DirectionsStaring Lake Park403 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsPioneer Park18 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsMinnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge285 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsJames A. Brown Conservation Area70 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
Hidden Ponds Park23 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsMiller Park99 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsFlying Cloud Fields67 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsRiley Lake Park44 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsPurgatory Creek Park7 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsHomeward Hills Park39 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsWillow Park32 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsEdenvale Park7 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsSt Johns Play Area1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsRice Marsh Lake Park Preserve145 acres
DirectionsTimber Creek Conservation Area59 acres · Eden Prairie
Birch Island Park51 acres
DirectionsFranlo Park18 acres
DirectionsCrestwood Park12 acres
DirectionsPheasant Woods Park10 acres
DirectionsEden Valley Park9 acres
DirectionsWyndham Knoll Park6 acres
DirectionsCreekwood Park5 acres · City of Eden Prairie
DirectionsPrairie East Park4 acres
Rustic Hills Park4 acres
Sterling Field Park2 acres
Holasek Hill Park1 acres
Edgewood Park1 acres
DirectionsWho protects it
3,546 conserved acres
17% of Eden Prairie’s land. Water is left out: Eden Prairie has 32.5 square miles of land and 2.7 of water, so the share counts land only. Who manages Eden Prairie’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Town or city2,484 ac
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service710 ac
Regional agency705 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits24 ac
Local Conservation Area · 1,761 acLocal Park · 1,452 acNational Wildlife Refuge · 710 ac
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | 710 | Restricted |
| Anderson Lakes Park Reserve Local Conservation Area | Regional agency | 534 | Open |
| Edenbrook Conservation Area Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 233 | Open |
| Purgatory Creek Park Local Park | Town or city | 190 | Open |
| Bryant Lake Regional Park Local Park | Regional agency | 171 | Open |
| Staring Lake Park Local Park | Town or city | 165 | Open |
| Riley Creek Conservation Area Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 143 | Open |
| Edenvale Conservation Area Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 141 | Open |
| Lower Purgatory Creek Conservation Area Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 133 | Open |
| Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 121 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
112 places to go in Eden Prairie
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Eden Prairie
Bryant Lake Park Swimming BeachIn Bryant Lake Regional Park
DirectionsRound Lake BeachIn Round Lake Park
DirectionsPlus 1 beach without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Swimming spots in Eden Prairie
Round Lake Swimming AreaIn Round Lake Park
DirectionsPlus 1 swimming spot without a name on the map.
Public pools in Eden Prairie
Fountain Place Pool
DirectionsThe Preserve
DirectionsPlaygrounds in Eden Prairie
Bryant Lake PlaygroundIn Bryant Lake Regional Park
Directions66 playgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Dog parks in Eden Prairie
Bryant Lake Dog Off-leash AreaHours: 05:00-22:00;PH open · In Bryant Lake Regional Park
DirectionsFlying Cloud Dog Park
DirectionsSmall Frail Dog AreaHours: 05:00-22:00;PH open · In Bryant Lake Regional Park
DirectionsStaring Lake Park Off-Leash Dog Exercise AreaIn Staring Lake Park
DirectionsPlus 1 dog park without a name on the map.
Boat launches in Eden Prairie
11 boat launches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Fishing spots in Eden Prairie
1 fishing spot without a name on the map.
Scenic views in Eden Prairie
7 scenic views without a name on the map.
Picnic areas in Eden Prairie
14 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Community gardens in Eden Prairie
1 community garden without a name on the map.
Trails & water
2 named trails and 24 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 7.1 miUnpaved · 16.2 mi
Goldenrod Trail0.8 mi
Blacklock Trail0.2 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Birch Island LakeBryant LakeDog PondpondDuck LakelakeEden LakelakeGrass LakelakeHames Way PondpondHidden PondsKivimaki PondLake IdlewildlakeLake SmetanaMcCoy LakeMitchell LakelakeNW Anderson LakelakeNeill LakeRed Rock LakelakeRice LakeRice Marsh LakelakeRound LakelakeSW Anderson LakeStaring LakelakeWelch LakepondWest Duck LakeMinnesota River
Biking & sports
142 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
0.1 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
142 mi
off-road bike paths
Courts & fields
72Basketball
71Tennis
52Baseball
51Soccer
43Pickleball
11Volleyball
9Beach volleyball
5Football
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →3 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 1 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
When to get out
The walking year in Eden Prairie
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.1 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.8 | 15.6 | 15.3 | 14.0 | 12.5 | 10.9 | 9.5 | 8.8 |
| High (°F) | 23 | 28 | 41 | 56 | 69 | 79 | 83 | 80 | 72 | 58 | 41 | 28 |
| Rain (in) | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 2.9 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 3.3 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 1.1 |
January is the driest month (0.8 in) and July the warmest (highs of 83 °F). 4.8 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Eden Prairie →
Next door
Eden Prairie and its neighbors
Eden Prairie has the second most mapped trails of the 6 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eden Prairie | 17% | 1.1 | 58 | 99% | A+ |
| Shakopee | 11% | 0.7 | 30 | 98% | A |
| Minnetonka | 7% | 1.0 | 25 | 92% | A |
| Bloomington | 23% | 1.3 | 40 | 99% | A+ |
| Chanhassen | 11% | 1.5 | 71 | 99%+ | A+ |
| Edina | 12% | 1.7 | 25 | 99% | A |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Eden Prairie
Where can I hike in Eden Prairie?
The longest trail networks: Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area, 3 miles; Bryant Lake Regional Park, 2.8 miles; Edenbrook Conservation Area, 2.4 miles; Riley Creek Conservation Area, 2.3 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Eden Prairie is conserved land?
17% of its land, against a typical 5% for a Minnesota town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Eden Prairie’s trails?
OpenStreetMap records dogs as welcome at Anderson Lakes. For the rest, check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Eden Prairie?
142 miles of bike routes are on the map: 0.1 of painted or protected lanes and 142 of off-road paths.
Is there public land near Eden Prairie?
40,917 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Eden Prairie or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 3,626 of them inside the city line.
How much outdoors does Eden Prairie have?
Ahead of 97% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #16 of 274 in Minnesota. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Eden Prairie neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →