Quarry Hill Park
Park
248 acres7.4 mi of trail
Quarry Ruins TrailWoodland TrailSavanna TrailWinter Sports Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Photo: cjohnson7 · CC BY 2.0A−Outdoors
Outdoors in Rochester
97% of residents live within a half mile of a park in Rochester
The biggest trail networks: Quarry Hill Park (7.4 mi), Willow Creek Reservoir Park (3 mi), Essex Park (3 mi). 3,724 acres are parks and preserves, 30 per 1,000 residents. 34 miles of mapped trail cross Rochester, 0.6 per square mile of land.
Ahead of 81% of U.S. towns · #102 of 274 in Minnesota. What drives it
Conserved land
4%
1,492 acres · of 56.8 sq mi of land
Trails
34 mi
0.6 per sq mi of land
Park land
3,724 ac
30 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
97%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
200 mi
43 mi lanes · 149 mi paths
Lakes & rivers
23
5 beaches
What kind of outdoors town is Rochester?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Rochester have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Rochester is ahead of 81% of U.S. towns, #102 of 274 in Minnesota. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; the share of residents near a park ranks highest, conserved land lowest.
A−
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Rochester’s overall grade.
Conserved land4% of the land · typical MN town 5% · U.S. 4%BTrails0.6 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (34 mi) · MN 0.5 · U.S. 0.4B+Park land30 acres of park per 1,000 residents (3,724 acres) · MN 24 · U.S. 13B+Parks close to home97% 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 81%
LessMore
Minnesota towns of 2,500+ (274)Ahead of 63%
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Rochester ranks #182 on Outdoors.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from B+ 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 Quarry Hill Park, with 7.4 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Willow Creek Reservoir Park
Park
196 acres3 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Cascade Meadows Wetlands
Park
114 acres1.8 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Gamehaven Reservoir Park
Managed by City of Rochester
299 acres1.1 mi of trail
3.5 Mile Border Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Parkwood Hills Park
Park
24 acres0.9 mi of trail
Stream TrailWinter Sports TrailDevil's Colon
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 115 parks & preserves
Quarry Hill Park248 acres · 7.4 mi of trail
DirectionsWillow Creek Reservoir Park196 acres · 3 mi of trail
DirectionsEssex Park167 acres · 3 mi of trail
DirectionsCascade Meadows Wetlands114 acres · 1.8 mi of trail
DirectionsFoster Arend Park53 acres · 1.2 mi of trail
DirectionsGamehaven Reservoir Park299 acres · 1.1 mi of trail · City of Rochester
DirectionsIndian Heights Park34 acres · 1.1 mi of trail
DirectionsParkwood Hills Park24 acres · 0.9 mi of trail
DirectionsJean & Carl Frank Canine Park9 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsNorthern Hills Prairie Park10 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsRecreation Center Park36 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsZumbro South Gardens28 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsThompson Mill Race Park16 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsNorthern Heights Park68 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsRiverview West Park45 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsSoldiers Field Memorial Park42 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsSilver Lake Park131 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsWoodside Park114 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsOlmsted County Fairgrounds59 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsZumbro South Park49 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsBaihly Meadows Park9 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Mayo Park5 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsYounge Park4 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Peace Plaza2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · City of Rochester
DirectionsCrescent Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Cascade Lake Park213 acres
DirectionsKR-6 Reservoir and Fox Trails (UNDEVELOPED)133 acres
Bear Creek Park127 acres
DirectionsGordon W Yeager Wildlife Management Area, South East Unit108 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsGordon W Yeager Wildlife Management Area, South West Tract105 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsMcQuillan Sports Complex82 acres
DirectionsSmekta Park60 acres
DirectionsDouglas State Trail58 acres
DirectionsEastwood Park54 acres
DirectionsFuad Mansour Sports Complex52 acres
DirectionsI.B.M. Park (Private)51 acres
DirectionsSchmidt Park44 acres · City of Rochester
DirectionsJohn Withers Sports Complex43 acres
DirectionsMayowood Corridor Park41 acres
Slatterly Park36 acres
DirectionsRochester Youth Baseball Complex36 acres
DirectionsRev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park34 acres
DirectionsGordon W Yeager Wildlife Management Area, North West Unit32 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsSummit Pointe Park29 acres
Kutzky Park26 acres
DirectionsNorthern Heights Village Park23 acres
Homestead Park22 acres
DirectionsJoyce Park22 acres
Badger Ridge Park22 acres
DirectionsLincolnshire Park20 acres
DirectionsSouthern Woods Park20 acres
DirectionsWeatherstone Park19 acres
Kings Run Park19 acres
Cook Park18 acres
DirectionsGirl Scouts17 acres
Rochester Youth Fastpitch Complex17 acres
DirectionsElton Hills Run Park13 acres
Ridge View Manor Park11 acres
Allendale Park11 acres
DirectionsManor Park11 acres
DirectionsWhite Oaks Park11 acres
DirectionsGordon W Yeager Wildlife Management Area, North East Unit10 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
South Pointe Park10 acres
DirectionsJudd Park9 acres
Plummer House9 acres
DirectionsFox Valley Park9 acres
Hart Farm Park8 acres
Viking Park8 acres
DirectionsDiamond Ridge West Park (UNDEVELOPED)7 acres
Lutheran Park7 acres
DirectionsHarvest View Park7 acres
DirectionsMorris Hills Park (UNDEVELOPED)7 acres
Northern Heights East Park7 acres
DirectionsBadger Hills Park7 acres
Goose Egg Park7 acres
DirectionsScenic Oak Park6 acres
North Park6 acres
Century Hills Park6 acres
DirectionsParkeside Park6 acres
DirectionsWedgewood Hills Park6 acres
Pinewood Hills Park (UNDEVELOPED)6 acres
Pine Ridge Estates Park6 acres
St. Mary's Park6 acres
DirectionsNachreiner Park6 acres
DirectionsMeadow Park5 acres
DirectionsEagle Ridge Park5 acres
DirectionsEmerald Hills Park5 acres
DirectionsStonehedge Estates Park4 acres
Elmcroft Park4 acres
Arborglen Park4 acres
DirectionsDiamond Ridge Park4 acres
Southern Hills Park4 acres
The Gardens Park4 acres
DirectionsGraham Arena Complex3 acres
DirectionsValleyside Estates Park3 acres
Meadow Park Estates Park3 acres
DirectionsCimarron Park3 acres
Pinewood Ridge Park3 acres
Northgate Park3 acres
Bamber Ridge Park3 acres
Mayowood Corridor County Park2 acres
Autumn Ridge Park2 acres
DirectionsGlendale Hills Park2 acres
Meadow Lakes Park2 acres
Central Park2 acres
DirectionsMohn Park2 acres
Dinah Olin Bird Sanctuary2 acres
DirectionsElton Hills Park1 acres
Whiting Lane Park1 acres
Directionsprivate park1 acres
DirectionsRolling Green Park1 acres
DirectionsMeadowbrook Park1 acres
Courtyard1 acres
Hazama Gateway Plaza1 acres
DirectionsFriendship Park1 acres
DirectionsWho protects it
1,492 conserved acres
4% of Rochester’s land. Who manages Rochester’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Town or city1,262 ac
State fish & wildlife187 ac
County40 ac
Private owners2 ac
Local Park · 1,304 acState Conservation Area · 187 ac
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon W. Yeager State Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 187 | Restricted |
| Zumbro Park Local Park | Town or city | 112 | Open |
| Woodside Park Local Park | Town or city | 108 | Open |
| Foster Arend Park Local Park | Town or city | 53 | Open |
| Smetka Park Local Park | Town or city | 53 | Open |
| Roy Watson Youth Sports Complex Local Park | Town or city | 53 | Open |
| Cascade Lake Park Local Park | Town or city | 48 | Open |
| Silver Lake Park East Local Park | Town or city | 41 | Open |
| Mayowood Corridor County Park Local Park | County | 40 | Open |
| Mcquillan Fields Local Park | Town or city | 39 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
232 places to go in Rochester
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Rochester
Cascade Lake BeachIn Cascade Lake Park
DirectionsJHELL Beach
DirectionsPlus 3 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Public pools in Rochester
Kiddie PoolIn Silver Lake Park
DirectionsPrivate Pool
DirectionsSilver Lake PoolIn Silver Lake Park
DirectionsPlus 2 public pools without a name on the map.
Playgrounds in Rochester
(private)
DirectionsAir Insanity
DirectionsBrookestone Park
DirectionsEmerald Hills PlaygroundIn Emerald Hills Park
DirectionsGreystone Tot Lot
DirectionsKidstruction (Opening soon)
DirectionsPlayground (Private)
DirectionsPlaygrounds (3)In Schmidt Park
Directions5 more playgrounds
Roy Sutherland PlaygroundIn Soldiers Field Memorial Park
DirectionsSky Zone
DirectionsThree LinksIn Silver Lake Park
DirectionsTot LotIn Southern Woods Park
DirectionsTot LotIn South Pointe Park
Directions193 playgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Dog parks in Rochester
3 dog parks without a name on the map.
Scenic views in Rochester
Quarry Hill (East Hill)In Quarry Hill Park
DirectionsQuarry Hill (Oak Savanna)In Quarry Hill Park
DirectionsQuarry Hill (Southwest)In Quarry Hill Park
DirectionsQuarry Hill (West)In Quarry Hill Park
DirectionsSkyline View
DirectionsWood Lake Beach
DirectionsPlus 4 scenic views without a name on the map.
Picnic areas in Rochester
IBMIn I.B.M. Park (Private)
DirectionsRiverside Picnic AreaHours: sunrise-sunset · In Soldiers Field Memorial Park
DirectionsPlus 10 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Rochester
Camp GroundsIn Olmsted County Fairgrounds
DirectionsPlus 1 campground without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Disc golf in Rochester
Driftless 18In Gamehaven Reservoir Park · City of Rochester
DirectionsDriftless 9In Gamehaven Reservoir Park · City of Rochester
DirectionsTrails & water
11 named trails and 23 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 4.5 miUnpaved · 21.4 mi
Quarry Ruins Trail1.7 mi
Woodland Trail1.7 mi
Winter Sports Trail1.4 mi
Savanna Trail1.3 mi
Stream Trail0.5 mi
Pond/Prairie Trail0.5 mi
3.5 Mile Border Trail0.3 mi
Silver Creek Trail0.3 mi
Reservoir Drive Southwest0.1 mi
Devil's Colon0.1 mi
1 more trails
Walking path
0.1 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Autumn LakeBamber LakelakeCascade LakelakeCascade Meadow LakelakeFoster Arend LakelakeFreshman PondpondGamehaven ReservoirlakeInterlachen LakelakeKR-6 Reservoir (PROPOSED)reservoirLake GeorgelakeManorwoods LakelakeMayo LakelakeRegatta BaySilver LakeTiffany CoveTraders Point LakeWaterford LakeWillow Creek ReservoirreservoirWood LakelakeBear CreekCascade CreekSilver CreekSouth Fork Zumbro River
Biking & sports
200 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
43 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
149 mi
off-road bike paths
7.8 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
89Baseball
74Tennis
67Soccer
25Basketball
16Volleyball
9Football
6Beach volleyball
6Tracks
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →13 places on the National Register, one a National Historic Landmark
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 9 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Mayowood Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1970
About itDr. William J. Mayo HouseBuilding · listed 1975
About itHenry S. Plummer HouseBuilding · listed 1975
About itToogood BarnsBuilding · listed 1975
About itRochester Public LibraryBuilding · listed 1980
About itChateau Dodge TheatreBuilding · listed 1980
About itRochester ArmoryBuilding · listed 1980
About itTimothy A. Whiting HouseBuilding · listed 1980
About itAvalon HotelBuilding · listed 1982
About itPill Hill Residential Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1990
About itDr. Donald C. Balfour HouseBuilding · listed 2004
About it1 more on the History page.
When to get out
The walking year in Rochester
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) | 9.2 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.7 | 15.5 | 15.2 | 14.0 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 9.6 | 8.9 |
| High (°F) | 24 | 28 | 41 | 56 | 69 | 78 | 82 | 79 | 73 | 59 | 42 | 29 |
| Rain (in) | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 5.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 3.7 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 1.2 |
January is the driest month (1.0 in) and July the warmest (highs of 82 °F). 5.4 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Rochester →
Next door
Rochester and its neighbors
Rochester has the most mapped trails of the 7 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Rochester34 miMarion Township14 miKalmar Township10 miHigh Forest Township2.9 miHaverhill Township2.3 miRochester Township2.2 miCascade Township0.0 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | 4% | 0.6 | 30 | 97% | A− |
| Cascade Township | under 1% | under 0.1 | 16 | 52% | C− |
| Rochester Township | 1% | 0.1 | 45 | 21% | C |
| Haverhill Township | 2% | 0.1 | 205 | 12% | C+ |
| Marion Township | 1% | 0.5 | 158 | 9% | C+ |
| High Forest Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Kalmar Township | under 1% | 0.3 | 537 | 30% | C+ |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Rochester
Where can I hike in Rochester?
The longest trail networks: Quarry Hill Park, 7.4 miles; Willow Creek Reservoir Park, 3 miles; Essex Park, 3 miles; Cascade Meadows Wetlands, 1.8 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Rochester is conserved land?
4% 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 Rochester’s trails?
Quarry Hill Park and Willow Creek Reservoir Park don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Rochester?
200 miles of bike routes are on the map: 43 of painted or protected lanes, 149 of off-road paths and 7.8 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Rochester?
8,038 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Rochester or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 3,724 of them inside the city line.
How much outdoors does Rochester have?
Ahead of 81% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #102 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 Rochester 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 →