Two spots you want to hike at near Mankato, Minnesota!

Washington Regional Park- Kasota, Minnesota

Minnesota is covered with beautiful places to hike. I love to find gems that we all love, including the kids! We visited Washington Regional Park a few years ago and loved it. A few weeks ago, I decided to meander that direction and see what it looked like now. Pleasantly surprised, we were met with a whole new walking area. Not only are the paths in this area paved, but they also have natural play areas that represent different animals and their habitats. My kids LOVED this! This park is a perfect mix of several different landscapes: prairie, woods, and farmland. While visiting, we brought along the kid’s bikes and scooters and they loved biking/scootering while we walked behind.

Throughout the walk, there were many different areas to explore. The kids loved going into the woods and finding the lake. They also, loved the beautiful bridge which happened to be the oldest covered bridge in Minnesota. We ended our time at Washington Regional Park at the two parks that are by the campground. This is a great park to take a hike, bike ride, or just go to experience some nature.

Seven Mile Creek- St. Peter, MN

This is one of those places that holds a special spot in my heart. We met my parents here for a socially distant date a few months into the pandemic. It had been since before the pandemic started that we had seen them and so many emotions flood back to me when I think of Seven Mile Creek Park. I think that’s one of my favorite things about taking adventures is that you never know which place you visit will hold special spots in your heart.

Located right off Highway 169 between Mankato and St. Peter, this stunning park sits. Boasting two wonderful playgrounds for kids, several stunning bridges, a beautiful creek, many spots to stop and picnic, and countless miles of hiking trails, this is a park that you won’t want to miss. We have hiked many times here and yet, always seem to find a new trail or spot to explore each time. If you’re looking for a spot to see beautiful fall foliage, this park is a great location to watch the leaves change and fall. There is plenty of time to still get out and enjoy the fall weather, so plan a trip to either or both of these parks to soak up nature!