A Minnesota hike close to the city and close to nature
Lebanon Hills Loop / Eagan, Minnesota: You don’t always have to travel far from civilization to feel surrounded by nature. (Thanks, urban planners, for thinking of people like me.)
A suburban park that offers a great hike for people with Parkinson’s is found in Eagan, Minnesota, south of St. Paul. Lebanon Hills Regional Park has well-maintained trails that take you through flora galora and give a well-into-the-woods feel.
The park is part of a much larger greenway system that goes for miles and miles, showcasing the lush loveliness of the Twin Cities area.
The Voyageur Trek hike
I tried out the park’s Northern Voyageur Trek trail, definitely doable for Parkinson’s hikers who are seeking smooth dirt paths and only a tiny bit of elevation.
The beauty of this 5-mile loop is that you can go as far as you want. Make it an out-and-back 2-miler instead, if that’s what you feel up to.
I went with several adults, including an 82-year-old family member who loves hiking (but who is even crazier for road biking). Our pace was medium to slow.
After parking we descended slowly about 40 feet on a paved path to the trailhead.
Once there, we got our bearings using the large, standing map, and then took a right to start the loop going counterclockwise.
Our hike was on a warm spring Saturday, so I feared the trails would be overrun with outdoor enthusiasts like us. Not so. There were many other hikers, but it never felt crowded.
The trail was mostly smooth, packed dirt with only an occasional embedded rock here and there.
One small portion was a bit overgrown with weeds.
Parkinson’s tip:
The trail is wonderfully smooth, but there’s always a chance of a root coming through, so look down every few steps.
Probably the largest uphill climb of the loop was an incline to a paved road, about 1.5 miles from the start.
The trail’s total elevation gain is 100 feet, but it doesn’t happen all at once, which is nice.
We followed the road for about five minutes before it joined the dirt trail again.
After about 2 miles we found ourselves going around one of the larger lakes.
The greens of the leaves and blues of the lake reflecting the sky made for one of nature’s best color combos.
There were a few of these boardwalks. I imagine they could be slippery when wet.
Parkinson’s tip:
The trails are wide enough to walk side-by-side, but the wooden walkways may require single-file walking. Stay close to a partner if you fear getting wobbly.
Maps are strategically placed so you can track your location and change your plans if your legs start complaining.
Directional posts are plentiful. I was impressed with the brilliant numbering system used throughout the park.
Parkinson’s tip:
Make sure you or someone you are with knows how to read and interpret a trail map.
We felt lucky there were so few of our buzzing “friends” around us. Minnesota is known for bugs, but perhaps the sunshine — or the time of year — kept them away.
We chose to head back early rather than finish the entire loop. Our estimated distance: 4 miles. It took us about an hour and 45 minutes.
One upgrade on the Northern Voyageur Trek loop that I’d like to see is a few more benches along the way. There were only a few places to sit down and enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of this beautiful preserve.
And to rest, of course!
How far are you willing to travel for a great hike?
Hike info
PD difficulty level (see chart): Easy to Moderate, depending on length of route you choose
Distance: 5.2 mile loop
Elevation gain: 100 feet
Location: 860 Cliff Road, Eagan, Minnesota
Bathrooms: yes, at trailhead
Emergency support: within 5 miles
Costs: free
Road access: parking lot is close to trailhead
Insider tip: Bring bug spray, just in case.
