Take your next meal outside! With more than 80 parks across St. Louis Park and Golden Valley, the perfect picnic spot is always nearby. Here are some of our favorite places to enjoy a picnic in the Minneapolis area.
Quick List: Best Picnic Spots in St. Louis Park and Golden Valley
- Wolfe Park – lakeside trails and picnic shelters
- Westwood Hills Nature Center – scenic nature preserve picnic area
- Minnehaha Creek Preserve – peaceful creekside picnic benches
- Oak Hill Park – family-friendly park with shelters and grills
- Lilac Park – historic park with a famous beehive fireplace
- Brookview Park – Golden Valley’s largest park with scenic ponds
- Lakeview Park – quiet neighborhood picnic spot
- Theodore Wirth Regional Park – large regional park with lakeside picnic areas
Picnic Spots in St. Louis Park
Wolfe Park
Wolfe Park is one of the most popular parks in St. Louis Park, and it has everything you need for a relaxing afternoon picnic. The park features two picnic shelters with plenty of picnic tables, making it easy to gather with family and friends.
After your meal, explore the park’s many amenities, including a large playground, basketball court, pickleball courts and sand volleyball. A walking trail circles Wolfe Lake and Bridge Pond, and the lake even has a dock for fishing.
Westwood Hills Nature Center
If you’re looking for a peaceful picnic spot in St. Louis Park, Westwood Hills Nature Center is hard to beat. This 160-acre nature preserve features three miles of scenic trails through marshland, woods and restored prairie.
Picnickers can use the shelter near the nature center or spread out a blanket along Westwood Lake. As you eat, you might spot local wildlife including deer, turtles, fox, mink and owls. The park also features a fishing pier and excellent birdwatching opportunities throughout the preserve.
Minnehaha Creek Preserve
For a quiet, nature-filled picnic in St. Louis Park, visit Minnehaha Creek Preserve. This tranquil green space runs along the scenic waters of Minnehaha Creek and features a boardwalk and paved walking trail.
Benches along the boardwalk offer beautiful spots for a simple picnic while enjoying the view. Keep an eye out for wildlife including blue herons, ducks and muskrats along the creek.
Oak Hill Park
Oak Hill Park is another excellent picnic park in St. Louis Park, with several picnic shelters and tables located throughout the park. Visitors can also take advantage of public grills, a playground, basketball courts and a splash pad during the summer months. With plenty of open space and amenities, it’s a great spot for a family picnic or casual outdoor lunch.
Lilac Park
Lilac Park is one of the most unique and historic picnic spots in St. Louis Park. This charming 2.7-acre park dates back to the Great Depression and sits near Highway 100’s famous Lilac Way, a 12.5-mile stretch of roadway lined with more than 8,000 lilac plants.
The park is home to one of only two remaining beehive-shaped fireplaces in the United States. Built by local stonemasons in 1939 using limestone quarried along the Minnesota River, the distinctive fireplace once served as a place where families stopped to roast hot dogs during roadside picnics.
Today visitors can enjoy picnic tables, paved trails and access to the regional bike trail. The best time to picnic at Lilac Park is in mid-to-late May, when the lilacs are in bloom and the park is filled with fragrance and color.
Picnic Spots in Golden Valley
Brookview Park
Brookview Park is the largest park in Golden Valley, spanning 33 acres and offering beautiful scenery for a picnic. The park features picnic tables, public grills, lighted walkways and trails, plus several pond-like water features that create a scenic backdrop. Families can also enjoy playground equipment, basketball courts, tennis courts, sand volleyball, a horseshoe pit and game squares.
Two covered pavilions with picnic tables can be rented for gatherings. The large pavilion accommodates up to 25 people, while the smaller pavilion holds up to 12.
Lakeview Park
For a quiet neighborhood picnic in Golden Valley, Lakeview Park offers a peaceful setting with a wooded feel thanks to its mature cottonwood trees. The park includes a picnic shelter, lighted trails and a warming house, making it a pleasant destination year-round. Visitors can also enjoy a playground, basketball court and lighted game squares before or after their picnic.
Theodore Wirth Regional Park
Spanning more than 700 acres across Minneapolis and Golden Valley, Theodore Wirth Regional Park offers some of the most scenic picnic spots in the Twin Cities. One popular picnic area sits near Wirth Lake, where visitors can enjoy views of the water before exploring the park’s many attractions. Grab takeout from the Trailhead Café at the Trailhead building, which offers coffee, grab-and-go food, beer and wine.
After your meal, take a walk at the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary, where native wildflowers bloom throughout the spring and summer. The park also features a swimming beach, fishing pier, disc golf course and miles of biking and walking trails.
FAQ: When Is the Best Time for a Picnic in St. Louis Park and Golden Valley?
Spring through fall is ideal for picnicking in St. Louis Park and Golden Valley. Late May is especially beautiful at Lilac Park when the lilacs are in bloom, while summer is perfect for parks with splash pads and lakeside views like Wolfe Park and Theodore Wirth Regional Park. Fall brings colorful foliage to trails at Westwood Hills Nature Center and Minnehaha Creek Preserve.
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