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Lyndale Park's Roberts Bird Sanctuary.
Lyndale Park (sometimes referred to as the Lyndale Park Arboretum) is spread around the north part of Lake Harriet in South Minneapolis. No doubt you have been here before so this will be a refresher, but also hopefully a different view of a favorite park.
Lyndale Park is comprised of the Thomas Sadler Roberts Bird Sanctuary, the Lyndale Park Gardens and some open space populated with a variety of trees. This is not a park to train for that upcoming mountain adventure or the office's fitness competition. Rather, it is a place to walk slowly and softly, to enjoy the singing birds,a colorful flower and the relaxing gurgle of running water.
View Lyndale Park Hike in a larger map
From the sanctuary parking lot, head into the shelter. Several interpretive signs will get you started. After taking your educational fill, the boardwalk into the sanctuary starts right out the back of the shelter. A low and full tree canopy reduces the summer heat and provides habitat for birds. The sanctuary is most active in spring, but a worthy visit any time of year.
Stick to the boardwalk. A slight rise to firmer ground makes the boardwalk unnecessary. Follow the trail to the left and a subtle descent puts you back on the boardwalk. If the marshy plant life is low, you will see one of the three ponds on your left side. Soon the trail rises to firmer and more forested ground. Turn left onto the wide path. Although traffic isn't far, it is quiet here. To your left, the woods and marsh extend to the Lake Harriet Parkway. To your right the Lakewood Cemetery provides a serene, if macabre, buffer. Follow the path west.
After a short distance a smaller trail breaks off to the right. Take it if you wish. It is a short loop that comes out just ahead on the main trail. It doesn't go anywhere or to any particular point of interest (as far as I can tell), but so what. Either way, continue west on the main trail. It ends at the Lake Harriet boat launch. A break and a snack await you near the bandshell. When you are finished, return to the same trail and head back.
The wide path follows the length of the sanctuary (you may follow it or return via the boardwalk). If you take the wide path, it ends at a gate into the Peace Garden. If the gate is locked, you will need to follow the narrow trail back to the shelter, where we'll continue our tour.
Leaving the shelter, cross the parking lot toward the Peace Garden. Beautiful as it is, skip it for now and follow the edge north into the small pine forest. Wide woodchip trails await (see the black line on the trail map). Trails crisscross everywhere, but keep north until the cemetery fenceline and the trail will turn east. This trails runs along the back of the Peace and Trial Gardens and helps make this walk more of a loop. The trail ends at the King's Highway. Loop around to your right and the start of the Trial Garden. The plantings here meander all the way to the Peace Garden. These gardens were built to test different plants' resistance to weather and disease. A variety of plants add color and texture to this part of the walk.
Leaving the Trial Gardens, you enter the Peace (or Rock) Garden. Designed to commemorate the World War II atomic bombings, this is a subtle place with a small waterfall, flowering cover plants and twisty gravel paths. Kids and adults alike will appreciate the origami crane lesson. Patience and persistence will be rewarded.
From the Peace Garden, cross the road for the final leg of the journey. Surrounding the Heffelfinger and Turtle fountains, the Annual and Perennial Gardens pop with color. To satisfy curiosity, small plaques display most of the plants' names. Moving westward, finish with the picturesque and always-popular Rose Garden. With so much to see, smell and hear, I hope this mere 1.75 miles took you half the day.
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