Come see the Visitor Center exhibits and walk the trails at the Nature Center.

One and a half miles of scenic trails wind past the butterfly gardens and through oak woods, prairie, and pond shoreline.

Our 620-foot floating boardwalk and observation decks give visitors close views of waterfowl, muskrats, turtles, and aquatic vegetation.

The trail map has self-guiding marker posts along the path, or
ask at the front desk for our other free self-guided trail activities.

Most visitors to the nature center are families and adults who come to hike the trails, watch birds and photograph wildlife.  The nature center trails have recently been renovated.

 
The trail improvements use sustainable trail design concepts.  This includes strategies to reduce erosion and lessen negative environmental impacts.  For example, the trail has been routed along the contour of a slope rather that straight downhill.  Stretches of trail subject to spring flooding and erosion will be rerouted to drier land.

The nature center is fortunate to have many partners on this project. The contractor, Trail Source, used a 4 ft. wide walk-behind grader to construct the trail. Then Minnesota Conservation Corps did the fine grading work with hand tools. Community partners include St. Paul Audubon and Century College Field Biology students, who have been seeding and planting compacted soils to establish native vegetation.  This project is supported by the City of Maplewood and by a Federal Park and Recreational Trails grant.

Maplewood Nature Center trails are an excellent place for watching birds with both wetland and woodland habitats.  Also hike our Neighborhood Preserves natural areas!

Bird Species List for Maplewood Nature Center compiled by volunteer Richard Miller
Bird Species List for Applewood Neighborhood Preserve compiled by volunteer Richard Miller