Diamond Path Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Diamond Path Park is a 456-acre park located in the city of Apple Valley, Minnesota.


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Summary

The park offers a variety of outdoor activities for visitors, such as hiking, biking, fishing, and picnicking.

One of the main attractions of the park is the Dakota County Lebanon Hills Regional Park, which has more than 2,000 acres of woodland, lakes, and trails. Visitors can explore the park's many trails, including the 12-mile-long Dakota Rail Regional Trail, which provides scenic views of the surrounding area.

Diamond Path Park also features a large lake, Crystal Lake, which is a popular fishing spot for bass, crappie, and sunfish. The park has a fishing pier, boat launch, and a fishing dock. Visitors can also rent canoes and kayaks to explore the lake.

Other points of interest in the park include a playground, picnic shelters, and a disc golf course. The park hosts several events throughout the year, including a summer concert series and outdoor movie nights.

The best time to visit Diamond Path Park is during the summer months when the weather is warm and sunny, and the park is bustling with activity. However, the park is open year-round and offers different activities depending on the season. In the winter, visitors can go ice fishing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.

In summary, Diamond Path Park is a beautiful natural area located in Apple Valley, Minnesota. Visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, and other outdoor activities, as well as explore the many points of interest in the park. The best time to visit is during the summer, but the park offers something for visitors year-round.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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