Hidden Oak Park
Rate this placeNearby: Innsbruck Park Farr Lake Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Hidden Oak Park is a nature preserve located in Cottage Grove, Minnesota that offers visitors a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.
°F
°F
mph
Wind
%
Humidity
Summary
The park boasts several miles of hiking trails, which wind through a variety of ecosystems, including oak savannas, wetlands, and prairies.
One of the main reasons to visit Hidden Oak Park is to experience its natural beauty. The park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including deer, foxes, and a variety of bird species. Visitors can also explore the park's many unique features, such as its several ponds and the historic stone wall that runs through the park.
Another highlight of Hidden Oak Park is its educational opportunities. The park hosts a variety of educational programs throughout the year, including nature walks and guided hikes. Additionally, the park is home to an interpretive center, which features exhibits on the natural history of the area.
Interesting facts about Hidden Oak Park include that it was originally part of a large farm owned by the Schilling family, who donated the land to the city of Cottage Grove in 2002. The park's stone wall was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The best time of year to visit Hidden Oak Park is from late spring through early fall, when the park's trails are open and the weather is mild. Visitors should be aware that the park is closed during the winter months.
Weather Forecast
Park & Land Designation Reference
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.
Related References
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
|---|---|---|
Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park
|
||
Bunker Hills Regional Park
|
||
Bunker Hills Campground
|
Innsbruck Park
Farr Lake Park
Hackmann Circle Park
Creek Ridge Park
Moore Lake Park