Lake Byllesby County Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Lake Byllesby County Park is located in Dakota County, Minnesota, and is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
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Summary
The park is situated on a 1,400-acre lake, which offers visitors a variety of recreational activities, including fishing, boating, swimming, and hiking.
One of the main reasons to visit Lake Byllesby County Park is for its beautiful scenery and natural surroundings. The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including bald eagles, waterfowl, and deer. Visitors can also enjoy stunning views of the lake and surrounding landscape from various viewpoints throughout the park.
There are several specific points of interest to see within Lake Byllesby County Park. The park features a large beach area, where visitors can swim, sunbathe, and enjoy a picnic. There are also several hiking trails throughout the park, including the Lake Byllesby Regional Trail, which offers scenic views of the lake and surrounding area.
Interesting facts about Lake Byllesby County Park include the fact that the lake was created in the early 1900s as a result of the construction of a dam on the Cannon River. The park was established in the 1970s and has since become a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
The best time of year to visit Lake Byllesby County Park depends on the activities you plan to do. Summer is the most popular time to visit, as the weather is warm and the lake is ideal for swimming and boating. However, the park is also open year-round and offers opportunities for ice fishing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing in the winter months.
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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
Lake Byllesby Regional Park
Hannahs Bend Park
Minnesota Park
Softball Field Park
Parameadow Park