Lilydale Regional Park On Great River Passage
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Lilydale Regional Park is a beautiful park located on the Great River Passage in Minnesota.
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Summary
This park is known for its scenic beauty, hiking trails, biking, and birdwatching. It is a great place to visit year-round, with many activities to enjoy during the summer and winter months.
One of the main attractions of Lilydale Regional Park is its beautiful limestone cliffs, which provide a stunning backdrop for hiking and biking trails. Visitors can also explore the park's wetlands, prairies, and forests, which are home to a variety of wildlife species, including deer, beavers, and bald eagles.
Another point of interest at Lilydale Regional Park is the historic ruins of the Saint Paul Gas Light Company, which was built in the 1800s and burned down in 1960. The ruins are now a popular spot for photography and picnicking.
Interesting facts about the area include the fact that Lilydale Regional Park is part of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, which is a 72-mile stretch of the Mississippi River that is protected by the National Park Service. The park is also home to some of the oldest rocks in the world, dating back more than a billion years.
The best time of year to visit Lilydale Regional Park depends on the visitor's interests. During the summer months, the park is a popular spot for hiking, biking, and birdwatching, while in the winter, visitors can enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Fall is also a beautiful time to visit, as the leaves change color and the park becomes a popular spot for photography.
Overall, Lilydale Regional Park is a must-visit destination for anyone who loves the great outdoors. With its scenic beauty, diverse wildlife, and rich history, it is a park that visitors will never forget.
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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.
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