Rice Creek Park
Rate this placeNearby: Creek Ridge Park Flahery Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Rice Creek Park is a popular recreational area located in the state of Minnesota that offers visitors a wide range of outdoor activities and points of interest to explore.
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Summary
The park spans over 840 acres and features scenic trails, lakes, wetlands, and woodlands that provide ample opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, birdwatching, boating, and more.
One of the main reasons to visit Rice Creek Park is its natural beauty, which includes diverse wildlife and picturesque landscapes. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely walk along the scenic trails, take a boat ride on the lake, or spot a variety of bird species in the wetlands.
Some of the specific points of interest to see in Rice Creek Park include the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes, the Rice Creek North Regional Trail, the Rice Creek West Regional Trail, and the Wargo Nature Center. The park is also home to several picnic areas, playgrounds, and campsites that provide a perfect setting for family gatherings or group outings.
Interesting facts about the area include that it was once a site for farming and logging, but has been turned into a protected natural area for wildlife and recreation. The park is also home to several rare plant species, such as the Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid.
The best time of year to visit Rice Creek Park is during the summer and fall months when the weather is mild, and the park is alive with vibrant colors and wildlife. However, the park is open year-round, and each season offers unique opportunities for outdoor activities and exploration.
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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
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
|---|---|---|
Bunker Hills Regional Park
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Bunker Hills Campground
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Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park
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Creek Ridge Park
Flahery Park
Silver View Park
Fridley Common Park
Hackmann Circle Park