Hiking with Kids Open
Westwood Hills Nature Center
4.8(835)4.8 out of 5 stars, 835 reviews Minneapolis, MN
About Westwood Hills Nature Center
Westwood Hills Nature Center offers a unique escape into a surprisingly wild and natural environment, complete with abundant wildlife (deer, hawks, birds), immersive floating boardwalks over a lake, an interactive education center, and a playground. It's an ideal venue for families looking to spend several hours engaged in nature observation and light recreation, even though it's nestled within human development.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families seeking wildlife viewing opportunities in a natural setting.Parents looking for a peaceful and relaxing outdoor activity with their children.Educational outings focused on local nature and wildlife for school-aged kids.Spending a leisurely 'few hours' outdoors walking and exploring.Casual family hikes with broad appeal to different age groups.
Why families love it
- Regular sightings of wildlife, particularly deer and hawks, close to walking paths.
- Features lovely, immersive, and peaceful floating boardwalks around a lake.
- Includes a super fun and interactive education center for kids.
- Has a dedicated playground, adding to the entertainment options for children.
- Offers many beautiful walking paths suitable for various activity levels.
- Provides numerous places to sit and relax ('a gazillion places to sit and chill').
Insider tips
- Bring waterproof boots if visiting after rain or in the spring to navigate potentially muddy sections before the boardwalk.
- Be aware that local birding groups may occupy parts of the boardwalk; plan accordingly for potential temporary congestion.
- Do not bring pets, as they are strictly prohibited on the premise and trails.
- For a less crowded experience, consider visiting during off-peak times (e.g., late afternoon on a winter day was noted as 'not very crowded').
Good to know before you go
- Visiting without appropriate footwear (e.g., sneakers on a rainy day) due to potential mud on trails.
- Bringing any pets, as they are not permitted on the property or trails.
- Trails can be muddy, especially if it has been raining or during the spring, requiring appropriate footwear before reaching the boardwalk.
- Local birding groups have been reported to sometimes take up the entire width of the boardwalk, potentially impeding general passage.
- Crowds
- Generally not reported as overly crowded, but crowd levels can vary by time and season (e.g., 5pm in December was 'not very crowded').
- Value
- No pricing information is mentioned in the reviews, suggesting general admission may be free. The array of features (wildlife, boardwalks, education center, playground) indicates excellent value for money.
- Food
- Picnic areas are mentioned, suggesting that bringing outside food for picnics is allowed, though no explicit food policy or cafe details are provided.
- Accessibility
- Floating boardwalks are likely flat and accessible.
- Safety
- No specific safety features (e.g., staff supervision, first aid, security) are mentioned in the reviews.
What parents say
"I like it. Despite the fact that it’s surrounded by human development, it still has a very wild and natural place. I’ve seen deer regularly as well as hawks flying high above. The boardwalk around the lake is particularly lovely. Bring boots if it’s been raining or in the spring. You’ll likely encounter some mud before getting to the boardwalk."
a month ago
"Great place to take my son to relax and enjoy the wildlife. I do wish the local birding group would be more respectful and wouldn't take up the entire width of the boardwalk."
4 months ago
"I love this place. 🥰 I used to live nearby and I loved to run and walk. The floating boardwalks make for am immersive and peaceful experience. There are a few different sets of stairs going to picnic areas etc ... Sometimes I to like to run up and down as part of my workout. But, in general, there are a gazillion places to sit and chill... It's so great to watch the sunset. I've never actually taken advantage of the nature better itself but I feel like I should make an effort to do so soon. Also, no pets allowed on the premise or the trails... FYI."
12 months ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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