Dakota County Parks

Help maintain your dog's mental and physicals health by getting them outside to roam. Dakota Woods Dog Park is a 16-acre, fenced-in, wooded park that is a great place to let your dog run and exercise on and off-leash. The park is centrally located in Dakota County, just east of Rosemount and north of Farmington.  

Lake Byllesby Regional Park is nestled in the scenic Cannon River Valley on Lake Byllesby Reservoir, the largest lake in southern Dakota County. This beautiful park offers vast open space for a variety of year-round activities including cooling off in the splash pad or lake, staying overnight in our campsite, or taking a boat ride to take in the sheer cliff facings on shore that are hundreds of years old. Make sure to catch a glimpse of the Lake Byllesby Dam before you leave.

Lebanon Hills Regional Park is the crown jewel and largest park in the Dakota County park system. Containing almost 2,000 acres, the park offers miles of trails and many lakes for year-round outdoor sports, recreation and environmental education. The Lebanon Hills Visitor Center, located in the eastern section of the park, offers park information, interactive nature displays, courses and programs for all ages, and equipment rentals. 

Enjoy the feel of northern Minnesota from this scenic park that overlooks the Mississippi River. A rest stop along the Great River Road, Spring Lake Park Reserve is the "hidden jewel" of the Upper Mississippi River Valley. The Schaar’s Bluff Trailhead and picnic area provide a scenic overlook of the Mississippi River Valley as well as access to summer hiking and winter ski trails.

Take in the stunning views of the Mississippi River by starlight and candlelight at the Trails by Candlelight event at Spring Lake Park Reserve in Hastings. A variety of cross-county ski, snowshoe, hiking, and walking trails with varying distances will be lit with hundreds of candles. When you need a break, stop by one of our roaring bonfires to warm up and roast a marshmallow. Enjoy some wintertime fun for the whole family.

Volunteers are needed to help support multiple activities before, during, and after the event to make this event a success. All volunteers will receive free access to the event and volunteers who help during the event will receive a dinner voucher to use at one of our participating food trucks. To ensure a high quality experience, pre-registration is required to volunteer. Space is limited and spots fill quickly. Check out the roster below to see what opportunities are available.

This charming 57-acre park provides a quiet get-a-way in the midst of West St. Paul. The park features a large picnic and playground area that overlooks Thompson Lake and miles of wooded trails that link Thompson County Park to Kaposia Park and to the Mississippi River Regional Trail. Thompson County Park is also the home of the Dakota Lodge — a four-season event center that is perfect for weddings, reunions, meetings, banquets, retreats, parties and much more.

Take a walk around the lake and through the woods by flickering candlelight at the Trails by Candlelight event at Thompson County Park in West St. Paul. A variety of snowshoe, hiking and walking trails with varying distances will be lit with hundreds of candles. When you need a break, stop by one of our crackling bonfires to warm up and roast a marshmallow. Fun for the whole family.

Volunteers of all ages are needed to help support multiple activities before, during, and after to help make this event a success. All volunteers will receive free access to the event and volunteers who help during the event will receive a dinner voucher to use at one of our participating food trucks. To ensure a high quality experience, pre-registration is required to volunteer. Space is limited and spots fill quickly. Check out the roster below to see what opportunities are available.

Enjoy the outdoors while assisting park visitors with questions, directions, and providing an extra support measure in case of emergencies. Our patrol units offer a vital service to our county parks by providing trained individual assistance to our park users, helping to keep everyone happy and safe on our park and regional trails. Volunteer while personally enjoying the trails yourself, so easy and fun! 

Whitetail Woods Regional Park is located in Empire Township in the center of Dakota County, one mile north of the Vermillion River. Whitetail Woods provides year round fun from sledding down hill in the winter to enjoying a walk through the flowering prairie during the spring to taking in the relaxing sounds of an outdoor concert during the summer. Looking to get away for a weekend? Unique cabins for rent offer year-round comfy lodging for you and your family to explore the outdoors.