Lebanon Hills Central

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Fishing · Lake · Swimming · Wildflowers

At 2,000 acres, Lebanon Hills Regional Park is the largest park in the Dakota County park system. The park is divided into 3 sections - with horse and hiking trails in the eastern and central sections and mountain bike trails in the western section. The trails in the eastern section are the most popular with hikers, while those in the central section are less so. But the hiking trails in the central section take you to a charming little lake and can be added to those in the eastern section if you want a longer hike.

This park has summer and winter maps and allowable uses of its trails vary with the season. The route described here assumes you are using the summer map. This park also makes a distinction between trails open to hikers and those only open to horses. Please respect these different uses.

The major trail intersections here are numbered and there is usually a trail map posted at major intersections too. Start from the Jensen Lake Trail on the west side of the eastern area. The picnic shelter, restrooms, and children's play area here are handicap accessible. Go west through the tunnel under Pilot Knob Road (County Road 31) and follow the trail to Intersection 116. Stay left and follow the trail a short distance to Intersection 115. Stay left and follow the trail southwest through Intersection 110 to Intersection 107 and then to the campground. Circle west through the campground until Wheaton Pond comes into view below. Make a very short cross-country descent to Intersection 104 on the pond's eastern shore. Circle the pond clockwise to Intersection 100 then continue north through the Lebanon Hills Campground to the continuation of the trail on the south side of Gerhardt Lake. Return to the Jensen Lake Trail through Intersections 105, 106, 107, 110, 115, and 116.