Carpenter Nature Center 12805 Saint Croix Trail South, Hastings, MN 55033

"A real gem of a place on the Minnesota side of the river. Beautifully maintained, great walking trails, nice visitor center. Also a nice market with apples, honey, maple syrup and other products."

"We’ve been to Carpenter Nature Center many times. It’s out favorite place to get apples in the fall. We also love hiking on the beautiful grounds, stopping in to visit the beautiful raptors, and enjoying their educational programs. The views of the St Croix River are breathtaking. I feel as though this is one of the hidden gems that is not that far from the cities."

"What a gem of a find! This beautiful place is a joy to explore and boasts a variety of trees and plants that draw in a variety of birds, animals, and pollinators."

"Nice trails, fairly easy to navigate. Nature center is simple but has some animals to see and nice information about the property and the area. They have info at the desk and things you can check out to use at the center. My son loves the outdoor scavenger hunt. They also send out a nice newsletter and have great events. It's a nice stop for a few hours and a great add-on to other area activities."

"This is one of me and my boys favorite place to visit close to the cities. It has a few animals inside the Nature Center, including turtles, snakes, a bald eagle, barn owl, and red tail hawk. The trails are easy and would be a good hike for children. The views are wonderful overlooking the St. Croix River at a few overlooks and you can actually go right down to the river as well."