Columbus: Parks, Trails, and Nature

Columbus offers a variety of ways to spend time outdoors, from sports facilities and paved trails in parks to lakes, natural areas, and historic traces. When planning your trip, it’s worth noting the differences between the destinations. Some feature dedicated sports facilities, while others offer trails through larger areas or activities on the water.

Parks and Sports Facilities in Columbus

Columbus City Park covers 22 acres. Its paved loop trail is ¾ mile long and runs through the entire park. The four ball fields are equipped with backstops, player benches, and bleachers. The park also has a renovated facility with two courts, one of which is marked for two pickleball courts. So visitors will find both a trail through the park and several sports areas here.

Hidden Park is a 1.9-acre neighborhood park, making it much smaller than Columbus City Park. Its amenities include a four-seat swing, a bike rack, a half basketball court, a picnic table, and a bench. The parks differ not only in size: Columbus City Park focuses on its loop trail, ball fields, and courts, while Hidden Park offers a more compact selection of individual amenities.

Trails, Lakes, and Cultural History at Lamprey Pass

Lamprey Pass covers about 1,300 acres and includes the shallow lakes Mud Lake and Howard Lake. Many people visit the area for birdwatching, hiking, walking dogs, or hunting. A 1.5-mile loop leads from the parking lot through the Wildlife Management Area. It connects to longer trails to the northwest.

Cultural history is also part of Lamprey Pass: the area contains burial mounds of the Hopewell culture, believed to be more than 2,000 years old. It’s important to retain this cautious age estimate. Along with the lakes and opportunities for hiking and birdwatching, this makes the area a destination where nature experiences and historical connections come together.

More Natural Areas and Activities

The Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area lies partly within Columbus. From Columbus, the two easiest access points are Camp Three Road and Broadway Avenue. Recreational activities in the area include hunting, fishing, hiking, birdwatching, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Many people canoe or kayak on the Sunrise River to watch wildlife or fish. This gives visitors a specific point of comparison with Lamprey Pass when planning: Carlos Avery also offers activities such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, while Lamprey Pass has the 1.5-mile loop described above, which connects to longer trails.

The Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park Reserve also lies partly within Columbus. The regional park reserve offers activities such as biking, canoeing, and hiking, as well as a boat launch.

If you’re looking for a hotel for your stay in Columbus, the various natural areas and parks offer a practical starting point for deciding which activities to include in your trip. The differences described range from sports areas and a paved loop trail to lakes and longer trails, as well as activities on the Sunrise River and in the regional park reserve.

Discover more destinations: Ramsey, Lino Lakes, Columbia Heights, Oak Grove, Blaine, Ham Lake, Fridley, Coon Rapids

For the main travel overview: Anoka.