Long Lake: Lakeside Park, Trails and Local History

Nelson Lakeside Park sits on Long Lake in the heart of downtown. With a public boat launch and swimming beach, it brings together two distinct ways to include the water in your day’s plans in one place. Trails and local history are also among the things to discover in Long Lake. When choosing your vacation rental, you can first consider whether the lakeshore, trail activities, or historical themes will shape your stay.

Lakeshore and Trails in Long Lake

The Luce Line State Trail follows a 63-mile former railroad corridor. Biking, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and snowmobiling are among the popular activities on the trail. There is an access point with parking near Long Lake. To reach this access point, drive south on Old Crystal Bay Road to Watertown Road, then west to Stubbs Bay Road, and then a quarter mile south to the parking lot on the west side of the road. Because road conditions can change, it’s a good idea to check access before setting out. Temporary notices may also affect individual trail sections; take them into account when planning.

Another reference point for cyclists is Hardin Park: the Luce Line Trail and the city’s Wurzer Trail cross there, and the park has a bicycle repair station. This also helps distinguish the Luce Line State Trail’s longer former railroad corridor from a local connection between two trails. The Luce Line State Trail access point with parking is near Long Lake; the intersection with the Wurzer Trail is in Hardin Park.

Park Offerings Through the Seasons

Holbrook Park has seasonal hockey and recreational skating rinks. A warming house is open there seasonally during the winter months. The dog park has a different schedule: it is located seasonally in the hockey rink area in spring, summer, and fall. When deciding when to travel, it’s worth keeping these different seasonal schedules in mind and checking current conditions for your visit.

Nelson Lakeside Park connects the lake with the city’s events. Buckhorn Days is held there annually, at 1860 Symes Street in Long Lake. Event dates and programming may vary; check the latest details before making specific plans. Together with the boat launch and swimming beach, the park makes clear that the focus of a visit can vary depending on the day: sometimes the water takes center stage, and sometimes a local event does.

Local History and Cultural Discoveries

The Western Hennepin Pioneer Museum in Long Lake is an old red-brick, four-room schoolhouse. Its described holdings include a picture gallery and archives with more than 1,000 family histories from Western Hennepin County. The WHCPA Family File Index offers another way to explore family history: you can search online and then visit the archive or request copies online. Before making a specific request, check the current procedures.

The founding story of the Catholic Church of St. George also offers a glimpse into local history. The church was founded in 1916, after Catholics in Long Lake asked Father George Scheffold, OSB, to establish a Catholic church there. Scheffold was then pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Medina. Along with the family histories in the museum and archive, this offers a look at different layers of the past: the development of a community, a schoolhouse as a museum building, and the stories of individual families.

These topics offer different starting points for exploring Long Lake. The Luce Line State Trail follows a 63-mile former railroad corridor, with an access point and parking near Long Lake. Visitors who want to focus more on culture and history can explore the Western Hennepin Pioneer Museum and its archive, as well as the founding story of the Catholic Church of St. George. The lakeside park brings water activities and events together in one central location. Choose your vacation rental based on the experiences that matter most for your trip.

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