Chisago Lakes is pawpular for good reason.
The Chisago Lakes area is filled with fun and unique dog-friendly adventures! We love getting out and about with our dogs and exploring this vibrant community. Not only do we get to spend quality time with each other and our dogs, but there are more benefits to bringing our pups along, such as building their confidence and providing exercise. Whether a local, visitor or traveling through, you will find something great on Highway 8. There are countrysides to wander, cities to explore, new things to sniff and discover, and something for everyone (including the pups), from playing to relaxing to snacking.
Franconia Sculpture Park
Franconia Sculpture Park is the perfect spot for hours of fun for you and your pup. It’s a 50-acre sniff haven! There are wide open spaces, trails to walk, and engaging stops filled with bold and creative contemporary sculpture, installation, and land art to see. It’s the ultimate combination of getting outdoors, exercise, and inspiration.
There are also many fantastic events at the park, including an Art and Farmers Market, Live Music, Art Exhibitions, Artists’ Talks, Yoga, Film Festivals, Movie Nights, and Education. Make sure to visit their website for the event calendar.
Franconia Sculpture Park was founded in 1996 and is an artist-centered sculpture park located in the scenic St. Croix River Valley of Chisago Lakes, Minnesota. Their goal is to create a welcoming environment for visitors to learn more about art, our environment, and the world.
*Dogs are not allowed in Franconia Commons, your dog must be leashed and remain on the pathways, and visitors must clean up after their dogs.
Swedish Immigrant Regional Trail and Coffee Talk
In Minnesota, we love our recreational trails…and coffee!
The Swedish Immigrant Regional Trail is 20 miles of Swedish-American history that connects the Chisago Lakes communities including Center City, Chisago City, Lindström, Shafer, Taylors Falls, and Wyoming. The trail offers a safe paved multi-use path for your pups to walk or run while you hike, bike, or skate.
The Swedish Immigrant Regional Trail allows you to see beautiful Chisago Lakes from a different perspective! You will see wildlife, lakes, native plants, and flowers. The possibilities are endless on the trail with all the connections to the communities and parks, including Interstate State Park along the St. Croix River. Other connected trails include Chisago Lakes Water Trail, Taylors Falls City Trails, Sunrise Prairie Regional Trail, Willard Munger Trail, Gateway State Trail, and Ramsey County Trail Connection.
The trail highlights Swedish immigration through the communities and the importance of the railroad in history. Much of the trail follows the former railroad across Southern Chisago County. The Taylors Falls and Lake Superior Railroad that connected the river town to and through Wyoming, Minnesota, was completed in 1880 and abandoned in 1948.
Start your morning at Coffee Talk in Taylors Falls on their lovely dog-friendly patio surrounded by a lush garden or on their spacious front porch. Coffee Talk has been a local favorite for over 30 years!
*The trail is continuing to be built, so make sure to check the map for the completed trail sections and the to-be-built trail sections. Watch for trail closures during deer season.
Evergreen Oasis Farm and Market
Take a field trip with your dog! This is my favorite date night idea for you and your pup! Evergreen Oasis Farm is a 20-acre Alpaca, Sheep & U-Pick Flower Farm and Event Venue located in Center City, Minnesota. Owners, Tim and Brooke strive to be a family-friendly agritourism destination providing fun for all.
Walk through the sunflower field and capture bright and cute photos of your dog. Or take them through the u-pick flower fields and create your own masterpiece arrangement. This self-serve adventure is available seven days a week. The farm provides everything you need, including buckets, snips, flower food, and easy payment via Venmo or cash.
After a walk through the flowers, stop by Uncommon Loon Brewing Company for a cold beer! It’s a great way to unwind and catch up while sitting on the patio and drinking a tasty craft beer. Check their calendar for different local food trucks that visit the brewery, trivia nights, live music, classes, and other events.
*Keep your dog a safe distance from the farm animals.
Chisago City Farmers Market
The Chisago City Farmers Market is a hidden gem for Friday date nights! Chisago City’s Farmers Market is located at Vilhelm Moberg Park and Pavillion, offering plenty of space to spread out with your dog. Bring a blanket and enjoy a picnic while listening to live music or entertainment. Shop the best produce from local growers, producers, and artisans.
Vilhelm Moberg Park is an adorable city park with a caboose exhibit, a small playground, on-site parking, a pavilion, picnic tables, electricity, restrooms, a drinking fountain, and open space. The park also features a statue sculpted in 1996 by Ian Dudley commemorating Vilhelm Moberg. Moberg was a Swedish author and historian that traveled the Chisago Lakes area by bicycle in 1948, researching for his novel The Emigrants.
Chisago Lakes Bulldogs Baseball Game
Minnesota = Town Ball
Your dog will love the excitement and community at a Chisago Lakes Bulldogs baseball game and their friendly Bulldog mascot! Pack your cooler, favorite lawn chair or blanket, and enjoy the sunshine, a concession hot dog, and Dilly Bars from the Chisago Lakes Bulldogs sponsor, Dairy Queen of Lindström.
The Eastern Minny League is Minnesota’s oldest active amateur baseball league with a rich history of over 100 years. The league was founded in the early 1920s, even before the launch of the Minnesota Baseball Association, and continues to thrive today. In fact, Minnesota has more Town Ball teams than any other state in the country!
Paddle Boarding
Nothing is better than Minnesota lake life!
Paddle boarding is a great way to get outside with your dog and have a relaxing day or night out on the lakes. The Chisago Lakes Water Trail extends 10 miles through 5000 acres and over 10 lakes with pristine shorelines, islands, and peninsulas. The lakes included in the Chisago Lakes Water Trail are South Center Lake, North Center Lake, Bull Lake, North Lindström Lake, South Lindström Lake, Lake Martha, Chisago Lake, Green Lake, Little Green Lake, and Linn Lake.
The Chisago Lakes Water Trail offers two trailheads. One is at Ki-Chi-Saga Park on South Center Lake, and the second trailhead is at the Green Lake DNR boat landing. The water trail can also be accessed through Minnesota DNR boat ramps and city and county parks.
St. Croix River Walk
Hang out along the St. Croix River and enjoy fresh flowing water and a refreshing swim. There is incredible scenery with numerous landings along the National Scenic Riverway and St. Croix River Water Trail to explore, including Franconia Landing, Sunrise River Landing, and Osceola Landing, just to name a few in the Chisago Lakes area. Sunrise River Landing is a favorite because the river is wide and slow in this section. A local tip is to visit during a weeknight when the landings are less busy.
The St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers flow over 200 miles in Minnesota and Wisconsin, a National Park offering Landings, Picnic Areas, and Campsites. The St. Croix River Water Trail is federally designated a Wild and Scenic River.
Wild River State Park
Experience a quiet nature hike with your dog in a State Park.
Wild River State Park curves along 18 miles of the stunning St. Croix River, including 16 miles of shoreline. There are over 30 miles of trails to hike with your pup and 3 miles of paved trails. The park highlights include the Nevers Dam Overlook, the changing landscape from forest to tallgrass prairie, and pretty wildflowers. Our favorite part is that, while walking, we sometimes felt like we had the whole park to ourselves.
Taylor’s Falls Scenic Boat Tours
A great way to relax and see the St. Croix River with your pup!
Go with the flow on a Taylor’s Falls Scenic Boat Tour. The paddlewheel river boats are something special to experience and learn about the glaciers that retreated and formed the land thousands of years ago. There are Daily Excursions during the season that include a narrated tour of the history and rock formations along the river. There is also a Twilight Music Cruise and a Sundown Cruise. The Twilight Music Cruise includes listening to live music and sampling delicious wine from Winehaven Winery. The Sundown Cruise consists of the narration while watching an epic sunset over the river.
Arrive early and enjoy the River Rock Patio with incredible river views and yummy eats. You can also add a River Rock meal to your excursion or cruise. And, you can even buy your best friend a pup cup that is garnished with a dog treat!
Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours has operated as a family business since 1906!
Winehaven Winery
Winehaven Winery is a wonderful place to relax on a date with your dog and stroll through the flourishing grape vines. Try a wine flight or wine slushie. You will find flavors unlike any found elsewhere in the world! One of our traditions is arriving early for lunch and enjoying their delicious cheese tray and pizza!
Winehaven Winery also offers fun events such as Dueling Pianos in the Vines, Rhubarb Frenzy, Raspberries and Wine Festival, Holiday Cheers, Cabin Fever, and Yoga. Make sure to watch their calendar for upcoming events!
Winehaven Winery is Chisago Lakes’ first estate winery, founded in 1995; it is family-owned and sustainably farmed. It has become a cornerstone of Minnesota winemaking.
I’ve listed our favorite things to do in Chisago Lakes with our dogs, but there is so much more. There are many events and festivals happening throughout the seasons, don’t miss any by following along on the Chisago Lakes Event Calendar.
Have a pawtastic time exploring Chisago Lakes!
