Westwood Hills Nature Center

 
     
 
About
 
 

Ownership

 
 

St. Louis Park

 
     
 

Links

 
 

St. Louis Park

 
     
 

Overview

 
 

 

 
     
 

History

 
 

 

 
     
 

Management

 
 

 

 
     
 

Comments

 
 

 

 
     
 
Location
 
 

Maps

 
 

Westwood Hills Nature Center trail map

 
         
 

Size

 
 

160 acres

 
         
 

Parking

 
 

8300 W. Franklin Ave.
St. Louis Park, MN 55426

N44 57.828, W93 23.175

 
         
 

Hours

 
 

Nature center trails are open every day from sunrise to sunset, year-round.

The interpretive center building is open year-round during the following times, except for holidays and dates listed below.

  • Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday, noon - 5 p.m.
 
         
 

Fees

 
 

Parking and admission are free.

 
         
 

Driving Directions

  Area and County  
 

Get driving directions from Google Maps to this destination from any address, and send those directions to your phone.

   
          Hennepin County  
          Metro Area  
     
 
Activities
 
 

Hiking Trails

 
 

Several hiking trails, including a 1.54-mile loop trail

 
     
 

Hunting

 
 

No hunting

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Ecological Classification

  Ecological Classification  
  Ecological Province     Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province    
  Ecological Section     Minnesota & NE Iowa Morainal    
  Ecological Subsection     Big Woods    
  Land Type Associations     Hopkins Moraine    
             
 

Native Plant Communities*

   
 

Not mapped (7/10/2020)

   
  * Source: The Minnesota Biological Survey, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological Resources      
         
 

Natural Features

     
 

Westwood Lake, marsh, pine forest, maple/basswood forest

 

 

 

 

 

           
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Margot Avey

 
 

Parking

 
    Westwood Hills Nature Center      
           
 

Information Kiosk

 
    Westwood Hills Nature Center      
           
 

Signage

 
    Westwood Hills Nature Center   Westwood Hills Nature Center  
           
    Westwood Hills Nature Center      
           
 

Trails

 
    Westwood Hills Nature Center   Westwood Hills Nature Center  
           
    Westwood Hills Nature Center      
           
 

Trail Map

 
    Westwood Hills Nature Center   Westwood Hills Nature Center  
           
 

Boardwalk

 
    Westwood Hills Nature Center   Westwood Hills Nature Center  
           
    Westwood Hills Nature Center      
           
 

Bridge

 
    Westwood Hills Nature Center      
           
 

Steps

 
    Westwood Hills Nature Center      
           
 

Westwood Lake

 
    Westwood Hills Nature Center      
           
 

Y-Dock

 
    Westwood Hills Nature Center      
           
 

Winter

 
    Westwood Hills Nature Center   Westwood Hills Nature Center  
           
    Westwood Hills Nature Center   Westwood Hills Nature Center  
           
    Westwood Hills Nature Center      
           
 

Spring

 
    Westwood Hills Nature Center      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Entrance

 
    Westwood Hills Nature Center   Westwood Hills Nature Center  
           
 

Parking

 
    Westwood Hills Nature Center      
           
 

Cattail Marsh

 
    Westwood Hills Nature Center      
           
 

Paved Trail

 
    Westwood Hills Nature Center      
           
 

Boardwalk

 
    Westwood Hills Nature Center   Westwood Hills Nature Center  
           
    Westwood Hills Nature Center      
           
 

T-Dock

 
    Westwood Hills Nature Center   Westwood Hills Nature Center  
           
 

Maple/Basswood Forest

 
    Westwood Hills Nature Center      

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 

Westwood Hills Nature Center
Misty Garrick

  Westwood Hills Nature Center  

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  Westwood Hills Nature Center St. Louis Park Minnesota
Jesse Ingerson
 
   
 
About

Published on Jul 11, 2018

Went to the Westwood Nature Center in St. Louis Park MN to take some photographs. Shot some video as well.

Camera - Canon EOS Rebel T3i
Lens - Canon EF 50mm f1.4

Song is from the YouTube Audio Library
Artist - Jingle Punks
Song - Stale Mate

My Amazon Affiliate Links
My Favorite Lens - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009XVCZ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00009XVCZ&linkCode=as2&tag=jesseingerson-20&linkId=6950d63e90c280b3c9acf4992213aadd
Joby GorillaPod - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002FGTWOC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002FGTWOC&linkCode=as2&tag=jesseingerson-20&linkId=87c76a539a1b3ab168485d237c121af1
Tameron 11-18mm Lens - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007WK8NU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0007WK8NU&linkCode=as2&tag=jesseingerson-20&linkId=3ebae82cfb127deddce1988673658277
The Microphone I Use - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E58AA0I/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00E58AA0I&linkCode=as2&tag=jesseingerson-20&linkId=be0fc8c12432874b1fc4afbc9cd20acd

   
  Explore and learn at the Westwood Hills Nature Center
KARE 11
 
   
 
About

Published on Feb 21, 2019

ARE 11's Kris Laudien continues to explore the winter wonder of Minnesota at the Westwood Hills Nature Center. https://kare11.tv/2XguX5L

» Subscribe to KARE 11: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1JAwKeDUjN2orv5t7LWODQ?sub_confirmation=1
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Welcome to the official YouTube channel of KARE 11 News. Subscribe to our channel for compelling and dramatic storytelling, award winning investigations, breaking news and information you can use.

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  Westwood Hills Nature Center
ParkTV St. Louis Park
 
   
 
About

Published on Feb 15, 2018

The City of St. Louis Park is considering a new building at Westwood Hills Nature Center.

   

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

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BigFootMN

 
 

Birds

 
  American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)      
 

Margot Avey

 
 

Birds

 
 

Barred Owl (Strix varia)

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)

Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)

 

Northern Shoveler

Trumpeter Swan

 
 

Fungi and Lichens

 
 

Dryad’s Saddle (Cerioporus squamosus)

Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantea)

Grisette (Amanita vaginata)

Mica Cap (Coprinellus micaceus)

 

Sharp-scaly Pholiota (Pholiota squarrosoides)

Thin-Walled Maze Polypore (Daedaleopsis confragosa)

 

Tawny Grisette

Poplar Pholiota

 
 

Insects and Arachnids

 
 

eastern boxelder bug (Boisea trivittata)

orbweavers (Family Araneidae)

red-spotted purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax)

  red-spotted purple  
 

Mammals

 
  whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus)   whitetail deer  
 

Reptiles

 
  painted turtle (Chrysemys picta)   western painted turtle  
 
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

Visits

5/4/2019                
 
 

Amphibians

 
  boreal chorus frog (Pseudacris maculata)   boreal chorus frog  
 

Birds

 
 

Twelve bird species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:

Endangered

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)

Threatened

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)

Special Concern

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea)

Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri)

Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan)

Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina)

Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla)

Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

Purple Martin (Progne subis)

Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)

 
 

eBird Field Checklist

 
 

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)

Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)

Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)

 

Blue Jay

Mallard

Northern Cardinal

Wild Turkey

Wood Duck

 
 

Fungi and Lichens

 
  Artist’s Conk (Ganoderma applanatum)   Artist’s Conk  
 

Insects and Arachnids

 
 

common green darner (Anax junius)

eastern boxelder bug (Boisea trivittata)

red admiral (Vanessa atalanta)

  common green darner  
 

Mammals

 
 

American mink (Neovison vison)

eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

  whitetail deer  
 

Plants

 
 

 

American basswood (Tilia americana var. americana)

American black currant (Ribes americanum)

American hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana var. virginiana)

black cherry (Prunus serotina var. serotina)

boxelder (Acer negundo var. negundo)

broad-leaved cattail (Typha latifolia)

bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa)

Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)

Canadian wild ginger (Asarum canadense)

common blue violet (Viola sororia)

common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)

common burdock (Arctium minus)

common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale)

common duckweed (Lemna minor)

common false Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum racemosum var. racemosum)

common motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca ssp. cardiaca)

common mullein (Verbascum thapsus ssp. thapsus)

Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)

early meadow-rue (Thalictrum dioicum)

eastern false rue anemone (Enemion biternatum)

eastern white pine (Pinus strobus)

garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata)

ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea)

hairy wood mint (Blephilia hirsuta var. hirsuta)

hybrid cattail (Typha × glauca)

Missouri gooseberry (Ribes missouriense)

nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)

narrow-leaved cattail (Typha angustifolia)

northern hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

northern lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina var. angustum)

northern pin oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis)

northern red oak (Quercus rubra)

northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis)

ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris var. pensylvanica)

Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica)

plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides ssp. molinifera)

red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa)

red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea ssp. sericea)

red pine (Pinus resinosa)

river birch (Betula nigra)

sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis)

silver maple (Acer saccharinum)

spinulose wood fern (Dryopteris carthusiana)

staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina)

stinging nettle (Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis)

sugar maple (Acer saccharum ssp. saccharum)

tamarack (Larix laricina)

Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum var. virginianum)

weeping willow (Salix × sepulcralis)

white clover (Trifolium repens)

white spruce (Picea glauca)

wild grape (Vitis riparia)

wild leek (Allium tricoccum)

yellow marsh marigold (Caltha palustris var. palustris)

 

Acer negundo var. negundo (boxelder)

Acer saccharinum (silver maple)

Acer saccharum ssp. saccharum (sugar maple)

Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard)

Allium tricoccum (wild leek)

Arctium minus (common burdock)

Asarum canadense (Canadian wild ginger)

Athyrium filix-femina var. angustum (northern lady fern)

Betula nigra (river birch)

Blephilia hirsuta var. hirsuta (hairy wood mint)

Caltha palustris var. palustris (yellow marsh marigold)

Carex pensylvanica (Pennsylvania sedge)

Celtis occidentalis (northern hackberry)

Cirsium vulgare (bull thistle)

Cornus sericea ssp. sericea (red osier dogwood)

Dicentra cucullaria (Dutchman’s breeches)

Dryopteris carthusiana (spinulose wood fern)

Enemion biternatum (eastern false rue anemone)

Glechoma hederacea (ground ivy)

Hydrophyllum virginianum var. virginianum (Virginia waterleaf)

Larix laricina (tamarack)

Lemna minor (common duckweed)

Leonurus cardiaca ssp. cardiaca (common motherwort)

Maianthemum canadense (Canada mayflower)

Maianthemum racemosum var. racemosum (common false Solomon’s seal)

Matteuccia struthiopteris var. pensylvanica (ostrich fern)

Onoclea sensibilis (sensitive fern)

Ostrya virginiana var. virginiana (American hophornbeam)

Picea glauca (white spruce)

Pinus resinosa (red pine)

Pinus strobus (eastern white pine)

Populus deltoides ssp. molinifera (plains cottonwood)

Prunus serotina var. serotina (black cherry)

Quercus ellipsoidalis (northern pin oak)

Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa (bur oak)

Quercus rubra (northern red oak)

Rhamnus cathartica (common buckthorn)

Rhus typhina (staghorn sumac)

Ribes americanum (American black currant)

Ribes missouriense (Missouri gooseberry)

Salix × sepulcralis (weeping willow)

Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa (red elderberry)

Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale (common dandelion)

Thalictrum dioicum (early meadow-rue)

Thuja occidentalis (northern white cedar)

Tilia americana var. americana (American basswood)

Trifolium repens (white clover)

Typha × glauca (hybrid cattail)

Typha angustifolia (narrow-leaved cattail)

Typha latifolia (broad-leaved cattail)

Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis (stinging nettle)

Verbascum thapsus ssp. thapsus (common mullein)

Viburnum lentago (nannyberry)

Viola sororia (common blue violet)

Vitis riparia (wild grape)

 

American black currant

black cherry

Canada mayflower

common blue violet

common mullein

Dutchman’s breeches

ground ivy

Missouri gooseberry

nannyberry

Pennsylvania sedge

red elderberry

Virginia waterleaf

Canadian wild ginger

wild leek

yellow marsh marigold

 
 

Reptiles

 
  painted turtle (Chrysemys picta)   western painted turtle  

 

 

Binoculars


Created: 4/19/2019

Last Updated:

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