Facilities

Big Woods Preserve

The 14 acres of the Big Woods Preserve is one of the last metro remnants of a hardwood forest which once covered all of central Minnesota and the east coast. Enjoy native wildflowers in the spring and the spectacular fall beauty in a forest filled with sugar maples and basswood trees. March is a time when the sap becomes active and maple tree tapping is occasionally scheduled.  The thick forest provides a buffer for the City from the adjacent Interstate 394. This 1930s Tudor Estate was preserved in 2004 by the citizens of Wayzata in partnership with private donors and The Retreat (a recovery organization that occupies the center of the 23 acre site). A rustic path invites visitors to walk through the 14-acre park. Six parking stalls are located to the left as you enter.

Location

This park is located east of the Colonial Square shopping center off of Wayzata Boulevard. A walking trail is located in this woodland preserve.