Overview

Largest park in Dakota County park system at nearly 2,000 acres. Offers miles of trails and many lakes for year-round outdoor recreation. Mountain biking is a primary use with a comprehensive trail system expanded from original development.

Current Status

Status: Active and fully developed

Park contains nearly 12 miles of beginner, intermediate, expert, and double-expert trails. Original trail system was significantly expanded in recent years. Trails are shared with hikers and open for fatbiking and snowshoeing in winter.

Trail System

Total mileage: Nearly 12 miles of mountain bike trails

Difficulty levels:

• Beginner
• Intermediate
• Expert
• Double-expert

Trail types: Singletrack mountain bike trails with rolling, wooded terrain

Winter use: Fatbiking and snowshoeing permitted when trails are snow-packed

Other uses: Shared with hikers (year-round)

Park Details

Acreage: Nearly 2,000 acres

Features:

• Miles of trails
• Many lakes for fishing and recreation
• Rolling wooded terrain
• Visitor center and facilities
• Year-round recreational opportunities

Location

Address: Dakota County, near Eagan, Minnesota

Access: West Trailhead with visitor center, multiple trail access points

Expansion History

Original system: Initial trails built when park was developed

Recent expansion: System was expanded to include nearly 12 miles of trails across all difficulty levels (beginner, intermediate, expert, double-expert)

Advocacy note: In 2013, Wilderness in the City was formed in response to a development proposal for paved bike trails at Lebanon Hills, which would have fundamentally altered the park's large, minimally developed, wilderness-like environment. The advocacy effort helped preserve the singletrack character of the trails.

Importance

Lebanon Hills is a premier mountain biking destination in the Twin Cities metro area. The expanded trail system provides riding opportunities for all ability levels, close to urban core. The park represents a balance between recreational development and wilderness character preservation.

Monitoring

Tracking items:

• Trail maintenance projects and improvements
• New trail development or expansion proposals
• Dakota County Parks capital improvement projects
• Trail condition reports and closures
• Minnesota DNR grants or funding for park improvements

External Sources

• Dakota County: Lebanon Hills West Trailhead
• Dakota County: Trail Conditions
• Trailforks: Lebanon Hills Regional Park — Condition reports and maps
• MTB Project: Lebanon Hills — Trail maps and descriptions
• MORC: Lebanon Hills — Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists chapter