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  • Pat Christman

    Biking

June 3, 2008

Seven Mile Creek is ultimate park

Multiple uses for summer destination

Shane Frederick

It’s just another evening at Seven Mile Creek. In other words, it’s hardly a quiet one.

Take a slow drive along the lone, winding road that cuts through the heart of the Nic-ollet County park and you’ll pass by a bevy of activity:

A group of mountain bikers gets ready to hit the trails. A troop of Boy Scouts sets up supper under a picnic shelter. A bunch of college kids play sand volleyball on one of the sand courts. A gaggle of little kids climb on the fake rocks, climbing walls and other playground equipment.

Further down the road, there are more bikers, along with runners and hikers, heading out on and coming off the trails. A family is watching the creek, perhaps hoping to see some of the brown trout that are stocked in its spring-fed waters. Two people are out for a walk with their dog. Back across Highway 169, folks are unloading horses out of trailers and leading them onto the trails for a ride.

“It’s a really great place,” said Taylor VanRoekel, a senior at Mankato West High School. “You can have a barbecue or go out there for the day. You can hike or run. You can take dogs out there — a lot of places, you can’t do that. It’s a great place to go with friends.”

The park is 628 acres, growing in size since it was first created in 1967 (it was 282 acres in 1976). According to the Nicollet County public works department, Seven Mile Creek Park gets more than 150,000 visitors each year.

“It’s almost like, right when the sun comes out, that’s when it gets very busy,” VanRoekel said.

VanRoekel said he goes to the park at least once a week to ride the trails on his mountain bike, an activity that continues to grow in popularity at the park. Seven Mile has routes for all levels, including some technically challenging ones, and they’re free to use.

“I enjoy being outdoors,” VanRoekel said. “I like the feeling I get from biking.”

The park includes eight miles of multi-use trails that all users share.

“It seems like everyone out here has as good sense of trail etiquette,” VanRoekel said. “Like anything else, if you give respect on the trail, you’ll get it back. People are pretty good.”

Last month, a five-mile running race was held on the trails, and it drew several people who regularly exercise at the park.

“I think it’s one of the coolest places in Mankato to go running,” Mankato resident David Holland said.

But the park isn’t just a place for a workout.

It includes three shelters and several other picnic areas and a canoe/boat launch across the highway along the Minnesota River.

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