11/22/2001: Battle Creek Regional Park (St. Paul)

Join the hiking group for a varied hike among the bluffs surrounding Battle Creek in eastern St. Paul at the Battle Creek Regional Park. Battle Creek Regional Parkhas extensive areas of woodland, wetland, and grassland. It is considered by many to be one of the most scenic areas in the Twin Cities, with sandstone bluffs and steep wooded slopes bordering either side of the creek.

Battle Creek, named for the battle of Kaposia in 1842, between the Ojibwe and Dakota, flows into Pig's Eye Lake from the high land east of the river valley. Another great ravine there, having numerous tall white pines, is named Pine Cooley, from the French word coulTe, meaning "a ravine or run". Kaposia, the Dakota village of the successive hereditary chiefs named Little Crow, early located on the east bank of the Mississippi near the Grand Marais, where Pike saw it in 1805 and Maj. Stephen H. Long in 1817, was several times changed in place, being even removed to the vicinity of the mouth of Phalen Creek or near the site of the Union Depot in St. Paul, as known by the narratives of Gen. Lewis Cass and Henry R. Schoolcraft at this village in 1820, Long and William H. Keating in 1823, and Charles J. Latrobe in 1833. Again in 1835 it was near the Grand Marais, as noted by George W. Featherstonhaugh. After the treaty at Washington in 1837, by which the Dakota ceded their lands east of the Mississippi here, the Kaposia band had their village at its west side, occupying a part of South Park, a suburb of South St. Paul in Dakota County, which was its site at the time of the battle. The approach of the Ojibwe for the attack, and the course of their retreat, were by way of these ravines of Battle Creek and Pine Cooley.

If driving: Take I-94 to east of St. Paul, and take McKnight exit south. Go to Lower Afton Road (NOT UPPER AFTON, THIS IS IMPORTANT) and turn east or left (there is a stop sign). Go a short distance east to the parking lot on the left or north side of the road. There is a sign for Battle Creek Regional Park, Trail Access but it is hard to see and sort of hidden by brush going east. Reminder, go south on McKnight across Upper Afton Road, and turn east on Lower Afton Road. Read the driving directions carefully, as Battle Creek Regional Park can be accessed in quite a few different locations that are quite removed from each other.

If coming by public transit: Take Metro Transit route(s): 350 . The closest bus service point appears to be the corner of McKnight Road and Lower Afton Road. Applicable Metro Transit Map / Bus Schedule information

Restaurant afterwards.

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This webpage was last updated on February 27, 2002.