St Louis Park

Westwood Hills Nature Center

Westwood Hills Nature Center is a 160-acre natural area featuring marsh, woods and restored prairie. The preserve is beautiful throughout the seasons and provides homes for many animals including deer, fox, mink and owls. Westwood Naturalists conduct year-round programs to increase visitors understanding and appreciation of our natural world. The nature center is located just south of I-394 and east of Highway 169. Parking and admission are free. Wood chipped, boardwalks and hard surface accessible trails are open from dawn to dusk year-round.

Address:
Westwood Hills Nature Center
8300 West Franklin Avenue
St. Louis Park, MN 55426
Phone: 952-924-2544

Park & Trail Hours:
Nature center trails and playground are open every day from sunrise to sunset, year round.

Interpretive Center Building Hours
Year Round
Monday to Friday - 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

February through November
Saturday and Sunday - Noon to 5 p.m.

The Interpretive Center will be closed on the following dates in 2013:
 February 18, March 31, May 25 - 27, July 4, Aug 31 - Sept. 2, Oct. 20, Nov. 11, Nov. 28 - Dec. 1, Dec. 25

Prohibited Activities:
In order to maintain Westwood's natural habitats, the following activities are prohibited.

• Dogs and other pets.
• Picking or collecting of any plant or animal including wildflowers.
• Feeding of wildlife.
• Alcoholic beverages.
• Bicycle riding on trails.
• Releasing/relocating any wild animal.

Programs Scroll down for information on programs offered at the nature center

Bike Camp

Spend a week improving your bike skills and enjoy the great outdoors with other enthusiasts. You will practice handling and balance, learn repair skills and riding etiquette, read maps, try negotiating obstacles, play cycling games with other riders, and more! Take the bike trails to the St. Louis Park Aquatic Center for a day, and experience...

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Eagle Bluff Adventure Trip

Join Westwood’s naturalist staff as we journey south to explore the beautiful Eagle Bluff. Located in the heart of the bluff country in southeast Minnesota, Eagle Bluff is an extraordinary environmental learning center. Take on the challenge of adventure ropes and the climbing wall, explore the Root River by foot or canoe and scramble over karst...

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Pollywogs: Critter Camp

Ages 4 – 5 by the start of the session (drop-off program)
How many eyes does a spider have? Do raccoons feel for their food? What animal can hear a mouse’s heart beat? Discover the answers while experiencing the wonder of nature through outdoor hikes, crafts, stories, puppet shows and animal characters. Choose only one session per child.

Monday – Thursday, June 3 – 6
9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m................................Activity # 7073 OR
1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.................................Activity # 7074 OR
Monday – Thursday, July 29 – Aug. 1
9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m................................Activity # 7075 OR
1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m........................................Activity # 7076

Westwood Hills Nature Center, 8300 W. Franklin Ave.
$55 per child (resident) / $63 (non-resident)
Registration deadline: when program is full

Polywogs: Explorer Camp

Ages 4 – 5 by the start of the session (drop-off program)
Ever wonder what makes a bug a bug? Are snakes totally tail? What’s that bushy squirrel tail for? Why do birds sing? Come and find out the answers through outdoor hikes, stories, games and puppet shows. Choose only one session per child.

Monday – Thursday, July 15 – 18
9 a.m. – 11:30 p.m................................Activity # 7077 OR
1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m........................................Activity # 7078
Westwood Hills Nature Center, 8300 W. Franklin Ave.
$55 per child (resident) / $63 (non-resident)
Registration deadline: when program is full

Westwood Hills Nature Center Brick House

Looking for a unique place for your next meeting or seminar for up to 30 people? This house features a large central room complete with a gas fireplace, two rooms for breakout activities, a full kitchen, and bathroom. Plus, a porch looks over the beautiful grounds of this home adjacent to the Nature Center. Available year-round, except...

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Wild About Animals

Do you love animals and want to have a close-up experience with the animals at the Nature Center? In this camp, you’ll do plenty of outdoor exploring looking for wild animals and the signs they have left behind. You’ll also have the chance to get up close and personal with Westwood’s indoor animals including the slithering snakes...

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