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Closure Notice: Beginning Oct.28, 2020 through Fall 2021, segments of this trail north and south of Upper Afton Road will be closed to allow for a regional sewer rehabilitation project. The Point Douglas trailhead will also be closed during this time. Please check the county website for updates and detours.
This is a lovely, yet challenging course (200-ft elevation gain), heading eastbound from the Samuel H. Morgan Regional Trail on the western edge of Battlefield Creek Regional Park. The blacktop trail follows Battle Creek upstream to McKnight Road. The creek flows through a steep oak-wooded valley, attracting wildlife from deer to eagles. East of McKnight Road, an additional 2.5 miles of paved trails and three miles of dirt trails (hiking/ cross-country skiing) meander through that section of the park.
At the west end, an underpass provides access to Fish Hatchery Lake and the Mississippi River via the Sam Morgan Trail. Exposed limestone cliffs can be seen at this end of the trail. There are also over five miles of mountain bike trails in the adjacent woods & bluffs. On the north bluff you may find and explore the ruins of the old Battle Creek Ski Jump. When it was built in 1939, the 60-meter (197-ft) ski jump was one of the largest in the world.
A 36-car lot is located at the west end of the trail, on Point Douglas Road. To get there, from US 61, turn left onto Lower Afton Blvd, head east for one block and turn left (north) onto Point Douglas Rd. Follow the road to its conclusion where the trailhead is located. The trailhead can also be used as a starting point for the Samuel H. Morgan Trail heading westward.
The east terminus of the trail is a half mile south of I94 on McKnight Rd. There is only street side parking on Larry Ho Dr. south of the trail and N. Park Dr. north of the trail. There is NO parking on McKnight. Two additional parking and biking areas can be found about a half mile in the east section (Maplewood) of Battle Creek Park. Both lots may be accessed off of Upper Afton Rd: one to the north (2401 Upper Afton Rd) and to the south (2350 Upper Afton Rd).
This park is a great place to walk and play with your dogs unleashed! It’s huge and even has a pond where your dogs can swim. There’s a big play area as well for the dogs to hang out and play at fetch! The trails are nice as well! I highly recommend this park!
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