8 Places for a Picnic in St. Louis Park and Golden Valley

Picnic-friendly destinations across St. Louis Park and Golden Valley range from lakeside parks and historic gathering places to quiet preserves with nature trails. These west metro settings offer scenic water views, shelters, and tranquil spaces for an outdoor meal in the Twin Cities.

March 9, 2026

With more than 80 parks throughout St. Louis Park and Golden Valley, an inviting place to eat outside is never far away. The following locations are among our favorite picnic destinations in the Minneapolis area.

Picnic Destinations at a Glance

• Wolfe Park — Lakeside paths and picnic shelters
• Westwood Hills Nature Center — A picnic area within a scenic nature preserve
• Minnehaha Creek Preserve — Quiet benches beside the creek
• Oak Hill Park — A family-oriented park with shelters and grills
• Lilac Park — Historic grounds with a famous beehive fireplace
• Brookview Park — Golden Valley’s largest park, with attractive ponds
• Lakeview Park — A calm neighborhood picnic setting
• Theodore Wirth Regional Park — A large regional destination with picnic areas along the lakes

Picnic Places in St. Louis Park

Wolfe Park

A relaxing picnic is easy to plan at Wolfe Park, one of St. Louis Park’s most popular parks. Two shelters provide ample picnic tables for groups of family or friends.

The park’s other amenities include a large playground, basketball court, pickleball courts and sand volleyball. A walking route follows the perimeter of Wolfe Lake and Bridge Pond, and anglers can use the dock on the lake.

Westwood Hills Nature Center

Westwood Hills Nature Center provides a particularly peaceful place to picnic in St. Louis Park. The 160-acre nature preserve includes three miles of trails crossing marshland, woods and restored prairie.

Visitors may eat at the shelter beside the nature center or lay a blanket near Westwood Lake. Wildlife sightings may include deer, turtles, fox, mink and owls. A fishing pier and strong birdwatching opportunities add to the experience throughout the preserve.

Minnehaha Creek Preserve

Photo: Eric Anondson

Minnehaha Creek Preserve offers a quiet picnic experience surrounded by nature in St. Louis Park. This green space follows the waters of Minnehaha Creek and includes a boardwalk along with a paved walking trail.

The boardwalk benches provide scenic places for a modest meal. Blue herons, ducks and muskrats are among the wildlife visitors may see along the creek.

Oak Hill Park

Several shelters and picnic tables are distributed throughout Oak Hill Park, making it a convenient picnic choice in St. Louis Park. The park also provides public grills, a playground, basketball courts and a splash pad during the summer months.

Its broad open areas and range of amenities suit both family picnics and informal outdoor lunches.

Lilac Park

Among St. Louis Park’s most distinctive picnic destinations, Lilac Park combines local history with a charming 2.7-acre setting. The park dates to the Great Depression and is located near Highway 100’s famous Lilac Way, a 12.5-mile roadway bordered by more than 8,000 lilac plants.

One of only two remaining beehive-shaped fireplaces in the United States stands in the park. Local stonemasons built the unusual structure in 1939 from limestone quarried along the Minnesota River. During the era of roadside picnics, families used the fireplace to roast hot dogs.

Modern visitors will find picnic tables, paved paths and a connection to the regional bike trail. Mid-to-late May is the ideal picnic season here, when flowering lilacs bring fragrance and color to the park.

Picnic Places in Golden Valley

Brookview Park

At 33 acres, Brookview Park is Golden Valley’s largest park and offers a picturesque picnic environment. Its amenities include picnic tables, public grills, lighted walkways and trails, as well as several pond-like water features that add to the scenery.

Families can also use the playground equipment, basketball courts, tennis courts, sand volleyball area, horseshoe pit and game squares.

For group events, two covered pavilions with picnic tables are available to rent. The larger pavilion accommodates up to 25 people, and the smaller one holds up to 12.

Lakeview Park

Lakeview Park is a peaceful choice for a neighborhood picnic in Golden Valley. Mature cottonwood trees give the grounds a wooded character, while a picnic shelter, lighted trails and a warming house make the park enjoyable throughout the year.

A playground, basketball court and lighted game squares offer activities to enjoy before or after eating.

Theodore Wirth Regional Park

Covering more than 700 acres in Minneapolis and Golden Valley, Theodore Wirth Regional Park contains some of the Twin Cities’ most scenic picnic settings. A favored picnic area is located near Wirth Lake, offering water views and convenient access to the park’s many attractions.

Takeout is available from the Trailhead Café inside the Trailhead building, with coffee, grab-and-go food, beer and wine.

After eating, visitors can walk through the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary, where native wildflowers appear throughout spring and summer. Other park features include a swimming beach, fishing pier, disc golf course and miles of trails for biking and walking.

FAQ: What Season Is Best for Picnicking in St. Louis Park and Golden Valley?

The most suitable picnic season in St. Louis Park and Golden Valley runs from spring through fall. Lilac Park is particularly striking in late May during lilac bloom. Summer works well for destinations featuring splash pads and lakeside scenery, including Wolfe Park and Theodore Wirth Regional Park. In fall, colorful foliage enhances the trails at Westwood Hills Nature Center and Minnehaha Creek Preserve.