The 1,045-acre Cleary Lake Regional Park, southwest of Burnsville in Scott County, is one of the most popular year-round recreation spots in the southern metro area. A visitor center/clubhouse offers concessions, room rentals, and recreation rental equipment. Golfers enjoy the challenge of a par-3 length 9-hole golf course and driving range. Water sports include swimming, boating, and fishing, while winter activities include cross-country skiing on groomed trails.

The park's terrain consists of gently rolling pasture hills dotted with stands of hardwood forest and swampy lowlands. Keep your eyes peeled for deer and woodpeckers, especially in winter.

• In winter, wrap yourself in a scarf and mittens, bear the icy cold, and cross-country ski along Cleary Lake's 8.1 miles of 10-foot-wide groomed trails.
• Hike the Cleary Lake Loop Trail for fantastic vistas and a satisfying afternoon.