Doyle-Kennefick Regional Park - Elko New Market, MN
Doyle-Kennefick Regional Park: Dog-Friendly Trails in Elko New Market, Minnesota
Doyle-Kennefick Regional Park offers pet-friendly adventures across picturesque prairie and woodland trails near Elko New Market, MN. Known for its beautiful open spaces, gravel walking paths, and diverse scenery—wildflowers, wetlands, and charming bridges—this park is a favorite for dog owners seeking a tranquil walking or light hiking experience with their pets. The park is wheelchair accessible with a dedicated parking lot, and most main trails are gravel, though some inclines may be challenging for wheelchairs.
Dogs are welcome, and the trails are well-suited for leashed dog walks. Picnic tables and benches, picturesque wetlands with waterfowl, and a peacefully restored farm atmosphere add to the park’s charm. Visitors consistently highlight the park’s cleanliness, easy-to-follow maps, and friendliness toward families and children. Please remember to pick up after your dogs to help keep the park clean!
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are there benches or seating areas for owners? Yes, there are benches and some large rock boulders scattered along the trails, as well as picnic tables at the parking lot entrance.
- Are restrooms available for owners? Yes, vault toilets are available near the parking lot.
- Is the park wheelchair accessible? There is accessible parking, and the main gravel trails are wheelchair-friendly, though some graded hills may be challenging for some users.
- Is the park good for kids? Yes, it is noted as good for children and families.
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, the park features several scenic gravel and dirt trails, including prairie and woodland routes with beautiful views and a bridge over the wetlands.
- Where is the best place to park? There is a dedicated parking lot that is wheelchair accessible at the trailhead.
Reviews
Doyle-Kennefick was once a farm that was then donated to become a Regional Park. The trails are gravel and is easy walking. Lots of prairie with wild flowers and a couple of bigger ponds that have some Great Egrets, Heron’s and other birds. A couple of ponds have lily pads and there a lots of dragonflies. There are a couple of picnic tables around as well. I will say though there are some areas that are a little more buggy. So if you are looking for a local hiking trail, I would recommend checking this park out!
Only two trails but a very nice walk! No paved trails, only aggregate trails with a couple of “off-trail” trails through the more wooded areas. The wetlands are gorgeous with one really nice bridge over a waterway that connects two wetlands on the Lily Trail.
Date of Visit: 03/24/2025 – Beautiful trails! We’ll definitely be back ASAP. Vault toilets available near the parking lot. Plentiful maps, so you know where you’re going.
I recently discovered this public park and I am falling in love with these open prairie trails! Short and sweet, only a mile or two long and even some dirt trails that venture off into the woods!
A few benches and large rock boulders are scattered throughout the trails, and there is a picnic table at the parking lot entrance!
A great place for walking your dogs, but please pick up after your furry friends, it’s quite unpleasant to keep watching where I step.
A creaky windmill
Beautiful prairie pathways
Wildflowers and oaks
Gravel Trails made for a nice walk, with some hills to keep the heart rate up. There are some forested parts for shade, but lots of sun in the open prairies.
There is accessible parking, and the gravel could be traversed with a wheelchair, but some of the hills are graded such that it could be quite tough.