Outdoors

Eden Prairie’s beautiful summer secret inspires landscape artist

Jeff Strate • July 25, 2025

Minneapolis artist Robert Matheson captures Nine Mile Creek and Eden Prairie’s natural beauty through en plein air paintings, inspired by local landscapes.

Summer nights glow with firefly magic

Stan Tekiela • July 21, 2025

Naturalist Stan Tekiela reflects on the summer return of fireflies, their glowing courtship rituals, and ancient evolutionary history.

Cops and Bobbers reels in fun on the lake

Stuart Sudak • July 17, 2025

Eden Prairie kids and police connect over fishing at Lake Riley during the seventh annual Cops and Bobbers community outreach event.

Hooks and Ladders builds bonds on the lake

EPLN Staff Reports • July 17, 2025

Eden Prairie youth and firefighters connect over fishing on Lake Riley during Let’s Go Fishing’s annual Hooks and Ladders event.

Summer secret: Eden Prairie’s most beautiful valley

Jeff Strate • July 16, 2025

Streambank restoration at Bryant Lake Regional Park transforms a once-neglected stretch of creek into a biodiverse and scenic glen.

AirFair 2025 brings flight to life at Flying Cloud Airport

Robin Silverman • July 15, 2025

AirFair 2025 brought aviation history and hands-on experiences to Flying Cloud Airport, connecting families, veterans and future pilots alike.

AirFair 2025 takes flight with a hometown feel

Stuart Sudak • July 10, 2025

AirFair 2025 lands at Flying Cloud Airport with vintage aircraft, military exhibits, food trucks, and a community-focused celebration of flight.

Flying low, ruddy duck steals the show

Stan Tekiela • July 7, 2025

While photographing grebes, Stan Tekiela unexpectedly captures a male ruddy duck in flight, showcasing its bold colors and bubbling display.

You’re going to need a bigger boat – but not on Mitchell Lake

Jeff Strate • June 24, 2025

Braving heat and high winds, two anglers cast off on Eden Prairie’s Mitchell Lake – undaunted by fish, fiction, or forecast.

Digging life with the woodchuck

Stan Tekiela • June 23, 2025

NatureSmart columnist Stan Tekiela reflects on the solitary, soil-shaping woodchuck – its habits, hibernation, and unexpected charm.

Five trails that move Eden Prairie

Andrew Ferri • June 18, 2025

Rated for beauty, quiet, accessibility and challenge, these loops offer lakeside views, shade, solitude – and plenty of miles.

A short bloom, a long legacy at Eden Prairie’s Cummins-Phipps-Grill House

Gretchen Haynes • June 15, 2025

Peonies burst into fleeting bloom at Eden Prairie’s Cummins House, offering a glimpse into a century-old local garden legacy.