Emmenegger Nature Park — Attraction in Sunset Hills

This park is truly a hidden gem - I almost don’t even want to post this review just to be selfish!

The entrance is at the end of a road that you would never go down unless you were specifically heading to Emmenegger. You will pass Powder Valley Nature Center on your way here... if you don’t not have a dog with you - go to Powder Valley! It’s a beautiful park that has more trails and is bigger than Emmenegger. However.. when I go to the parks.. I take my dog and we love it here. Parking is limited so try and go during the off times vs the peak. There’s also only one way in and one way out so understand you will see other people. On a busy day we can see 4-5 other parties/people while walking the paved trail and 1-2 other parties if we go up the ridge trail (so worth it! For this area it is a mid level hike... not easy not at all difficult. Can be steep and rocky)

The nature is beautifully preserved and I always find something new each time I go. This is our favorite park in the area to go for walks and hikes with our dog - PLEASE clean up after your pup if you bring them! There is a lack of trash cans in the back end of the park but don’t just leave it. There’s a trash can right next to the car park so there...

On my first visit, I was very underwhelmed. I came to walk my dog on a late afternoon where it had rained that morning because the reviews boasted that there were plenty of paved trails...which there are not. There is no more than probably 15-20 minutes worth of paved walking. The sides off of the path were also littered with dog poop, some even in bags but not thrown away! I would like to return on a day where everything is dry so that we can walk the unpaved paths, but they are so steep in some parts that they would be difficult while everything is muddy. The scenery is very enjoyable, though. Wish the paved paths were a little wider so it was easier to get around other visitors on the same path. I will update this review in the future when I can return on a dry day or if I find that they have created more...

Nice wooded area with a shorter paved trail and a longer approx 2 mile earthen trail through the woods. Some nice views of the Meramac River from the bluffs. A decent climb to get up to the bluffs. Eventually, the trail dead ends into a large field. You need to circle back and pick up the rest of the trail that you most likely passed on the way to the dead end. During the spring and summer, it looks like there would be good shade coverage for those hot days. At one point, we did need to crossover a small stream. I'm not sure how big it gets after rainfall. It was very easy to cross without getting wet since it was so small. A decent amount of parking spaces and some riverside views in the rest of the park. Would come...