Embrace Minnesota’s sparkling season and beautiful winter landscape with an evening of hiking by candlelight.

Embrace Minnesota’s sparkling season and beautiful winter landscape with an evening of hiking by candlelight.

Get ready to experience snow like you never have before!

Bundle up and bring your family and friends for an afternoon of snow games.

Embrace Minnesota’s sparkling season and beautiful winter landscape with an evening of hiking by candlelight.

Bring your sweetheart or come with friends for a candlelit evening in nature. 

Follow the glow of candlelight through the woods as you walk through the Valentine themed Love in the Animal Kingdom trivia trail. Then, warm up by the fire inside the Nature Center. Enjoy an adult beverage from the gourmet hot cocoa bar, a sweet chocolate treat, and a nighttime view of Quarry Hill's animal ambassadors. Must be 21+ to attend.

Join a naturalist at Quarry Hill for a reading of the children’s book Owl Moon followed by a live owl encounter and a 30- minute hike with a Quarry Hill naturalist. 

• Book reading begins promptly at your selected time.
• A ticket is required for all in attendance. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets required for 24 mos +
• Pre-registration required.
• Suggested ages 4-8 years.
• Hike is off paved trails and not stroller friendly.
• Dress for the weather; including appropriate footwear

About the Book: Late one winter night a little girl and her father go owling. The trees stand still as statues and the world is silent as a dream. Whoo-whoo-whoo, the father calls to the mysterious nighttime bird. But there is no answer. Wordlessly the two companions walk along, for when you go owling you don't need words. You don't need anything but hope. Sometimes there isn't an owl, but sometimes there is.

Join a naturalist at Quarry Hill for a reading of the children’s book Owl Moon followed by a live owl encounter and a 30- minute hike with a Quarry Hill naturalist. 

• Book reading begins promptly at your selected time.
• A ticket is required for all in attendance. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets required for 24 mos +
• Pre-registration required.
• Suggested ages 4-8 years.
• Hike is off paved trails and not stroller friendly.
• Dress for the weather; including appropriate footwear

About the Book: Late one winter night a little girl and her father go owling. The trees stand still as statues and the world is silent as a dream. Whoo-whoo-whoo, the father calls to the mysterious nighttime bird. But there is no answer. Wordlessly the two companions walk along, for when you go owling you don't need words. You don't need anything but hope. Sometimes there isn't an owl, but sometimes there is.

Quarry Hill Nature Center visitors will enjoy a presentation on March 7 by Randy (Rudi)
Hargesheimer, a native of Rochester who spent many days of his youth exploring the quarry
and the hills at today’s Quarry Hill Park. Rudi will discuss the Superior Hiking Trail and his book,
The Superior Hiking Trail Story, The Trek Continues / Expanded Content. Just printed in 2023, the new
book offers many historical stories gleaned from interviews with hikers, volunteers, and
Superior Hiking Trail Association staff; many photos and “Sentiment” quotes from hikers plus
an emphasis on volunteers with portrait stories of several “Super Hero” volunteers. New and
long-time hikers will all enjoy the rich history of how the trail grew from nothing in 1986 to over
300 miles in length today. There were challenges, great successes and little-known missteps
along the way. His award winning photos alone – many presented in the talk – will make every
North Shore enthusiast want this book.
Author, Rudi Hargesheimer is a long-time North Shore enthusiast. He discovered the new
Superior Hiking Trail® in 1986 and was soon a Superior Hiking Trail Association volunteer board
member, serving twelve years – six of those as President.
Rudi was a 40-year employee and manager at Midwest Mountaineering in Minneapolis, the
2010 Number One Outdoor Retailer in America. He traveled extensively all over the world
coming to realize that the best adventures of all were on the Minnesota North Shore and the
Superior Hiking Trail – as his photos will attest. He has written many articles about adventure in
Minnesota as a contributor to MN Trails Magazine, Lake Superior Magazine and other regional
publications. His current business is North Shore Photo Art: www.northshorephotoart.com
These days his home is in the St. Croix River Valley, another cherished subject for Rudi’s always
busy camera.

Have you ever peeked under a rock? A whole community of creatures lives there! Join a naturalist at the Nature Center for a reading of the children’s book Under One Rock.  Then head out to the woods with your guide where we will look for worms, bug, slugs and other ughs and learn the secret art of worm mustarding! Book reading begins promptly at 10 am, followed by a hike to our outdoor exploration space.

Natural science meets imagination during this special presentation.

Join Quarry Hill staff for a presentation comparing some of our favorite Pokémon with animals you can find in the Park. Then meet some Quarry Hill animal ambassadors (water & flying types) and learn which supereffective powers and abilities help them survive in the wild!

Recommended for participants ages 5 and older. Children must be accompanied by an adult. 

Help us celebrate Earth Day with falconer Kirk Payne and a live American Kestrel.

This small but mighty raptor exhibits fascinating adaptations that make it a formidable hunter. With its sharp talons, keen eyesight, and swift aerial maneuvers, the kestrel is well-equipped for hunting in flight. Despite its remarkable abilities, the American kestrel faces big challenges with its conservation status showing a significant population decline. Learn about local conservation efforts and what you can do to help. By raising awareness about the kestrel's plight and doing our part in habitat preservation, we can contribute to the well-being of this remarkable bird of prey.

BONUS! From 2:00 - 2:30 Kirk will demonstrate how to build a kestrel nesting box while discussing tips for placement and caring for nesting kestrels.

Recommended for adults and participants 8 years +, children must be accompanied by an adult.

The lands of Quarry Hill Park were once part of Rochester's historic State Hospital grounds. Join other adults on a guided walking tour of the park to visit some of the interesting historic features that rremain from a centruy of State Hospital use. For example, did you know that the hospital farmed over 1,000 acres and prvided all the food required for all of their patients? From cave, to cemetery, to quarry operations the history is rich and intriguing. 

We will cover about a mile and a half of up an down terrain. Participants should wear good walking shoes. Meet at the main nature center building.

Dig into the past to discover what fossil fortunes are hiding in the rocks at Quarry Hill Park!

Jump, hop, fly and buzz your way up to the Oak Savanna with a Quarry Hill naturalist! We’re rounding up adventurers, ages 4-7, and their adult sidekick for this premier experience. On this 90 minute adventure, naturalists will teach you how to use a bug net (that you get to keep!) and lead you in discovering the amazing world of insects.

Each adventurer will go home with their very own Quarry Hill bug hunt tote which includes a copy of the interactive book "Backpack Explorer: Bug Hunt," an insect net, a bug jar, and sweet honey bee treat.

Jump, hop, fly and buzz your way up to the Oak Savanna with a Quarry Hill naturalist! We’re rounding up adventurers, ages 4-7, and their adult sidekick for this premier experience. On this 90 minute adventure, naturalists will teach you how to use a bug net (that you get to keep!) and lead you in discovering the amazing world of insects.

Each adventurer will go home with their very own Quarry Hill bug hunt tote which includes a copy of the interactive book "Backpack Explorer: Bug Hunt," an insect net, a bug jar, and sweet honey bee treat.

Dig into the past to discover what fossil fortunes are hiding in the rocks at Quarry Hill Park!

Jump, hop, fly and buzz your way up to the Oak Savanna with a Quarry Hill naturalist! We’re rounding up adventurers, ages 4-7, and their adult sidekick for this premier experience. On this 90 minute adventure, naturalists will teach you how to use a bug net (that you get to keep!) and lead you in discovering the amazing world of insects.

Each adventurer will go home with their very own Quarry Hill bug hunt tote which includes a copy of the interactive book "Backpack Explorer: Bug Hunt," an insect net, a bug jar, and sweet honey bee treat.

Dig into the past to discover what fossil fortunes are hiding in the rocks at Quarry Hill Park!

Help catch, tag, and release monarch butterflies as they migrate through our area on their journey south to Mexico. This free, open-house event celebrates the monarch butterfly's remarkable migration from Minnesota to Mexico. Citizens just like you are important contributors to monarch research and conservation. Join us in the field to learn why!

Students will compare their five senses with the senses of honey bees.  Students also learn how honey is made and extracted and how honey tastes. Finally, students will view our observation hive head outdoors to look for all the things bees need to survive.

A Quarry Hill naturalist will lead the class on a tour of the Olmsted County Waste-to-Energy plant and Recycling Center. Students will also spend time at waste-related learning stations. 

*There is no fee for this offering; Olmsted County covers class fees. The class will meet at the Nature Center and walk to the Waste to Energy facility as a group. 

Geologists observe rocks and landforms to investigate processes that have formed and changed Earth. In this class, students will seek fossil evidence in our limestone quarry to reconstruct MN’s tropical past. Additionally, they will think like geologists and paleontologists as they navigate through our geology-themed game trails.

Step back in time when you step into the Quarry Hill Cave! Quarry Hill Park was once part of the Rochester State Hospital grounds and there remains some interesting historic features from a century of agriculture, quarry operations and more. Learn about some of these historic features and tour the sandstone storage cave, carved in 1882.

Join us in the park and cave for a family-friendly evening in nature. Encounter costumed creatures - an opossum, worm, and flying squirrel, each with a tale to tell about their nightlife. They are friendly and funny, with just a touch of fright.

Following the program, experience twists and turns on a self-guided walk, spying hidden objects in the forest. Bring your flashlight!

The evening wraps up with take-home treats delivered by an eight-legged friend!

• Choose a time slot: 4:20, 4:40, 5:00, 5:20, 5:40, 6:00, 6:20, 6:40, 7:00, 7:20, 7:40, 8:00.
• Event lasts approximately 1 hour.
• Event is all outdoors and will be held in light rain, snow or cold.
• Trail is not stroller or wheelchair friendly.
• No pets allowed

Participants should bring a flashlight for the I-Spy hike. Cell phone lights do not work well for this and are not nearly as fun. 

1 ticket admits 1 person (24 months and older). Tickets are non-refundable.

Join us in the park and cave for a family-friendly evening in nature. Encounter costumed creatures - an opossum, worm, and flying squirrel, each with a tale to tell about their nightlife. They are friendly and funny, with just a touch of fright.

Following the program, experience twists and turns on a self-guided walk, spying hidden objects in the forest. Bring your flashlight!

The evening wraps up with take-home treats delivered by an eight-legged friend!

• Choose a time slot: 4:20, 4:40, 5:00, 5:20, 5:40, 6:00, 6:20, 6:40, 7:00, 7:20, 7:40, 8:00.
• Event lasts approximately 1 hour.
• Event is all outdoors and will be held in light rain, snow or cold.
• Trail is not stroller or wheelchair friendly.
• No pets allowed

Participants should bring a flashlight for the I-Spy hike. Cell phone lights do not work well for this and are not nearly as fun. 

1 ticket admits 1 person (24 months and older). Tickets are non-refundable.

Nine Minnesota species and 13 scutes on every one; we are going "Totally Turtles" during this program all about these unique reptiles.

Step back in time when you step into the Quarry Hill Cave! Quarry Hill Park was once part of the Rochester State Hospital grounds and there remains some interesting historic features from a century of agriculture, quarry operations and more. Learn about some of these historic features and tour the sandstone storage cave, carved in 1882.