Every spring, in a hidden glen in SW Rochester MN, nature puts on a very special show.
If you haven’t been to see the bluebells on the Mayowood Trail, we’d like to suggest you add it to your spring to-do list TODAY. This short-lived nature showcase is only on display for a week or so after they start blooming. Typically, the bluebells will start to make their appearance just before Mother’s Day. When my family visited this past weekend, they were approaching their peak!
The bluebells are easily accessed off of Mayowood Road in SW Rochester. There is a convenient small parking lot as well as parking alongside the road. The trail winds around the South Fork of the Zumbro River as well. There are several spots where you can stop and walk down the river. Some places are shallow enough for you to watch the crawfish swim in and out of the rocks!
Make your bluebell trek a family outing and bring along bikes and scooters! Along the way, you’ll see a variety of birds including orioles, blue-jays, wrens, and hawks. The kids adored being in the “fairy forest!” We made a game of it and asked them to be on the lookout for fairies on the trail.
The bluebells are at about the 15-minute walk mark. They are located between the Mayowood Trail and about 1/4 mile or so before the bridge on Bamber Valley Road. It’s unmistakable once you get there! The bluebells are situated in a beautiful wooded glen with mossy fallen trees and light filtering through the newly budded trees. It is a beautiful, quiet place.
You will not regret it once you visit! But make sure to head there soon or you run the risk of them being past their prime. Be sure to let us know if you make this special trip!
