Rich in history and community pride, Lilydale, a unique little gem of a town, has the feel of both country and city. With its vibrant business community consisting primarily of small retail businesses and restaurants, it stands out for other reasons as well. Lying along a sliver of land in Northern Dakota County between Highway 13 (also called Sibley Memorial Hwy.) and the Mississippi River, it lies totally within a national park, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. Flanked on the south side by the river, it is adjacent to St. Paul, Mendota Heights and Mendota.
Living in Lilydale it’s easy to forget you’re just minutes from Minneapolis with both Hwy. 13 and I 35-E providing quick access. Because our little city lies in a geological region of a river gorge, we have many vantage points for viewing the river. The bluff tops, where most of Lilydale’s population of 950 live, are built primarily with condominiums, townhomes, and apartments. Many of the residents who settle here are retired and love the views of the river with the eagles, seagulls, the river barges and paddle wheelers going by and the many recreation opportunities. In the part of Lilydale that lies at the foot of the bluffs, we have parks and trails, the most famous of which are Lilydale Regional Park and the Big Rivers Regional Trail which connects to Ft. Snelling Regional State Park, and Lilydale Regional Park, Harriet Island Regional Park and downtown St. Paul.