Attractions and Places To See around Elko New Market - Top 10

As the name of the highlight says, this is an "interesting shaped bridge." This distinctive zig-zag bridge was completed in 2024 through a collaborative design effort between Scott County Parks and Three Rivers Park District’s in-house landscape architects and engineers. The zig-zag layout serves several purposes. From an engineering standpoint, it helps the boardwalk resist lateral movement in the soft, wetland soil. Visually, the pattern is more appealing than the straight, parallel lines of a conventional bridge. Functionally, it slows foot traffic and creates natural pockets where nature observers can pause without blocking the trail for other visitors. Indeed, an "interesting shaped bridge."

Doyle-Kennefick Regional Park is named for two early Irish settler families whose homesteads once occupied this land and are now preserved within the park. The original Kennefick family log cabin, built in 1888, still stands and is protected under a metal pole barn until it can be restored for public viewing or museum use. Nearby are a large 20th-century barn, a corn crib, and a windmill. The cabin housed several generations of Kenneficks; Elizabeth Kennefick, born there, later married neighbor Francis Doyle, whose family settled immediately north of the Kennefick property. In 1941, Francis purchased the Kennefick land, uniting the two farms into a single 400-acre holding that was later sold to Scott County in 2003. Local lore also recalls a Kennefick family member as the unofficial “poet laureate” of Cedar Lake Township, known for composing verses and songs about community people and events. In 2017, Scott County Parks, in partnership with Three Rivers Park District engineers and designers, built initial trails and access so the 900+ acre property could open for hiking and nature observation ahead of its full opening in September 2024.

There are three Komoot highlights called “rocks to sit on” in Doyle Kennefick Regional Park. Feeling a bit sorry for these highlights with such a plain name, I let my imagination wander as I gazed at and sat on them. Because each of these highlights is situated at an elevation in an open area, I compared them to small versions of the Neolithic henges scattered across the British Isles. The idea of Neolithic henges naturally made me think of Stonehenge, which then reminded me of a scene from Thomas Hardy’s novel *Tess of the D’Urbervilles*, which I read in high school. The protagonist, Tess, is fleeing the law across the barren Salisbury Plain. She stumbles upon the massive stones of Stonehenge and, exhausted, lies down on a large, flat stone to sleep, only to wake up in the morning surrounded by police. Now, back to reality, the stones of Doyle and Kennefick are not large enough to lie on for a nap, but given their placement in an open area, they offer a peaceful view of the surrounding parklands. What thoughts come to your mind as you look upon these curious rocks arranged in a row?

There are three Komoot highlights called “rocks to sit on” in Doyle Kennefick Regional Park. Feeling a bit sorry for these highlights with such a plain name, I let my imagination wander as I gazed at and sat on them. Because each of these highlights is situated at an elevation in an open area, I compared them to small versions of the Neolithic henges scattered across the British Isles. The idea of Neolithic henges naturally made me think of Stonehenge, which then reminded me of a scene from Thomas Hardy’s novel *Tess of the D’Urbervilles*, which I read in high school. The protagonist, Tess, is fleeing the law across the barren Salisbury Plain. She stumbles upon the massive stones of Stonehenge and, exhausted, lies down on a large, flat stone to sleep, only to wake up in the morning surrounded by police. Now, back to reality, the stones of Doyle and Kennefick are not large enough to lie on for a nap, but given their placement in an open area, they offer a peaceful view of the surrounding parklands. What thoughts come to your mind as you look upon these curious rocks arranged in a row?

The story of the Juno Trailway-an "Awesome lit walking path" As Martha and I hiked the Juno Trail, I was struck by the fact that it crossed private land, with houses to our left and homeowners’ private docks to our right. I thought to myself, there has got to be an interesting story here, and indeed there was, even more than I suspected. Predictably, the expected property-rights tug-of-war emerged. The political tension centered on the transition of the trail from a private or semi-private access road to a regional public asset. Homeowners along the west shore raised significant concerns during public hearings. Many feared that a wider trail, more signage, or additional lighting would block lake views and bring the public too close to their private docks. The City’s plan for the greenway to be “always open” or operate with extended (24/7) hours conflicted with residents’ preference for the traditional 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. park hours. (I checked the Juno Trail Trailway Rules and Regulations; currently, there are no restrictions on hours of use.) But then came the big surprise I didn't expect: In recent years, local politics were shaken by a major fraud case called the “Nolosha Development Controversy,” which involved a proposed housing project next to the trail. A developer, Nolosha Development, claimed he would build a 160-home community on 40 acres near Lake Marion. However, the developer never actually owned the land and was collecting $25,000 deposits from families for a project that the City of Lakeville had never formally reviewed. The Minnesota Attorney General sued the developer in 2024. In July 2025, a court ordered the developer to pay $4.5 million in restitution to cover the $25,000 deposits paid by 160 families and the $500 "waitlist" fees paid by over 1,500 people. The judge observed that the defendants had demonstrated "outright defiance" toward the court and had no intention of complying with legal orders. Who would have thought there would be so much fascinating history on such a short walk? This is a perfect example of the joy of Komoot. It motivates you to explore a little more when you write a description for an activity or a tip for a highlight, and you end up learning a lot. Now, when I speed past Lake Marion at 65 mph on Interstate 35, these stories will always come to mind.

Sadly, for night time users, many of the overhead lights are missing.

This is an interesting bridge with some nice places to stop and overlook the lakes

Another nice rest spot to overlook the lake