Minnasota Field Trips

North Country National Scenic Trail
Hiking Adventures in Seven States - The North Country National Scenic Trail links scenic, natural, historic, and cultural areas in seven states. When completed, through the efforts of many people, the trail will be the longest continuous hiking trail in the United States. The trail allows hikers to experience a variety of northern landscapes. Come and experience your America, at a walking pace.

Rice Lake State Park
Long ago, American Indians harvested wild rice from this lake where today, the shallow waters and marshy edges of Rice Lake attract many waterfowl during migrations. Rice Lake is a major wetland in the area. Visitors enjoy camping under the tall hardwoods, photographing spring wildflowers, picnicking, and birdwatching. For a more secluded camping experience, paddle across the lake and camp in a canoe campsite. Winter activities include cross-country skiing and snowmobiling on the trails.

Tettegouche State Park
Come to Tettegouche for a great sense of the North Shore: the spectacular overlooks at Shovel Point; rocky, steep cliffs and inland bluffs; the cascading 60 ft. High Falls of the Baptism River; and the historic Tettegouche Camp where visitors can stay the night. This is a hiker's paradise with miles of trails that overlook the Sawtooth Mountains and wind down to inland lakes accessible only by foot. The Palisade Valley Unit features broad scenic vistas coupled with an expanse of multi-use, four-season trails. Two more trout lakes complement the fishing opportunities within the rest of the park. The park is also known for rock climbing opportunities and quality birdwatching in the spring, summer, and especially the fall.

Myre-Big Island State Park - Albert Lea
This park has something for everyone. The trails take visitors around wet lowlands, oak savanna, and grasslands. Albert Lea Lake and park marshes draw hundreds of waterfowl during migration. Oak savanna and prairie landscape, including wetlands, dominate most of the park. One of the more unique aspects of the park is the 116-acre Big Island that is covered with baple/basswood forest. Another is the glacial esker located in the northeast section of the park.

Carley State Park - Altura
Beauty and quiet, that is the essence of Carley State Park. In the spring, delicate bluebells (Mertensia virginica), and other wildflowers carpet the valley with a profusion of color. Hike along the trail that follows the Whitewater River and take in the grand old white pines. Listen for the sweet song of orioles, song sparrows, house wrens, and indigo buntings. Enjoy the picnic area, play on the swings or practice softball. Try your hand at horseshoes or sit back and see a red-tailed hawk ride thermals in the sky. The north branch of the Whitewater River is a designated trout stream and provides habitat for brown trout. Rustic campsites are located near the picnic area.

Whitewater State Park - Altura
Picturesque limestone bluffs and deep ravines make Whitewater State Park a very popular southeastern park. The 2,700 acre park is an angler's paradise with brown, brook, and rainbow trout swimming in the spring-fed Whitewater River and Trout Run Creek. Visitors enjoy a sandy swimming beach, a year-round visitor center, easy-to-challenging hiking trails, camping, a group camp, and a modern group center. Come winter, enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or stay at the group center in rustic, winterized cabins. All through the year, discover the natural and human history of the area at one of the many interpretive programs, visitor center exhibits or self-guided trails.

Old Mill State Park - Argyle
A log cabin and a steam-powered flour mill at Old Mill State Park are bold landmarks from the past. The grist mill still gets fired up once a year to grind flour. The Middle River meanders through the park and visitors can see deer, beaver, and moose. Enjoy the prairie and the ever-changing parade of wildflowers along wooded trails. A swimming area, swinging bridge, picnic grounds, campground, and interpretive displays are popular among visitors.

Glendalough State Park - Battle Lake
Glendalough also offers a designated "Heritage Fishery" on Annie Battle Lake. This 335-acre lake, located near the park campground, was for the most part, a private fishing lake for many years, and its fish populations and sizes are more comparable to historic times than most public fishing lakes. Very large bass and panfish are still relatively abundant, as are walleyes of good eating size. Special experimental regulations are in effect to preserve the serenity of this undeveloped lake and give anglers the opportunity to catch these sizeable fish. As a result, visitors can experience fishing as it was 100 years ago. Check with the park for current fishing restrictions. No gas-powered augers are allowed during winter fishing. During spring and fall migration, to the delight of birdwatchers, the park becomes a major waterfowl staging area. Two observation areas in the park provide excellent opportunities to see wildlife activity. Hiking trails take you through oak and northern hardwood forests. One trail leads to a prairie hill.

Lake Bemidji State Park - Bemidji
This park is the perfect playground any time of year, offering visitors swimming, boating, fishing, birdwatching, hiking, camping, biking, picnicking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and year-around naturalist-led activities. Hikers can explore the beauty of a tamarack bog carpeted with showy lady's slippers, pitcher plants, dragon's mouth, grass pink, and insect-eating sundews. Most flowers are blooming in the bog during late spring and early summer.

Scenic State Park - Bigfork
With its pristine lakes, virgin pines, swimming beach, and nesting osprey, Scenic State Park is well deserving of its name. Here, visitors can hike the Chase Point Trail for hypnotic views of Coon and Sandwick Lakes and listen to the wind whistle through the giant pines. The park's overnight facilities include campsites (boat-in, drive-in, backpack), and a cabin. The historic lodge houses interpretive displays.

Franz Jevne State Park - Birchdale
Secluded and peaceful, this park offers picturesque views of Ontario and the Rainy River. Short paths and a boat launch offer access to the river for fishing, where anglers can catch walleyes, northerns, small mouth bass and sturgeon. Pitch a tent in the rustic campsites, equipped with pit toilets, and a hand pump for water. A picnic area overlooks Sault Rapids.

Crow Wing State Park - Brainerd
This is a nature lover's delight. Explore prairie, pine, and hardwood forests. View the Mississippi River from historic and picturesque "Chippewa Lookout." Novice canoeists can paddle the calm waters of the Crow Wing and Mississippi Rivers. Crow Wing is a park rich in cultural history. In this area, a frontier town emerged to serve the needs of travelers and traders. The town died when the railroad chose to cross the river at Brainerd. Walk through the site of the Old Crow Wing Village for a sense of history. The park still has a section of the famous Woods Trail, which served ox cart traffic that carried supplies between St. Paul and the Red River settlements.

Beaver Creek Valley State Park - Caledonia
Nestled in the blufflands of southeastern Minnesota, Beaver Creek Valley State Park is known for its clear streams fed by the "Big Spring." Its streams are home to brown and native brook trout. In spring, wildflowers that blanket the woodland hills and valleys attract migratory songbirds like the rare Acadian flycatcher, Cerulean warbler, and Louisiana waterthrush. These birds nest in the park. A hiking trail meanders along the stream and up into a maple-basswood and oak forest. Campers are lulled to sleep by the murmuring stream.

Hill Annex Mine State Park - Calumet
Go down in history with a tour of the Hill Annex Iron Mine. On the 1 1/2-hour open pit mine tour, visitors make a spectacular descent into mining's past. Learn about the mine operation, the people who worked here, and where they came from. Discover marine fossils in northern Minnesota. Get a sense of the mine's deep, rich history. Learn how this National Historic Site played an important role in state, national, and world history.

Schoolcraft State Park - Calumet
This secluded north woods park is the perfect place to unwind. Quiet and peaceful, the trail system leads hikers through the virgin pine forest that includes a white pine more than 300 years old. Canoeists and anglers enjoy the gentle waters of the Mississippi River. A boat access, picnic area, canoe and drive-in campsites are available to visitors.

Lake Carlos State Park - Carlos
Sculpted by ancient glaciers, Lake Carlos State Park contains a tamarack bog, marshes, woodland ponds, and lakes. A variety of recreational activities revolve around the lake. Clear and deep, Lake Carlos offers visitors a perfect setting for swimming, fishing, boating, camping, hiking and horseback riding. In the winter, ski from the tamarack bog to a maple-basswood forest.

Jay Cooke State Park - Carlton
Trailblazers: this park is a must! Park trails link up to the Willard Munger State Trail at the north edge of the park; perfect for backpackers, bikers (both mountain and tour), hikers, horseback riders, and skiers. Check out the wildflowers in the spring, and the vivid colors in the fall. Walk on the swinging suspension bridge high above the raging St. Louis River. Visit the historic cemetery and the gorge at Thomson Dam.

Wild River State Park - Center City
Wild River is located along 18 miles of the beautiful St. Croix River. The park attracts people who enjoy camping, hiking, horseback riding, canoeing, interpretive programs, self-guided trails, and cross-country skiing. Day visitors can enjoy a leisurely paddle down the St. Croix River from the Sunrise river access to the southern park river access. The park provides opportunities for semi-modern camping, group camping, backpack camping, canoe camping, and walk-in camping. Visitors who want modern amenities can reserve the guest house which provides a living room, dining room, kitchen, and fireplace. The park also has two camping cabins which include bunkbeds, a table, and benches. An all-season trail center is a great spot to relax after hiking or cross-country skiing on the 35-mile trail system. A visitor center with exhibits and environmental education programs is open year-round.

Lake Shetek State Park - Currie
The word "Shetek" is Ojibwe for "pelican," a bird which visits Lake Shetek during the summer and fall. The park contains the largest lake in southwestern Minnesota, which forms the headwaters of the Des Moines River. Expect great fishing for walleye, northern, crappie, and bullheads. Loon Island, a 45-acre bird sanctuary, is accessible on foot via a causeway and includes an interpretive trail. Visit the Koch Cabin and monument memorializing pioneer settlers. The park includes a swimming beach, boat launch, campgrounds and a scenic six-mile loop bicycle trail into the town of Currie. Boat and canoe rentals are available.

Bear Head Lake State Park - Ely
Secluded in the Northwoods, this park contains pristine lakes; it is home to black bears, nesting eagles, timber wolves and moose. Stands of white and red pine trees tower over the birch, aspen and fir trees. Located just south of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, the park shares a similar wilderness quality. Explore miles of shoreline by canoe. Swim at the beach, picnic in the shelter building, or fish for walleye, bass, crappies or trout. Trails in the park link-up with the Taconite State Trail and offer snowmobilers, skiers and hikers plenty to enjoy. Rent a three-bedroom guest house any season of the year.

Fort Ridgely State Park - Fairfax
Tour Historic Fort Ridgely and wander through the ruins of this once thriving outpost. Learn about the U. S.-Dakota Conflict of 1862, a major event in Minnesota's early history. Stop by the cemetery to learn more about the history. For recreation, this park offers plenty: play a nine hole course; hike or ride the trails on horseback; play volleyball or softball; fish; and camp (drive-in and walk-in sites are available). Come winter, ski, snowmobile or sled down the big hill.

Frontenac State Park - Frontenac
Located on the Mississippi River, Frontenac is a birdwatcher's paradise. It's one of the best spots in the country to view birds migrating in the spring and fall. More than 260 species of birds have been recorded here. No wonder: Lake Pepin's diverse habitats -- bluffland, prairie, floodplain forest and upland hardwood forest -- attract numerous warblers, hawks, waterfowl and shorebirds. Hikers and skiers enjoy spectacular views of this beautifully wooded river valley. Fishing, swimming and boat tours are all available nearby.

Buffalo River State Park - Glyndon
Prairie lovers, this park is for you. Trails wind through one of Minnesota's finest and largest remnant prairies. Listen for bobolinks, prairie chickens, marbled godwits and upland sandpipers. A picnic area, swimming area and campground are located in the hardwood forest along the Buffalo River. The park is only 14 miles from the large metropolitan area of Fargo, North Dakota - Moorhead, Minnesota.

Red River State Park - Grand Forks
The creation of the Red River State Recreation Area was a grass root effort that came about as a result of the flood of 1997 that devastated the communities of East Grand Forks, MN and Grand Forks, ND. After the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers redrew the floodplain, the Federal Emergency Management Agency bought 500 homes and other buildings in East Grand Forks along the Red and Red Lake rivers. Red River State Recreation Area logo showing King fisher sitting in a tree along the river. Various structures and homes were removed and the land, now a 1,200-acre greenway, is a state recreation area. Included in this greenway area is a new campground that features 72 campsites including 48 electric sites that have full hookups (sewer and water). The new recreation area also includes trails for walking and biking, areas for picnicking and rivers for fishing and boating. The recreation area's setting in an urban area, offers visitors access to outdoor recreational opportunities as well as shopping and dining facilities within walking distance of one another.

Judge C.R. Magney State Park - Grand Marais
Come for the quiet, the solitude, and the famous Devil's Kettle waterfall. The most popular hike leads from the trailhead upstream along the Brule River to Devil's Kettle, where the river splits around a mass of volcanic rock. Half of the river plunges 50 feet into a pool, while the rest pours into a huge pothole. Anglers can catch brook and rainbow trout in the Brule River or its tributary, Gauthier Creek. The park offers camping, picnicking and hiking.

Grand Portage National Monument - Grand Portage
Grand Portage: A Celebration of Heritage For over 400 years. - Ojibwe families of Grand Portage have tapped maples every spring on a ridge located just off Lake Superior. During the summer, Ojibwe fishermen harvest in the same areas their forefathers have. Before the United States and Canada existed, the trading of furs, ideas and genes between the Ojibwe and French and English fur traders flourished. From 1778 until 1802, welcomed by the Grand Portage Ojibwe, the North West Company located their headquarters and western supply depot here for business and a summer rendezvous. Today, Grand Portage National Monument and Indian Reservation form a bridge between people, time and culture.

Grand Portage State Park - Grand Portage
Torrents of wild water plummet 120 feet over the High Falls down to the Pigeon River in this park on the U.S. - Canadian border. The falls, the highest in the state, presented a serious obstacle to river travel, so a "carrying place," or portage, was necessary. American Indians created the ancient nine-mile trail from Lake Superior to bypass the falls. This trail became known as "The Grand Portage." Today, visitors of all abilities can take a one-half mile trail and boardwalk to the falls overlook area. The park is designed for day use only and contains mixed hardwood-conifer forests and hiking trails along the banks of the Pigeon River. The spectacular scenery sets the stage for recreational opportunities that include hiking, photography, and picnicking. The park lies within the Grand Portage Indian Reservation and is bordered by Canada on the north and east. Lake Superior is about one mile east of the park.

Upper Sioux Agency State Park - Granite Falls
Upper Sioux Agency State Park contains the site of the Upper Sioux or Yellow Medicine Agency. The park was established in 1963 to preserve and interpret the remains of the old Agency site. The park covers 1,280 acres and offers diversity: open prairie knolls, bluffs, and cool, wooded slopes. From the vistas, visitors enjoy the trails which are ideal for horseback riding, hiking, skiing, and snowmobiling. The park also offers a huge sliding hill for winter fun.

St. Croix State Park - Hinckley
Plan an extended visit to St. Croix. With over 34,000 acres and two great rivers: the Saint Croix River, a National Scenic Riverway, and the Kettle River, a State Wild and Scenic River, there's so much to do. Explore the rivers by canoe or with a fishing pole. Swim at Lake Clayton or climb a fire tower. The park has miles of trails for hikers, horseback riders, bicyclists, snowmobilers, and cross-country skiers. Campers can reserve drive-in, walk-in, backpack, and horseback campsites. Large groups can reserve the modern group centers or the primitive group camps.

Voyageurs National Park - International Falls
Explore the Lakes of the North Woods - Nearly 200 years ago voyageurs paddled birch bark canoes full of animal pelts and trade goods through this area on their way to Lake Athabaska, Canada. Today, people explore the park by houseboat, motorboat, canoe and kayak. Voyageurs is a water-based park where you must leave your car and take to the water to fully experience the lakes, islands and shorelines of the park.

Cuyuna Country State Park - Ironton
Abandoned by mining companies more than 20 years ago, this area of former mining pits and rock deposit stockpiles now boasts regenerated vegetation and clear lakes that draw a wide range of recreation enthusiasts. Twenty-five miles of undeveloped shoreline can be explored by boat or canoe and anglers can cast a line for trout, northerns, bass, crappies, sunfish, and walleyes. As one of Minnesota's newest state recreation areas, Cuyuna's 5,000 acres are mostly undeveloped, and some of the land is being acquired. Most of the current facilities are privately owned and operated, including campgrounds and a historical park. Off- highway vehicles are not permitted within the boundaries of Cuyuna Country Recreation Area.

Father Hennepin State Park - Isle
Father Hennepin State Park is located on the southeast shore of Mille Lacs Lake. Visitors enjoy a large sandy beach for swimming, two boat accesses, fishing piers and picnic sites with a panoramic view of the lake. The park's 320 acres include two campgrounds and hiking trails that wind through a hardwood forest and along the rocky shoreline of Mille Lacs. The park's original vegetation was northern hardwoods mixed with marsh areas and pines along the lake. The hardwoods provide shade during the summer and spectacular color in the fall.

Split Rock Creek State Park - Jasper
Swim, fish, or boat the waters of Split Rock Lake, the largest body of water in Pipestone County. The lake is the predominant feature of this park. Stop by the Beach Side Trail Center for an excellent vista and to discover more about the area. Seven miles north of the park is the famous Pipestone National Monument.

Minnesota Valley State Park - Jordan
Just minutes from the Twin Cities, this state recreation area preserves part of the Minnesota River Valley. The Minnesota Valley Trail takes you along the Minnesota River. The section of trail from Shakopee to Chaska is paved and a natural surface trail runs from Chaska to Belle Plaine. The area is ideal for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, mountain biking, snowmobiling and camping in one of the many rustic campsites. The landscapes are just as diverse as the trail system and include wetlands, floodplain forest and blufftop oak savanna. Wildlife observation and birdwatching are popular activities year-round.

Lake Bronson State Park - Lake Bronson
From the observation tower in the park, view the prairie and aspen-oak forests or watch for deer, sharp-tailed grouse, moose and sandhill cranes. The South Branch of the Two Rivers fills Lake Bronson. The lake, which is actually a reservoir, offers visitors swimming, fishing, boating, great camping, and a tranquil backdrop for the picnic grounds. For those who prefer a prairie experience, one of the campground areas allows camping on the prairie. Trails for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling provide visitors with great recreation choices.

Kilen Woods State Park - Lakefield
For a quiet, relaxing time, hike the cool woodland trail which meanders along the tranquil Des Moines River, or enjoy the view of the river valley from Dinosaur Ridge Overlook. You'll find pleasant surprises as you explore small creeks, prairie grasslands, and oak savannas. Visitors enjoy camping, canoeing, fishing, picnicking and hiking. In the winter, enjoy tubing down the long, steep hill.

Lake Louise State Park - LeRoy
Lake Louise lures hikers, horseback riders, skiers, and snowmobilers to its trails, which wind through open landscapes and lush hardwoods. The confluence of the Little Iowa and Upper Iowa Rivers that occurs in the park provides water recreation. In addition, visitors swim, boat, or fish in Lake Louise. Hiking and horseback riding are also popular sports at this park. The lakeside picnic grounds and beach area draws visitors in the summer.

Charles A. Lindbergh State Park - Little Falls
Located on the Mississippi River, Charles A. Lindbergh State Park offers visitors a quaint picnic area. The picnic area includes a historic Work Projects Administration (WPA) picnic shelter and a stone water tower. Fish the waters of the Mississippi River, canoe Pike Creek, or walk the trails amid grand red and white pine, aspen, oak and prairie. Look for bald eagles in the spring and fall. During your visit, stop in at the historic home of Charles A. Lindbergh, Sr., father of the famous aviator, Charles A. Lindbergh, Jr. The home is operated by the Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) and is adjacent to the park.

Cascade River State Park - Lutsen
Come to Cascade for the rushing river and grand waterfalls that lay within a gorge, lush with moss and ferns that grow on black volcanic rocks. Hike the trail through birch, spruce and white cedar; stop to see the views of Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world. Trails connect with the Superior Hiking Trail and the North Shore State Trail and offer great recreational opportunities to hikers and cross-country skiers. Drive-in and backpack campsites are available.

Blue Mounds State Park - Luverne
Blue Mounds State Park is full of natural surprises. Start with the Sioux quartzite cliff, rising 100 feet from the plains. A bison herd grazes on the prairie. Prickly pear cactus blooms in June and July. A sea of prairie grasses and flowers sway in the wind. The park is also a favorite for birdwatchers who want to see nesting blue grosbeaks and other birds. Enjoy camping and swimming.

Camden State Park - Lynd
Camden State Park offers much for visitors to enjoy. Fish for brown trout in the Redwood River or bass and bluegill in Brawner Lake. Hike the trails or cool off in the spring-fed pool. Walk along the wooded river valley, climb the Dakota Valley Trail to the lookout for great fall colors, or go canoeing on Brawner Lake. Woodlands, maples, basswoods, oaks, and cottonwoods, dominate this park. Sun-drenched prairies, grasslands, and marshes offer added diversity. The park provides picnic areas, campgrounds (drive-in, horseback, and group), swimming, hiking, and cross-country skiing.

Minneopa State Park - Mankato
The word Minneopa comes from the Dakota language and is interpreted to mean "water falling twice," referring to the beautiful waterfalls of the Minneopa Creek. Walk the trail which encircles the falls, leading down a limestone stairway to the valley below. Ascend the opposite side and enjoy a panoramic view of the valley which reveals the underlying geology of this area. Visit Seppmann Mill, a wind driven grist mill fashioned in German style from native stone and lumber, or hike through oak savanna and native prairie grasslands overlooking the scenic Minnesota River Valley.

William O'Brien State Park - Marine-on-St. Croix
A great "get away" park only one hour from the Twin Cities, William O'Brien provides a beautiful setting for quality recreation along the banks of the St. Croix River. Hiking trails offer quiet exploration of the park's rolling, wooded hills. For anglers, the channels of the St. Croix have northerns, walleye, bass and trout. Ideal for canoeing, the river is also a migratory pathway that offers visitors an exciting diversity of sights and sounds. In the winter, snowshoeing, skiing and camping attract enthusiasts.

Savanna Portage State Park - McGregor
Time slips by when you visit this park of the north. Walk the Savanna Portage Trail, a historic trail traveled by fur traders, Dakota and Ojibwe Indians, and explorers more than 200 years ago. Savanna Portage State Park has 15,818 acres of rolling hills, lakes, and bogs. The Continental Divide marks the great division of water: water to the west flows into the Mississippi River; water to the east runs into Lake Superior. Visitors can hike the Continental Divide Trail and see forested vistas. During the summer, visitors enjoy swimming at Loon Lake. Bike enthusiasts can pedal on roads, or on dirt trails designated for mountain bikes. With four fishing lakes and a river, its common for anglers to catch panfish, trout and bass. Come winter, this park offers snowmobilers approximately 60 miles of trails to explore. This park is a favorite among cross-country skiers too with 10 miles of trails to ski.

Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art - Minneapolis
Housed in a striking stainless steel and brick building designed by architect Frank Gehry, the Weisman Art Museum offers an educational and friendly museum experience. The museum's collection features early 20th century American artists such as Georgia O'Keeffe and Marsden Hartley, as well as a diverse selection of contemporary art. A teaching museum for the University of Minnesota and the community, the Weisman provides a fresh, engaging arts experience through an array of programs and a changing schedule of exhibitions.

Wells Fargo History Museum, Minneapolis - Minneapolis
On the skyway of the Cesar Pelli designed Wells Fargo Tower in downtown Minneapolis, Wells Fargo presents its Midwestern heritage.

Lake Maria State Park - Monticello
Visitors who come to Lake Maria State Park will enjoy one of the few remaining stands of the "Big Woods," a maple, oak and basswood forest that once covered part of southern Minnesota. The park is perfect for hikers, backpackers, horseback riders, and cross-country skiers who enjoy the challenge of the rolling terrain. Take a stroll on the boardwalk which winds through a marsh. Backpack sites, located on remote lakes and ponds throughout the park, are just two miles from the trailhead parking lot. New log camper cabins, located near lakes and ponds, provide bunk beds for six people and a table and benches for campers who want more of the creature comforts. Lake Maria State Park is home to the Blandings turtle, easily identified by bright yellow spots on its shell. It is one of Minnesota's threatened species.

Moose Lake State Park - Moose Lake
Rolling hills surrounded by fields, woods, ponds and fishing lakes make this park popular for hikers, anglers, canoeists, swimmers and campers. Quiet Echo Lake is ideal for catching bass, northerns and panfish. The Willard Munger Trail is located two miles west of the park. The trail stretches for 60 miles from Hinckley to

Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park - Nerstrand
Enjoy this park on foot, any season of the year. In the spring, the park is a wildflower garden where hepatica, bloodroot, Dutchman's breeches, and the dwarf trout lily bloom. The dwarf trout lily is only found here. Relax by Hidden Falls in the summer. The autumn brings a burst of red, orange, and gold in the maple-basswood forest, one of the last extensive stands of the "Big Woods." When winter comes, ski or snowmobile the trails through picturesque woods.

Sibley State Park - New London
There is something for everyone at this popular west-central Minnesota State Park. Hike to Mount Tom, one of several high points in a 50-mile radius, and see a patchwork of forest, farmland, prairie knolls, and lakes. Summer visitors enjoy swimming, boating, and fishing on Lake Andrew. A canoe route invites adventurers to portage and canoe on Henschien Lake and Swan Lake. The park offers campgrounds, a modern group center, horseback camps, picnic area, and interpretive programs year-around.

Flandrau State Park - New Ulm
The gentle flowing Big Cottonwood River meanders through this southern park. The sand-bottom swimming pond, picnic area, campgrounds and group center attract many visitors every summer to this very popular state park. The terrain is diverse, offering views of wooded river bottoms, oxbow marshes and open grasslands. Hikers and cross-country skiers enjoy the flat trails on the bottom of the valley or more challenging routes on the oak-shaded bluffs. Visit historic stone buildings crafted by Works Progress Administration(WPA)crews. Vegetative features include goat prairies, small white lady's slippers, and the floodplain forest.

Mille Lacs Kathio State Park - Onamia
Mille Lacs Kathio State Park has so much to offer and discover. Its 9000 years of human history and archaeological significance has made it a National Historic Landmark. You can learn about its rich history and all of Kathio's other treasures at the Visitor Center located next to the picnic grounds. While you're at Mille Lacs Kathio, take some time to visit the Mille Lacs Indian Museum located just two miles north on US Hwy. 169. It is operated by the Minnesota State Historical Society and exhibits the Mille Lacs area history from 1680 forward.

Big Stone Lake State Park - Ortonville
Big Stone Lake is 26 miles long and is located on the South Dakota-Minnesota border. The lake is the source of the Minnesota River and attracts anglers who catch walleye, northerns and bluegills. The northern section of the park, called the Bonanza Area, provides a picnic area, boat launch and a primitive group camp for guests. The area also includes the Bonanza Education Center which provides a place to discover the past and ways to preserve it. The southern section of the park, called the Meadowbrook Area, contains a campground, swimming beach and hiking trails.

Itasca State Park - Park Rapids
Established in 1891, Itasca is Minnesota's oldest state park. Today, the park totals more than 32,000 acres and includes more than 100 lakes. Walk across the mighty Mississippi as it starts its winding journey 2,552 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. Stand under towering pines at Preacher's Grove. Visit the Itasca Indian Cemetery or Wegmann's Cabin, landmarks of centuries gone by. Camp under the stars, or stay the night at the historic Douglas Lodge or cabins. Explore Wilderness Drive past the 2,000-acre Wilderness Sanctuary, one of Minnesota's seven National Natural Landmarks.

Maplewood State Park - Pelican Rapids
The maple forest turns brilliant shades of orange, gold, and red in the fall. Eight major lakes and many ponds offer water lovers places to swim, fish, boat, and simply relax. Lake Lida has a sandy beach and large picnic areas for visitors. Drive along the scenic route to observe the wildlife: the park is host to 150 bird species and 50 species of mammals. The extensive trail system attracts hikers, horseback riders, and cross-country skiers.

Pipestone National Monument - Pipestone
An opportunity to explore American Indian culture and the natural resources of the tallgrass prairie. Established by Congress in 1937 to protect the historic pipestone quarries, the site is considered sacred by many American Indians. Spanning centuries of use, American Indians continue to quarry pipestone which they carve into sacred pipes.

Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park - Preston
Visit Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park to see natural wonders above and below ground. Explore the world of Mystery Cave with its stalactites, stalagmites and underground pools. Park naturalists provide tours of the cave throughout the summer and on weekends in the spring and fall. The temperature stays at a constant 48 degrees Fahrenheit. Above ground, stop by Historic Forestville, a restored 1800s village operated by the Minnesota Historical Society (MHS). Fish three blue-ribbon trout streams for brown trout. Take in the soft pastels of wildflowers in spring or listen to ruffed grouse drumming and wild turkeys gobbling. Hike or bring your horse to ride the ridge tops and stream valleys. Observe interesting geologic features along the way including sinkholes and dramatic Big Spring. In the fall, don't miss the bold colors of the forest. Winter invites visitors to ski or snowmobile the Bluff Country.

Hayes Lake State Park - Roseau
Some days it's just you, loons, and moose, while you traverse around Hayes Lake. Fed by the north fork of the Roseau River, the lake supports crappie, sunfish, and northerns. Birdwatchers have spotted over 200 species in or near the park. The summer is perfect to look for orchids, gentians, and blueberries (you can pick the berries, but not the flowers). Visitors also enjoy swimming and canoeing in the lake, along with camping. Trails for hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, and horseback riding connect with the Beltrami Island State Forest.

Mississippi National River and Recreation Area - Saint Paul
The Mississippi River - Established in 1988, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area includes 72 miles of the Mississippi River stretching from the cities of Dayton and Ramsey to just south of Hastings. The segment of the river flowing through the park has always been of major significance as a spiritual site, a place for recreation, and a tourist attraction.

Banning State Park - Sandstone
In the spring, watch daring canoeists and kayakers shoot the turbulent rapids at Blueberry Slide, Mother's Delight, Dragon's Tooth and Hell's Gate. In the summer, hike along the Kettle River amid dramatic sandstone rock formations with lush lichens, liverworts and mosses. Visit Wolf Creek Falls, the Log Creek Arches and Robinson's Ice Cave. Stay at the new camper cabin (sleeps five people), which includes bunk beds, a table and benches. Take in the historic ruins of Banning Sandstone Quarry. The park is known for camping, picnicking, cross-country skiing, beautiful trails for hiking and the study of natural history.

Temperance River State Park - Schroeder
Take the trail that winds along the edge of the Temperance River gorge and enjoy the rushing waterfalls surrounded by pine, spruce, cedar and birch forests. The rapidly flowing river has cut deep potholes in and along the riverbed. Hike the trail to Hidden Falls or connect up with trails into the Superior National Forest and the Cross River Wayside. Visitors come to camp and picnic along the shore of Lake Superior. Winter brings cross-country skiers and snowmobilers to tackle the hilly terrain. Carlton Peak, a recent addition to the park, is popular with rock climbers and offers even more recreational opportunities to park visitors.

McCarthy Beach State Park - Side Lake
Come to McCarthy Beach State Park and you'll remember the lakes. Dig your toes into the sandy beach on Sturgeon Lake, rated one of the top 17 beaches in North America by Highways' Magazine. Launch a boat to explore Side Lake and the four connected lakes of the Sturgeon chain. Hikers, cross-country skiers, and snowmobilers enjoy the scenic trails winding through stands of large red and white pines. For longer ventures, head out on the Taconite Trail for access to hundreds of miles of additional trails.

George Crosby Manitou State Park - Silver Bay
Come to this north-country wilderness park where waterfalls cascade through a volcanic canyon surrounded by majestic forest. The trails in the park are carved through a forest of fir, cedar, spruce, and northern hardwoods. Although the trails are steep and challenging for hikers and backpackers, they offer spectacular views. Secluded campsites are for backpackers only. Trout (brown, rainbow, and brook) and splake (a hybrid of brook and lake trout) reside in Benson Lake. Watch for moose, deer, bear, and wolves.

Soudan Underground Mine State Park - Soudan
A century slips by when you visit this park. Visitors wear hard hats and journey down 2,341 feet via a "cage." On the 27th level, the transportation shifts to a rail car for a ride back into the mine as you listen to the stories of the mining days. Above ground visitors can explore the dry house, drill shop, crusher house and engine house. Visitors also can walk the boardwalk past one of the deepest open mine pits or hike the trails in the park through a northern hardwood conifer forest, past the famous Soudan Iron Formation.

Afton State Park - South Hastings
Grand oaks and delicate prairie flowers grace the rugged, rolling landscape of this park. Trails traverse remnant and restored prairies, wind down deep ravines and rise up to the grassy ridgetops and bluffs overlooking the scenic St. Croix River. The trails are perfect for hikers, horseback riders and cross-country skiers. The park offers visitors a swimming beach, backpack campsites and a visitor center with interpretive displays.

Fort Snelling State Park - St. Paul
Located in the heart of the Twin Cities, this park offers extensive hiking, bike and ski trails that link to Minnehaha Park and the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Canoe on Gun Club Lake, play golf, swim in Snelling Lake, or hike on Pike Island where the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers converge. Interpretive exhibits and films on display in the Thomas C. Savage Visitor Center give visitors a good background on the history and resources of the park and area. Trails also allow visitors to hike up to the historic Fort Snelling for a view of military life in the 1820s. This is a day-use only park; no camping is available.

Glacial Lakes State Park - Starbuck
Stand on top of the scenic glacial hills and experience the vast, open prairie which once dominated Minnesota. Wildflowers and prairie grasses blanket the landscape from spring through fall. Swim, fish or boat (electric motors only) in the fresh, clear waters of 56-acre Mountain Lake. A shady, spacious campground is available; horseback riders and backpack campers can camp at the trail center and at remote sites. Canoe rental available. A picnic area deck overlooks Mountain Lake.

Monson Lake State Park - Sunburg
Cast your line for walleye, northerns, bass, and sunfish in Monson Lake. Birdwatchers look for white pelicans, herons, western grebes, and songbirds in this 187-acre park with a diverse landscape of wetlands and hardwood forests. The park includes a quiet campground and wooded picnic area. Paddle the lake and take a short portage that leads from Monson Lake to West Sunburg Lake.

Interstate State Park - Taylors Falls
There is so much to do at Interstate State Park, located on the beautiful St. Croix River. Visitors can climb the cliffs of the St. Croix River Dalles, canoe the flat-water, watch kayakers rush through the rapids, or relax on a excursion boat. Spring brings a great diversity of wildflowers and in fall, the St. Croix River Valley forest is ablaze in the autumn colors of red, gold, and orange. The geology that formed this park intrigues visitors, and brings geologists from all over the world. At least 10 different lava flows are exposed in the park, along with two distinct glacial deposits, and traces of old streams valleys and faults. During the summer, hike the trails and explore the glacial potholes that make this park unique.

Gooseberry Falls State Park - Two Harbors
Gooseberry Falls is the gateway to the North Shore. It is known for its spectacular waterfalls, river gorge, Lake Superior shoreline, Civilian Conservation Corps log and stone structures, and north woods wildlife. Hike or ski to see the Fifth Falls through a forest of evergreens, aspen, and birch. Enjoy camping in modern campsites, picnicking, and relaxing along the Lake Superior shoreline or the Gooseberry River. To get the most out of your visit, stop by the Joseph N. Alexander Visitor Center where you can find park information, interpretive displays, a park video, Nature Store, and more. Or visit the Gateway Plaza for outdoor interpretive signs on area resources and history.

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park - Two Harbors
This park is situated on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Perhaps best known for its historic lighthouse, this park offers numerous recreational opportunities. Visitors can cart-in their supplies to pristine campsites along Lake Superior. Scenic trails along the lake link up to the spectacular Superior Hiking Trail. Anglers cast their lines for lake trout, salmon, and brown trout. The rocky beach is perfect for skipping stones into Lake Superior.

Big Bog State Park - Waskish
Minnesota's last true wilderness. This two-part recreation area includes a northern unit and a southern unit. The 500-square-mile peat bog, the largest in the lower 48 states, is located in the northern unit. A mile-long boardwalk, completed in 2005, enables visitors to get a first-hand look at the unique plant and animal life of this rare resource. The bog, which has long been a source of medicinal plants for the Ojibwe Indians, represented a barrier to European settlers who tried in vain to drain it. Today, many of the native plants, including yellow-eyed grass, bog rush and two kinds of sundews, are on Minnesota's endangered or threatened species list. From orchids to carnivorous plants to rare birds, visitors will see a mixture of fascinating and rare resources.

Sakatah Lake State Park - Waterville
Sakatah-Singing Hills State Trail runs through Sakatah Lake State Park and stretches 39 miles from Mankato to Faribault. The paved trail offers hikers, bikers, skiers, and snowmobilers beautiful scenery through Minnesota's hardwoods. Sakatah Lake, a natural widening of the Cannon River, lures canoeists to paddle the calm waters, and anglers to catch walleye, large mouth and white bass, northern pike, and panfish. Whatever the season, visitors enjoy camping and picnicking.

Lac Qui Parle State Park - Watson
Lac qui Parle is a French translation of the name given to the lake by the Dakota Indians who called it the "lake that speaks." If you visit in the spring or fall you'll understand why. The lake is a stop over for thousands of migratory Canada geese and other waterfowl. You'll hear a chorus of honking, quacking, and other vocalizations. Paddle the lake, or cast a line and catch walleye, northerns, perch, or crappie. Explore one of the trails by foot or horseback. Visit the historic Fort Renville and Lac qui Parle mission sites. While in the area, be sure to visit the 27,000 acre Lac qui Parle Wildlife Management Area.

Zippel Bay State Park - Williams
After visiting Zippel Bay, you'll remember the sunsets, and the miles of white sand beach. The park is located on the shores of Lake of the Woods, one of the world's largest lakes. Because of its size, the lake freezes much later than most lakes and remains ice covered much later in the spring. In the spring hear the ice as it is stressed by wind and compression. During the winter, visitors will be treated to the intricate ice forms on rocks and the shore. The mood of the lake is always changing, from three-foot high crashing waves, approaching storms and lightening flashes, to an eerie stillness with faint sounds from a thousand raucous gulls, out of sight in the lakes interior. The 3,000-acre park offers a swimming beach on the big lake, a marina in Zippel Bay and stone jetty providing access to Lake of the Woods and safe passage off the lake. Watch for sandhill cranes and piping plovers. The park offers drive-in campsites and a group camp.

Great River Bluffs State Park - Winona
This is beautiful bluff country! The park contains two Scientific and Natural Areas (SNAs), King's and Queen's Bluff. The King's Bluff trail offers a breathtaking view of the Mississippi River Valley. Bring your binoculars; the river valley is a major flyway for waterfowl, eagles, and hawks. Explore the diversity in this park: oak-hickory and maple-basswood forests, pine plantations, fields, and goat prairies offer visitors excellent hiking and a diversity of wildlife. Look for ruffed grouse, wild turkeys, coyotes, and many species of songbirds.

John A. Latsch State Park - Winona
John A. Latsch, a successful Winona businessman and founder of the Izaak Walton League, loved to fish in the waters of the Mississippi River below the bluffs of Faith, Hope, and Charity. Today, a half-mile hike up the deep ravine for a view from these peaks is well worth the effort. From this vantage point, visitors relish a grand long view of the Mississippi River Valley, the green lush forest in the summer, and the colors in the fall.