Minnesota State Parks: How to Get There, What to Do, Where to Do It

By Anne Arthur and Signy Sherman

Explore Minnesota’s state parks and state recreation areas with this all-in-one guide.

When you consider a visit to Minnesota’s state parks, you might imagine hiking, bicycling, camping, fishing, swimming, bird-watching, or simply relaxing beside a babbling river. Of course, you’re right. The beautiful parks are perfect escapes for your favorite outdoor activities—but there’s so much more to do. Minnesota’s state parks offer a multitude of unique experiences and new adventures! Discover them all in Minnesota State Parks by Anne Arthur and debut author Signy Sherman.

Wade across the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Itasca State Park. Explore an open mine pit at Hill Annex Mine State Park or an underground mine at Lake Vermillion-Sudan Underground Mine State Park. Immerse yourself in history at Fort Snelling State Park or Fort Ridgely State Park. See the bison herd at Blue Mounds State Park. Tour the cave at Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park. You’ll also have opportunities to try everything from archery to snowshoeing, stay in a cabin or yurt, or even go scuba-diving (if you have the training and equipment).

This comprehensive guide spotlights all 75 state parks and state recreation areas in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Each entry includes full-color photography, a map, and the details you want to know—including a park overview and descriptions of the trails, campgrounds, and interpretive programs. Plus, the authors’ tips help to ensure that you maximize the fun.

Inside you’ll find

• Guide to all 75 state parks and state recreation areas
• Maps that show hiking and biking trails at a glance
• Expert tips from the authors
• Nearby attractions that help you make the most of your vacation, road trip, or weekend getaway

Get outside and connect with nature. It’s as easy as finding a nearby state park. Use Minnesota State Parks to choose the destinations that are right for you, or begin your journey to visit them all!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Adventure Publications
• Release date: May 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9781647552510

Book preview

Northwest Region

Big Bog SRA

Buffalo River State Park

Garden Island SRA

Glacial Lakes State Par

Glendalough State Park

Hayes Lake State Park

Itasca State Park

La Salle Lake SR

Lake Bemidji State Park

Lake Bronson State Park

Lake Carlos State Park

Maplewood State Park

Old Mill State Park

Red River SRA

Zippel Bay State Park

Northwest

Big Bog State Recreation Area (EST. 2000)

55716 Highway 72 NE, Waskish, 56685; 218-888-7310

Both units are located on Highway 72 north of Waskish.

DESCRIPTION

Big Bog has two sections; in its entirety, the recreation area covers 9121 acres. The northern unit has the largest peat bog in the Lower 48 states, which covers 500 square miles. The southern unit has access to Upper Red Lake.

WHY YOU SHOULD GO

Big Bog State Recreation Area is the perfect place to enjoy time on or around the water, thanks to its access to Upper Red Lake. The southern unit of the park features a boat launch, docks, a campground, and a beach, providing a resort-like environment. In addition, a visitor center with a nature store recently opened; it is located at the entrance to the southern unit of the park. When you go, look for the fire tower; during visitor center hours, the 100-foot tower is open for tours.

Anne’s Tips

The northern unit of the park includes the remarkable Big Bog Boardwalk. A 2-mile round-trip, it was designed to allow the vegetation underneath the boardwalk to flourish. Make sure to bring water, sunscreen, and bug spray.

Birders should visit the bog, as 300 species of birds have been seen in the bog area. There are also a variety of wildflowers present, including everything from rare orchids to carnivorous plants like the sundew.

Think about exploring the bog area by snowshoe in winter. The park’s camper cabins are winterized, so plan ahead and reserve one.

Plan on swimming at the sandy beach, which extends out into the shallows of the lake. The beach is like a taste of the ocean in Minnesota.

TRAILS

There are 4.5 miles of trails split between the units, and the trails start from the picnic areas. The Big Bog Boardwalk Trail, located in the northern unit, is a 1-mile one-way trail (2 miles round-trip), and it is wheelchair accessible. In the winter, there are 10 miles of snowmobiling trails. Snowshoeing is allowed anywhere in the park, except on groomed trails.

RECREATION

The southern unit is located on Upper Red Lake, which offers excellent fishing year-round. There are multiple boat launches and docks located on the Tamarac River, which is next to the campground. Canoe access is also available. Canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and snowshoes are available for rent at the park office.

Upper Red Lake also has a wonderful sandy beach and picnic grounds with a shelter. Playground equipment is located across the Tamarac River at Homestead Park, along with ball fields and horseshoe pits. Geocaching is available at the park, and the park loans out handheld GPS units when the office is open.

CAMPGROUND

The campground is located in the southern unit of the recreation area. There are 31 open campsites, including 26 with electricity. Two of the sites are wheelchair accessible. There are six year-round camper cabins.

INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS

There are kiosks at both units. The Big Bog Boardwalk has interpretive signage.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

Saum Community Club maintains a one-room log schoolhouse that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The first consolidated schoolhouse in the state is located next to it.

41928 Pioneer Road NE, Saum, 56650; 218-647-8414; facebook.com/SaumHistoricSchool

The Big Bog Festival is held in mid-July. Events are spread out between the towns of Kelliher and Waskish.

Northwest

Buffalo River State Park (EST. 1977)

565 155th Street S, Glyndon, 56547; 218-498-2124

Located 14 miles east of Moorhead on Highway 10.

DESCRIPTION

Buffalo River State Park covers 1,355 acres of prairie and woodland. The park has a long history; in the late 1930s, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) helped construct the park’s roads, buildings, and swimming pond.

WHY YOU SHOULD GO

Visit this park to see what an undisturbed prairie looks like. This park and the neighboring Bluestem Prairie Scientific and Natural Area boast some of the finest remaining examples of undisturbed prairie in the state.

Anne’s Tips

Bring your binoculars because this park offers some great birding, with more than 200 species of birds having been recorded at the park, including the secretive Le Conte’s Sparrow.

Bring a camera to hone your photography skills; more than 250 species of wildflowers are found in the park.

The majority of the park can only be accessed via the hiking trails, so bring your hiking shoes.

TRAILS

There are 12 miles of hiking trails, as well as a 1-mile self-guided trail. The Hiking Club Trail is a combination of several trails that lead hikers along the prairie and the river. Snowshoeing is allowed anywhere in the park, and there is a heated winter shelter.

RECREATION

The park is home to a sand-bottomed swimming pond, which is equipped with a filtering system. The original pond was created by the WPA. Check in advance to see if the pond is open. In recent years, it has been closed in some seasons. Call ahead for current hours.

A picnic area with a shelter surrounds the pond. Visitors can shore fish on the Buffalo River.

Geocaching is available. When the park office is open, GPS units are available for loan. If time permits, park staff can offer tips.

CAMPGROUND

There are 44 sites, 35 with electricity and 2 that are wheelchair accessible. Site 16 is located toward the end of the campground and has good views of the prairie. Sites 39 and 41 are more secluded. There is also a group campsite accommodating up to 50 people. Restrooms and an RV dump station are seasonal.

INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS

A park naturalist on staff also works with the nearby Bluestem Scientific and Natural Area. Groups can request a naturalist-led program.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

The Heritage-Hjemkomst Interpretive Center houses a replica Viking ship, the Hjemkomst, and a replica Stave Church, among other exhibits and displays. This is also the home of the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County.

202 1st Avenue, Moorhead, 56560; 218-299-5515; hcscconline.org

The Comstock House is a wonderfully preserved 1882 Victorian-era house with original furnishings.

506 8th Street S, Moorhead, 56560; 218-291-4211; mnhs.org/comstock

© 2022 State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resouces; Reprinted with Permission

Northwest

Garden Island State Recreation Area (EST. 1988)

c/o Zippel Bay State Park, 3684 54th Avenue NW, Williams, 55155; 218-783-6252

Garden Island is located about 18 miles due north of Zippel Bay State Park in Lake of the Woods. To get there, you’ll need to take a boat.

DESCRIPTION

The 762-acre park is located in Lake of the Woods, which has over 14,000 islands. Before the Kenora Dam raised the level of the lake, Indigenous peoples were able to walk to Garden Island, where they tended the gardens for which the island is named. There is evidence of the gardens dating back to the early 1800s.

WHY YOU SHOULD GO

Due to the recreation area’s isolation, getting to the island can be a fun adventure.

Anne’s Tips

Bring the ingredients for a shore lunch. This is a great place to dock the boat, eat some lunch, and stretch your legs.

Because this is quite a trek, 19 miles on the lake, pay attention to the weather and make sure you’ve got emergency gear, maps, and so on. But when it comes to solitude, this is a pretty special spot.

Winter visits, via snowmobile, are also an option, though you’ll want to stick to marked snowmobile trails on the lake, as ice conditions can vary otherwise.

TRAILS

The only place to hike is along the beach. There are no trails. In winter, several snowmobiling trails are in the area. The Ballard Trail, which leads from Baudette to Angle Inlet, goes past the island. The trail from Warroad to Angle Inlet also passes the island.

RECREATION

There is a picnic area with an enclosed picnic shelter, and fishing and swimming are popular along the shore.

CAMPGROUND

None.

INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS

There are no interpretive programs.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

Zippel Bay State Park (see page 72).

Lake of the Woods via NASA’s LANDSAT 8 satellite. Garden Island is the crescent-shaped island to the north.

Northwest

Glacial Lakes State Park (EST. 1963)

25022 County Road 41, Starbuck, 56381; 320-239-2860

Located 5 miles south of Starbuck on County Road 41.

DESCRIPTION

Glacial Lakes State Park encompasses about 1880 acres of hills and valleys that were created when glaciers moved through the area long ago. The park also features a combination of prairie and hardwood forests.

WHY YOU SHOULD GO

There are several lakes here, but the spring-fed Signalness Lake is the highlight of the park, and it’s perfect for swimming and fishing. The park’s wide-open prairie and glacial hills also provide spectacular views.

Anne’s Tips

Plan on hiking the Prairie Woodland Interpretive Trail. It is a short trail between the campground and the picnic area, and it highlights many prairie and woodland birds and animals.

Hike the ridges around the park and experience the vastness of the prairie. Go hiking at sunrise or sunset, and while you’re hiking, see how many different prairie wildflowers you can spot.

TRAILS

There are 16 miles of hiking trails. For a longer hike, check out the Hiking Club Trail, which takes you to the highest point in the park. From there you can get an excellent view of the topography of the area. Starting at the park entrance, there is a 5-mile paved bike trail that leads to the town of Starbuck. The park also has 11 miles of equestrian trails. In winter, there are 6 ungroomed miles for cross-country skiing and 11 miles of snowmobiling trails in the park. An additional 20 miles of trails can be found within 10 miles of the park. Snowshoeing is allowed anywhere in the park except on groomed trails.

RECREATION

There is good fishing for largemouth bass and northern pike in Signalness Lake, and anglers can make use of a drive-in boat launch there. Nevertheless, only electric motors are allowed on the lake. Visitors can also fish from the park’s fishing pier or several docks around the lake. You can rent a canoe, a kayak, or a paddleboard at the park. The park’s swimming beach is located on Signalness Lake.

The park’s picnic area is situated on the oak-covered hill and includes a scenic overlook.

Geocaching is available, and the park has GPS units for loan.

CAMPGROUND

There are two campgrounds with 38 sites in all. The Lower Campground has 14 electric sites, but Oakridge Campground has campsites with more shade. There are also six camper cabins, four of which are available year-round, and two are accessible for those with disabilities. The two cabins that are situated in Oakridge Campground give visitors the feeling of being in the North Woods. Four backpack-in sites are spread out along the trails. There are also eight equestrian campsites. The group campsite has a picnic shelter and room for 50 people.

INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS

An interpretive exhibit is at the park office, and programs are offered occasionally.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

Glacial Ridge Bike Trail starts at the state park. The trail is 19 miles long and passes along a number of lakes and some beautiful shoreline. It heads north to Starbuck, northeast to Glenwood, and then on to Villard.

dnr.state.mn.us/state_trails/glacial_lakes/index.html

Holly Skogen Park, located in Starbuck, is a 2-acre piece of Scandinavianinspired Valhalla. Its paths go by several springs, and it features a number of oddities, including gnomes, trolls, and a "Viking mooring