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• 8 miles of hiking trail BoundaryPark • 12 miles of horseback Trail Hill G1 trail lane

Airp Trail • 7.3 mile bike trail alley Upper V

connect-ing Fairfax to Trail Fort Ridgely BoundaryPark l Because lands exist within the boundaries of this Because lands exist park that are not under the jurisdiction of the D.N.R., plan to use with the park manager if you check and roads other than those such as trails facilities shown.

rai FairRidge • 3 walk-in campsites y T e Creek Picnic Area • 25-unit horse Vall campground Lower H

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22 miles W LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION? D River Bluff Trail Bluff River River Bluff Trail Bluff River

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T The DNR has mapped the state showing federal, state and county lands with their recreational facilities.

Public Recreation Information Maps (PRIM) are

available for purchase from the DNR gift shop, DNR road township regional offices, Minnesota state parks and major Boundary Park sporting and map stores. Check it out - you'll be glad you did. H Hiking Horseback/ Trail Hiking FairRidge Trail hiking/biking trail FairRidge Club horse Hiking SUMMER TRAILS © 5/2008 by State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources disappeared as the prairie was plowed and A choice of picnic areas awaits visitors National Park Service. The CCC camp was its fires suppressed. Shrubs and other trees throughout the year. The main Upper located in the area now used as the rustic history, and enjoy year-round outdoor recre- then invaded the oak savanna, creating a Picnic Area, adjacent to the fort site, has a campground. The CCC was followed by GEOLOGY:ational activities. The last glaciers to cover this forest-like condition. large, level, shaded picnic grounds with the Veteran’s Conservation Corps. The part of Minnesota retreated approximately horseshoe courts, a volleyball court, play- CCC constructed many of the park build- 12,000 years ago. They left behind almost Fort Ridgely State Park uses controlled ground equipment, and an open shelter, ings and assisted with road building, trail 200 feet of sand, gravel and rocks (called burns to restore the natural character of the which may be reserved. A second choice, construction, tree planting, sodding and Duluth • glacial till) on top of a layer of clay sedi- bluffs, meadows and oak savanna. Con- the Chalet Picnic Area, surrounds an major erosion control projects. ments and hard bedrock. trolled burns are fires deliberately set, enclosed, heated shelter building that may under specific conditions, by a trained be reserved for family reunions, parties or SO EVERYONE CAN ENJOY THE PARK... Fort Ridgely State Park sits atop two layers crew. The fire is controlled by mowed other get-to-gethers on a year-round basis. • The park belongs to all Minnesotans. Minneapolis/ of this glacial till. Lying underneath the till breaks and fire-extinguishing equipment. The winter sliding hill is located adjacent to Please treat it with respect and help us to St. Paul • in parts of the park is a layer of white clay Fire kills woody plants, non-native flowers this area. Another alternative, the Creek protect it by following the rules. FORT RIDGELY known as kaolin. Deposits of this clay are and grasses, while encouraging the native Picnic Area, provides more solitude. Picnic • The park is open year-round. On a daily STATE PARK exposed in the banks along Fort Ridgely prairie plants to flourish. next to Fort Ridgely Creek, relaxing to the basis, the park gate is closed from 10 P.M. Creek in the northern part of the park. sounds of this spring-fed stream on its to 8 A.M. the following morning except Growing in the park’s deep ravines, and journey through the park. to registered campers. FORT RIDGELY The bedrock of granite and gneiss, visible along Fort Ridgely Creek, are large ash, • Camp only in designated locations. at Morton and elsewhere in the river valley, basswood, sugar maple, hackberry and Golfers will enjoy the challenging nine-hole • The use of firearms, explosives, air guns, STATE PARK is not visible anywhere in the park. black cherry trees. During the 1970s and golf course which is nestled into the valleys slingshots, traps, seines, nets, bows and early 1980s an insect-borne fungus (Dutch surrounding the fort site. The golf arrows, and all other weapons is prohib- NATURAL ENVIRONMENT: For over 130 Elm Disease) invaded Fort Ridgely, killing experience is reminiscent of golf as it was ited in state parks. FOR MORE INFORMATION years, the land that is now Fort Ridgely most of the park’s American and red elm played in the past. The course is a • Pets must be restrained on a leash no Fort Ridgely State Park State Park has been greatly impacted by trees. walk-only course and family members are longer than six feet. Pets are not allowed 72158 County Road 30 logging, farming, grazing, road and build- welcome to walk along. Rental clubs and in park buildings. Fairfax, MN 55332-9601 ing construction. Today, through active The park’s wildlife has been quick to utilize green fees are available at the Park Office. • Park in designated areas only. (507) 426-7840 natural resource management activities, the these dead trees for feeding and cavity • Motor bikes and other licensed vehicles  park is attempting to recreate or restore the nesting sites. The dead trees opened up the HISTORY: Fort Ridgely was built in 1853 as a are allowed only on park roads, not on Department of Natural Resources park’s original natural character. forest canopy, letting sunlight in and U.S. military garrison on Minnesota’s trails. setting the stage for a new round of plant frontier. This military post was to provide • Enjoy park wildlife and plants but please Information Center The open bluffs overlooking the Minnesota succession. Since dead trees are an asset to protection for the newly settled lands of respect them. Do not pick or dig up 500 Lafayette Road River have been the least disturbed of any woodland wildlife, the only trees removed southern and central Minnesota. It eventu- plants, disturb or feed animals, or scav- St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 area in the park. The best displays of prai- are those which pose a hazard to park ally played a prominent role in the Dakota enge dead wood. (651) 296-6157 (Metro Area) rie wildflowers and grasses are found in users. The rest are left for wildlife to use. Conflict of 1862. • Build fires only in designated loca- 1-888-646-6367 (MN Toll Free) these areas. In fall, these bluffs are a favor- tions—fire rings or fireplaces. Wood is ite sunning place for garter and bull snakes. RECREATION: A variety of year-round The Minnesota Historical Society’s Inter- available for purchase from park staff. TDD (Telecommunications (There are NO poisonous snakes in the recreational opportunities are available at pretive Center at the fort site contains Portable stoves or grills are permitted. Device for Deaf) Minnesota River Valley.) Soaring overhead, Fort Ridgely State Park. A modern camp- exhibits and information about garrison life • Daily or annual permits are required for (651) 296-5484 (Metro Area) hawks and bald eagles can be seen riding ground offers 22 level, grassy sites (15 with and the people and events surrounding all vehicles entering a state park. They 1-800-657-3929 (MN Toll Free) the warm air thermals that rise from the electricity) for all types of camping enthusi- Fort Ridgely during the 1850s and 60s. may be purchased at the park headquar- river valley below. asts, with flush toilets and showers. For ters or the Information Center in St. Paul mndnr.gov/parks those seeking a more rustic experience The old fort site, with five acres of land, (see Throughout the park are numerous mead- there is a separate 9-site campground with was purchased by the State of Minnesota in “FOR MORE INFORMATION” to left). FORT RIDGELY STATE PARK is located ows, each distinct in character. Some have just the basics available. The park also 1896 to create a memorial to the partici- along Minnesota State Highway 4, six scattered prairie wildflowers and grasses, offers 3 walk-in campsites for backpackers, pants of the Dakota Conflict at Fort Ridge- miles south of Fairfax in Nicollet and others are dense stands of non-native a primitive group camp and a 25-unit horse ly. When an additional 148 acres were This information is available in Renville Counties. The entrance to the plant species. In 1982, a large meadow was campground. purchased in 1911, the site was designated alternative format upon request. park is off Nicollet County Highway 21. reestablished on the park’s western edge. as a state park. By the end of 1927, park Highway map index: G-18. This planting of native prairie grasses and Nature lovers will enjoy the eight miles of facilities included a nine-hole golf course wildflowers is an attempt to return this hiking trails which wind through a variety and an elaborate concrete stage which had “The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Fort Ridgely State area to its original character. of wooded ravines and open prairie mead- been constructed in a natural amphitheater. an Equal Opportunity Employer.” Park covers 478 acres of wooded ravines and ows. Twelve miles of this trails system are open meadows on the north bluff of the On the edge of the park’s bluffs, and by available to horseback riders from spring to The park was developed by the U.S. Minnesota River Valley. The park is named some of the meadows, are large bur oak fall, and to snowmobilers in the winter. Department of Interior under the State Park after the military post which occupied the trees with low, spreading branches. At one There are over four miles of scenic trails Emergency Conservation Work Program Minnesota site in the 1850s and 1860s. It is a place of time, these oaks grew out in the open groomed for skiers during the snow season. during the 1930s. A 240-man unit of the quiet and calm where visitors can observe surrounded only by prairie grasses. These Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) devel- © 5/2008 by State of Minnesota, DEPARTMENT OF nature, learn about a period of Minnesota’s areas, known as oak savanna, gradually oped the park under the supervision of the Department of Natural Resources NATURAL RESOURCES