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State Parks and Trails (Celebrating 125 Years)

First park. Since Minnesota became a state, visitors can put on hard hats, descend a half- various individuals have had the foresight mile below the Earth’s surface, and ride the to fight for preservation of some of its most rails in a mine car to tour Minnesota’s first special places. In the 1800s, land surveyor iron-ore mine, a National Historic Landmark, Jacob Brower saw how logging was chang- at Lake Vermilion–Soudan Underground Mine ing the landscape of northern Minnesota and State Park. Other opportunities include visit- lobbied state lawmakers to protect the pine ing the battlefield at State Park forest around the headwaters of the Missis- to learn about the U.S.–Dakota War of 1862, sippi River. On April 20, 1891, the Legislature hiking to Petaga Point and other archaeologi- established 10,000 acres as cal sites at Mille Lacs Kathio State Park, and by a margin of one vote. Now three times that learning about early Ojibwe culture at Grand size, the park draws more than a half-million Portage State Park. visitors annually. Special events throughout Outdoor adventures. Visitors can follow 2016 will celebrate the 125th anniversary of historical paths—many state trails for biking Itasca and all Minnesota state parks and trails or snowmobiling are on former railroad routes. established during the past 125 years. For hiking, state parks have preserved paths Natural heritage. State parks shelter such as the oxcart trail at . many of the 580 species of plants and animals At Glendalough State Park, visitors can enjoy that are endangered, threatened, or of special angling for panfish on Annie Battle Lake, a concern in Minnesota. Protection and restora- nonmotorized “heritage fishery.” New gear has tion of habitat for these native species is a added activities: Many parks loan GPS units for priority. A recent effort involved building shoe geocaching, and 11 parks rent stand-up paddle-

decontamination stations at the entrances and boards. Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area THERS BY DEBORAH ROSE, DNR. ALL O exits to two state parks with caves. The aim is has become popular for mountain biking. to protect resident bats from exposure to the Visiting. In the 125 years since Itasca State fungus that causes white-nose syndrome, a Park was established, Minnesota has added 74 YNN PHELPS. disease responsible for the deaths of millions of state parks and recreation areas, one within 30 bats elsewhere in North America. Since passage miles of nearly every Minnesotan. It also has COURTESY OF L

of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amend- added 25 state trails, 35 state water trails, and : ment in 2008, the DNR has been restoring eight state waysides, plus a multitude of fish- OP LEFT hundreds of acres of prairie and forest each ing piers and public water access sites. Learn T year at state parks. more at www.mndnr.gov or call 888-646-6367. Cultural heritage. State parks preserve Amy Barrett

a variety of cultural resources. For example, DNR Parks and Trails information officer CLOCKWISE FROM

64 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer Clockwise from top left: Douglas Lodge at Itasca State Park was completed in 1905. A mother and daughter snowshoe at . A visitor to admires frost on a pine. Snowmobilers can ride more than 22,000 miles of trails in Minnesota. A cross-country skier takes a stride and a young girl enjoys a s’more at . An ice angler waits for a bite at Lake Bemidji State Park.