BANNING

STATE PARK 123 ASKOV to Askov

VISITOR FAVORITES 23

Log Creek Drive Area • Canoeing and kayaking LAKE MOOSE • Hiking along the Kettle 35 3.8 are trail Note: Wet trail Wet common

River along this section of conditions vegetation and dense Hwy 23 gauge river • Wolf Creek Falls Because lands exist within the boundaries of this park that are not under the jurisdiction of the D.N.R., check with the park manager if you plan to use facilities such as trails and roads other than those shown. • The sandstone quarry Blueberry Slide (2 canoe campsites)

• Kettle River fishing 123 • The "Kettles"

• Log Creek arches Entrance Park Quarry Area 29

• Spring flowers and Fall to Rutledge colors . Sandstone Federal Correctional Institution Use No Public

• The Bat Cave— Park Portage, Robinson 100 yards Falls Big Spring for information and Area Highway Rest

location of bat cave Military Sandstone Rapids (Dam Removed, 1995) (Dam Removed, 1.0

(Robinson Ice Cave) Road Kiosk RUGLEDGE 61 please contact park staff. 23 0.7 mi. (map available) Self-guided trail Portage, 18 FACILITIES • 33 semi-modern

campsites Use caution. road shoulders Biking on blacktop FINLAYSON

• 1 Camper Cabin SANDSTONE • 4 canoe campsites

35

• 7 picnic sites with a total Trail 1.2 HINCKLEY

kunk

of 15 tables S Teacher’s Overlook Cabbage 61 0.3 (map available) Self-guided trail

• 3 small boat landings 0.7 Tooth 0.3 0.3 Dragon’s

• 14 miles of hiking trail NORTH 0.3

• 11 miles of skiing trail Tr. Cut-off

Crusher

0.4

Power House Power C artway Tr. Park Entrance Park • 5 miles of snowmobile 0.4 for small children Hell’s Gate Trail Hell’s Gate Portage Trail, 1.5 mi. Trail, Portage Trail Deadman Trail 0.9

trail right) to area park of enlargement an is inset (This

Tr. Caution: Not recommended

0.4

uarry Loop uarry Q Spur Tr. Spur . 0.4 Trillium Tr.

OOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION 0.4 L ? Cartway 0.3

0.7

0.6

W

olf Creek Tr. Creek olf Creek Falls Wolf The DNR has mapped the state showing federal, Tr. Bluff Trail Lower Hell’s Gate state and county lands with their recreational

facilities. High

Wolf Creek Trail Creek Wolf Public Recreation Information Maps (PRIM) are Tr. Creek Wolf available for purchase from the DNR gift shop, DNR 0.3 23 Military Public Use Prohibited (except on designated trails) Information/Office Picnic Area Overlook Boat Ramp Carry-in Access Campground Camping Watercraft Waterfall Interpretive Site Private Property regional offices, Minnesota state parks and major Hiking in miles distances shown Trail Biking 0.6 sporting and map stores. Road Kiosk

Check it out - you'll be glad you did. FACILITIES SUMMER TRAILS

Township Tr.

FRIESLAND

© 1/2005 by State of Minnesota, 2 miles 61 61 Department of Natural Resources Willard To Munger Trail, Munger panded to include the Log Creek Drive area, Original vegetation communities were com- 18 with 360 acres increasing the park size to posed primarily of Norway and white pine Hiking Trail

6,237 acres. interspersed with aspen and birch. Today, as Trail a result of logging and forest fires, vegetation 19 Wolf Creek Parking

20e Office to The park constitutes land adjacent to a ten- communities are dominated by aspen and Spur Trail Restrooms/Showers mile stretch of the Kettle River, a state Wild birch. Only remnant stands of pine remain. 9 Duluth 21 Camper Cabin • and Scenic River. The park’s watersheds in- BANNING clude the Kettle River, Wolf Creek, Log Creek, HISTORY: Historic sites in the park include 22e 10e Recycling Center STATE PARK six streams, and three springs. the former Banning townsite and associated 1e e Electrical Sites 23 11 sandstone quarries. During the early 1890s, 2e Minneapolis/ The Banning Rapids, a highly-scenic portion the quarry was developed along the Kettle 24e Water St. Paul • 12e of the Kettle River, is comprised of five spec- River near the area now know as “Hell’s Toilet tacular segments: Blueberry Slide, Mother’s Gate”. The durable strength and warm pink 3 4e Delight, Dragon’s Tooth, Little Banning, and color of this sandstone made it very popular 25 13e Underlined site numbers finally, Hell’s Gate. These rapids provide one for building construction. In 1882, the quar- are RESERVABLE 26 of the state’s most challenging river experi- rying company employed 500 stonecutters. 5e 6e BANNING ences for canoeing and kayaking. Other fea- On September 1, 1894, the great Hinckley 14 STATE PARK tures which attract people from throughout forest fire swept through the area inflicting 27 28 15 the state include park trails, camping, pic- heavy financial losses on the company and NORTH 7 FOR MORE INFORMATION nicking, and an excellent site for natural on the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad line history study. serving it. 8 Banning State Park 29 30 17 16 P.O. Box 643 Deadm WILDLIFE: One hundred and eighty-four Business resumed after the fire and by 1896, Trail Sandstone, MN 55072 31CC 31 32 an (320) 245-2668 species of birds inhabit or visit Banning State a village was platted on the fields above the ♦ Park annually. Also, 17 species of reptiles and quarry. This village was named in honor of amphibians and 34 species of mammals live William L. Banning, president of the St. Paul Department of Natural Resources 33 Wolf Creek Trail Information Center in the park. Common species include: white- and Duluth Railroad at the time its main line BANNING STATE PARK 34 CAMPGROUND 500 Lafayette Road tailed deer, black bear, coyote, fox, raccoon, was completed between the two cities. The St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 beaver, red and grey squirrels, snowshoe village grew and, shortly after the turn of the hare, and ruffed grouse. century, was incorporated with a population to 8 A.M. the following morning except to • Daily or annual permits are required for all (651) 296-6157 (Metro Area) of about 300. By this time, however, contrac- registered campers. vehicles entering a state park. They may be 1-888-646-6367 (MN Toll Free) TOPOGRAPHY: One of the most dominant tors were beginning to use structural steel • Camp only in designated locations. purchased at the park headquarters or the TDD (Telecommunications characteristics of the park is the shallowness for building construction and, by 1905, all • The use of firearms, explosives, air guns, Information Center in St. Paul (see Device for Deaf) of the soil over bedrock. The Kettle River work had ceased in the quarry. By 1908, the slingshots, traps, seines, nets, bows and “FOR MORE INFORMATION” to left). (651) 296-5484 (Metro Area) extends the entire length of the park, exposing population of the town had declined to 150. arrows, and all other weapons is prohibited ♦ 1-800-657-3929 (MN Toll Free) bedrock for much of the distance. In other Fires continued to plague the village and, by in state parks. large areas, boulders are exposed or lie just 1912, Banning virtually ceased to exist. Today, • Pets must be restrained on a leash no longer DNR Web Site: www.dnr.state.mn.us below the surface. all that remains of the site are weathered than six feet. Pets are not allowed in park This information is available in concrete ruins in the second-growth forest buildings. alternative format upon request. BANNING STATE PARK is located in Pine In the northern section, the river flows through along the river bank. Some of the old quarry • Park in designated areas only. “Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from County, four miles north of the city of Sand- a relatively shallow and narrow valley cut processing buildings remain, along with some • Motor bikes and other licensed vehicles are programs of the Minnesota Department of Natural stone. The park entrance is off I-35 and Min- into glacial drift. Within a few miles, the river stone sliceways and long stretches of stone allowed only on park roads, not on trails. Resources is available to all individuals regardless of nesota Highway 23. State highway map valley narrows to a gorge worn by the river fragments along the river. • Enjoy park wildlife and plants but please race, color, creed or religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual index: L-12. through Precambrian sandstone to a depth of respect them. Do not pick or dig up plants, orientation, age or disability. Discrimination inquires should 100 feet. At “Hell’s Gate,” the river flows SO EVERYONE CAN ENJOY THE PARK... disturb or feed animals, or scavenge dead be sent to the Minnesota Department of Natural Re- The park was established by an act of the through sheer cliffs which rise to 40 feet above • The park belongs to all Minnesotans. Please wood. sources, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4031; or the Equal Opportunity Of- Minnesota Minnesota State Legislature in 1963 with a the water. Below the rapids, the valley once treat it with respect and help us to protect • Build fires only in designated locations— fice, Department of the Interior, Washing- statutory boundary of 5,246 acres. A 1971 again begins to broaden. Beyond the valley it by following the rules. fire rings or fireplaces. Wood is available ton, D.C. 20240.” expansion increased the park size to 5,877 walls, the topography is generally a level to • The park is open year-round. On a daily for purchase from park staff. Portable stoves DEPARTMENT OF acres. In 1986, the park boundary was ex- gently-rolling glacial till plain. basis, the park gate is closed from 10 P.M. or grills are permitted. © 1/2005 by State of Minnesota, NATURAL RESOURCES Department of Natural Resources DNR Maps