Many park visitors know the Mississippi headwaters at Itasca State Park, but how many have seen the waterfalls at Minneopa or the 200-plus species of wildflowers at Glacial Lakes? Our less well- known state parks offer unexpected attractions Our Out-of-the- Way State Parks M. Dean Holm ERTAIN STATE PARKS SEEM to earned them their reputations over C many years. attract more visitors than There are, however, other parks others — Itasca in the northwest, throughout Minnesota that are less Gooseberry Falls along the North well known and attract fewer visi- Shore, Sibley in the southwest, tors. Most offer outstanding scenic Whitewater in the southeast, St. beauty and recreational opportuni- Croix Wild River in central Minne- ties. Here is a brief review of these sota, and, in the heavily-populated parks. Metro Area, Fort Snelling and Wil- liam O'Brien. Northwest These parks deserve their popu- Glacial Lakes State Park, five miles larity. Their scenic attractions and south of Starbuck, is located in a convenient facilities for visitors have 58 THE MINNESOTA VOLUNTEER prairie-pothole, hardwood-transition gion's few natural areas, it also area. The watershed for 56-acre serves as a habitat for local wildlife. Mountain Lake, a spring-fed lake A long, isolated, sandy beach and offering excellent swimming and miles of water is the view of Lake of fishing, is totally within the park's the Woods at Zippel Bay State Park, boundaries. our northernmost park. Look north One hundred acres of native along miles of beach and you see prairie, some of which has never only water. Look east and Canada been grazed, is another outstanding comes into view. feature of Glacial Lakes. Two hun- The park's gently sloping terrain dred species of wildflowers have provides habitat for moose, deer, been found here. Indigo buntings wolves, bear, and for sharptail and and burrowing owls provide bird ruffed grouse. The park offers primi- watchers with another uncommon tive camping and an excellent boat opportunity. ramp and harbor for small boats. Another park in the northwest that bears evidence of glacial action Northeast is Maplewood. Near Pelican Rapids, Region II in northeastern Minnesota its 10,000 acres nestle in farm and has 13 parks. The best known are Jay lake country. Maplewood displays Cooke, Gooseberry Falls, Scenic, 20 lakes that offer trout, walleye, and McCarthy Beach. Many lesser panfish, and bass. Rugged hills and known parks, however, offer unique woods contain widely diversified and rewarding experiences. natural communities. Maplewood s The racing Brule River and its extensive trail system is particularly numerous falls make Judge C.R. suited for horseback riding. Magney State Park a scenic wonder. Ancient Lake Agassiz provided us From the heights of the Brule's deep with another park in the area. One of gorge, visitors can watch the 50-foot the beaches left behind by its reced- falls at Devil's Kettle disappear into ing waters was McCauleyville a hole in the basalt bedrock. The Beach. When the Middle River cut Brule also provides exceptional trout through this beach, it formed a fishing and a small, secluded camp- wooded ravine which is now Old ground. Mill State Park near Argyle. Cascade River State Park offers This 285-acre oasis is a welcome more waterfalls and 20 miles of un- respite in the region's farmlands. On surpassed hiking trails. The trails four weekends each summer, the old lead visitors along both sides of the steam-powered mill grinds out bran river gorge, down along the Lake and flour. The park also provides ex- Superior shoreline and up Lookout cellent swimming and picnicking. and Moose mountains. There, scenic Because Old Mill is one of the re- lookouts offer panoramic views of MAY-JUNE 1982 59 Out-of-the Way Parks Lake Superior, Superior National Forest, and the Brule River gorge. Perhaps more than any other park in the region, Cascade River reveals to visitors the true immensity of the North Shore. A former iron mine, Tower Soudan is probably our most unusual state park. Hourly tours take visitors one-half mile underground to the old mine's 27th level. Because the temperature remains a constant 50° F., visitors should wear warm cloth- ing. Sturdy shoes to cope with the rocky passageways are also advis- able. The park also offers surface tours and an interpretive center. Above: Swimming beach, Lake Central Louise State Park. Right: Hiking trail At Crow Wing State Park in central marker, Buffalo River State Park. Minnesota lies the site of the ghost town of Crow Wing. This old fur- and 13 miles of varied hiking trails. trade center was once the northern- Also available is a new, year-around most settlement on the Mississippi. trail center which provides shelter Crow Wing offers hiking trails and a for visitors. family canoe trip on the Mississippi Kayaking in Minnesota? Yes, but to Charles A. Lindbergh State Park. for experts only, a two-mile run on For the history buff, Charles A. the Kettle River through the gorges Lindbergh State Park at Little Falls of Banning State Park. Four rapids provides hours of interesting study. — Blueberry Slide, Mother's De- This park was named after Charles light, Dragon's Tooth, and Hell's Lindbergh, Sr., a noted U.S. Con- Gate — make up Banning Rapids. gressman. Here the Minnesota His- But remember, these rapids can be torical Society administers the boy- difficult; they are for expert kayakers hood home of one of Minnesota's only. most famous citizens, Charles Lind- bergh, Jr. The park also offers semi- Southwest modern camping with easy access to The prairies of southwestern Minne- the Mississippi River. sota appear to be acre after acre of Lake Maria State Park near Mon- flat farmland. Few people, however, ticello provides walk-in camp sites know the 14 state parks in this area. 60 THE MINNESOTA VOLUNTEER State Park, 1,400 acres run through with clear springs and streams. The park has exceptional trout fishing and abundant wildlife. Hiking trails allow visitors to observe outstanding prairie sunsets. In the southwest, the Blue Mounds State Park buffalo herd has been a popular attraction for many years, but the bison are only a small element in the appeal of this park. Bird watchers have found Blue Mounds to be the outstanding bird- ing area in southern Minnesota. Two hundred twelve species have been identified here. An impressive inter- pretive center has been created in author Frederick Manfred's home. One of Minnesota's largest tracts of native prairie can be seen here, and lying atop barren mounds is a On the southwest corner of Lac mysterious rock alignment. This line qui Parle Lake is Lac qui Parle State of rocks runs 1,200 feet in a true east Park. The broad lake offers anglers and west direction, and aligns per- excellent year-around fishing for fectly with the equinox. Who cre- walleye, northern, white bass, and ated this line of rocks? Why? Is it crappies. The long shoreline also historic or prehistoric? provides opportunities to observe Blue Mounds offers features not many different species of waterfowl often associated with Minnesota: and song birds. Campers use a Sioux quartz, mounds, a historic buf- campground tucked among massive falo drop, cactus dotting the land- cottonwood, basswood, and elm scape — rare opportunities for visi- trees. tors. The adjacent Lac qui Parle Game Near Mankato in the scenic Min- Refuge is another attraction for park nesota River Valley lies Minneopa visitors. Nearby is Lac qui Parle State Park, strewn with the rem- Mission which is administered by nants of ancient glaciers and rich in the Minnesota Historical Society. the region's history. Here Minneopa In the Redwood River valley Creek joins the Minnesota River amidst the flat farmland of Lyon with an impressive display of water- County near Marshall lies Camden falls. MAY-JUNE 1982 61 Out-of-the Way Parks Left: Changing house, Lake Carlos State Park. Above: Information plaza, Crow Wing State Park. Minneopa is also the site of the Legend has it that Jesse James and historic, wind-driven Seppmann his band of desperados camped at grist mill. Campers set up tents in a Nerstrand following their fateful raid forest-prairie transition area, called on the Northfield bank. The rare an oak savanna, and hike trails Minnesota trout-lily is also found in through a variety of terrain and this park. vegetation. On bluffs above the mighty Mis- Forestville State Park is a river- sissippi is Frontenac State Park. valley park outstanding in history Point No Point offers a stunning and resources. Three spring-fed view clown river. Long Point Spit trout streams course through the juts into Lake Pepin and provides park. Ample areas of forest and excellent bird watching during fall prairie provide a varied experience. and spring migrations. The lake Interpretive programs and historic offers walleye, sauger, white bass, Meighen Store are an additional and northern pike. Scenic hiking benefit. The park is capable of han- trails run through the park. dling groups of 200 horseback riders on 15 miles of trails twisting Metro through the park. The Metro Area consists of four Along the meandering edge of his- parks: Fort Snelling, William toric Big Woods is Nerstrand Woods O'Brien, Afton, and Minnesota Val- State Park. When the first settlers ley Management Unit. Although this came to Minnesota, Big Woods cov- region is small in area, it holds over ered over four percent of the state. half the state's population. William 62 THE MINNESOTA VOLUNTEER In flat farmland of Lyon County, visitors find rolling hills and exceptional trout fishing at 1,400-acre Camden State Park near Marshall.