BIG STONE SUMMER TRAILS Bonanza Ed Center Trailer Sanitation Station 51 Group Camp LAKE Hiking Picnic Area Primitive Group Camp G1 STATE PARK Swimming Playground Bonanza Educational Center FACILITIES Boat Ramp Vault Toilets Information/Office Campground Private Property Public Use Prohibited FACILITIES AND Because lands exist 0.1.2.3.4.5 1 BONANZA within the boundaries of FEATURES Miles this park that are not AREA under the jurisdiction of • 37 semi-modern campsites, 0.1.2.3.4.5 1 NORTH the D.N.R., check with Kilometers the park manager if you 10 with electricity plan to use facilities to MEADOW 11 miles such as trails and roads • Showers & flush toilets other than those shown. • Primitive group camp (50 Park Entrance 12 miles to 7 BROOK AREA, capacity) at Bonanza Area BONANZA AREA • 15 picnic sites

• Swimming beach Bluebird Trail • 3 boat ramps • 2 miles of hiking trail rock pile fence row • Trailer dump station meadow • Public telephone • Playground service court MEADOWBROOK AREA

to ORTONVILLE, VISITOR FAVORITES via ,19 miles • Hiking the Bluebird Trail 7 • Swimming • Picnicking fish rearing area • Fishing for walleye private property • Camping by the lake • Visiting the Bonanza Area Browns Valley Scientific & Natural Area Big Stone Co. Beardsley (SNA) 28 Graceville Big StoneCo. 75

private property Bonanza 6 Clinton Area Meadowbrook 7 Area

Overlook Big StoneCo. Area to ORTONVILLE, LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION? Big Stone Lake 8 miles The DNR has mapped the state showing federal, Ortonville state and county lands with their recreational 12 northern pike facilities. 12 spawing area Public Recreation Information Maps (PRIM) are available for purchase from the DNR gift shop, DNR regional offices, state parks and major NORTH 7 sporting and map stores. 75 Check it out - you'll be glad you did. HOW TO GET THERE 75

© 1/2005 by State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources northwest of Ortonville on Highway 7, the time visitors flocked to Big Stone Lake to Meadowbrook Area is the largest of the three. enjoy the area’s resorts and boat cruises. BIG STONE LAKE STATE PARK Restrooms\Showers Information Board MEADOWBROOK AREA Once farmland, this area is slowly being CAMPGROUND restored to prairie, woodland and wet- WILDLIFE: The quiet and patient visitor will Trash Dumpsters Drinking Water meadow communities. be well rewarded by the sight of various Playground Toilets Underlined site numbers are RESERVABLE wildlife in the park. White-tailed deer are Recycling Duluth • The Overlook Area is a further ten miles common, as well as raccoon, ground squirrels, northwest of Meadowbrook. This small rest meadowlarks, sedge wrens, and bluebirds. stop offers a magnificent view of Big Stone Less commonly-seen wildlife include red fox, Bluebird Trail BIG STONE LAKE STATE PARK Lake and the surrounding landscapes. coyote, weasel, wild turkey, and red-tailed 27 Minneapolis/ St. Paul hawk. Colorful butterflies can be seen among • 28 to Park Office Another mile northwest past Overlook is the the prairie wildflowers, and crystalline-like NORTH Bonanza Area. Its name reveals its character: spider webs covered in dew sparkle in the 26 25 24 20 the Bonanza Area is a wealth of wooded morning sun. 29 23 hillsides and tallgrass prairie. Remnants of Loop B 22 32 native glacial-till prairie are found here, and Facilities: Fishing is one of the most popular 30 1e 16 34 36 21e BIG STONE LAKE for this reason part of Bonanza is designated activities of park visitors. Big Stone Lake, 19e 31 18e as a state Scientific and Natural Area. besides being one of the best walleye lakes 4e 17e 15 37 Loop A STATE PARK in the state, also contains bluegills, northern 33 2 6e 35 8e Archeology: Long ago, this area was the pike, perch, and channel catfish. Visitors can 10e 12e FOR MORE INFORMATION 3 Big Stone Lake State Park south end of glacial , and most use boat landings in both the Meadowbrook 14 5 35889 Meadowbrook State Park Road if not all of this landscape was once sub- and Bonanza areas, and can fish from shore Rocky shoreline — No boats merged. Hidden in stone are the fossil re- anywhere in the park. 7 13 Ortonville MN 56278-9618 9 11 (320) 839-3663 mains of shark’s teeth and skeletons. Imprints ♦ of snails, clams, and other inhabitants of the The campground at Meadowbrook has 37 sea have been found in fields that are now sites, ten of which are electric, and boasts a Department of Natural Resources Big Stone Lake many feet above the level of Big Stone Lake. modern shower/bath building. Also at Information Center And yet scattered bison skulls and bones are Meadowbrook are a swimming beach, picnic 500 Lafayette Road found buried in soils not half a mile away. area, small playground, and one-half mile of St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 Humans, too, have lived in this area since prairie trail. In winter visitors can snowshoe • Camp only in designated locations. all vehicles entering a state park. They may (651) 296-6157 (Metro Area) the last glaciers receded; the Browns Valley or ski across open meadows and woodland • The use of firearms, explosives, air guns, be purchased at the park headquarters or 1-888-646-6367 (MN Toll Free) Man found in 1934 is believed to be over along two miles of trail. slingshots, traps, seines, nets, bows and the Information Center in St. Paul (see TDD (Telecommunications 12,000 years old. arrows, and all other weapons is prohibited “FOR MORE INFORMATION” to left). Device for Deaf) The Hiking Club Trail is located at the Bo- in state parks. ♦ (651) 296-5484 (Metro Area) History: When Europeans first arrived in nanza Area, taking visitors through wooded • Pets must be restrained on a leash no longer 1-800-657-3929 (MN Toll Free) southwestern Minnesota it was inhabited by lakeshore and past the park’s little-known than six feet. Pets are not allowed in park the Dakota, whose villages spread along the waterfall. The Bonanza Area also has a picnic buildings. This information is available in DNR Web Site: www.dnr.state.mn.us banks of the Valley. Evidence area, a rustic group camp and an interpretive • Park in designated areas only. alternative format upon request. of Dakota campsites have been found in and center operated by local school districts. Visits • Motor bikes and other licensed vehicles Big Stone Lake State Park is located on the around the park. Early European fur traders to the center can be arranged by contacting are allowed only on park roads, not on “Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs of the Minnesota Department of Natural shores of Big Stone Lake, a border lake be- also used Big Stone Lake as part of their the park manager. trails. north-south travel route. Travelers could • Enjoy park wildlife and plants but please Resources is available to all individuals regardless of tween Minnesota and and the race, color, creed or religion, national origin, sex, marital source of the Minnesota River. Its quiet, restful journey to via the Red River, or SO EVERYONE CAN ENJOY THE PARK... respect them. Do not pick or dig up plants, status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, age or disability. Discrimination inquires setting offers visitors a chance to get away to the Gulf of Mexico via the Minnesota and • The park belongs to all Minnesotans. Please disturb or feed animals, or scavenge dead Mississippi rivers. A short portage across the treat it with respect and help us to protect wood. should be sent to the Minnesota Department of Natural from it all and enjoy a few peaceful moments Resources, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155- by the lakeside. continental divide between it by following the rules. • Build fires only in designated location–fire 4031; or the Equal Opportunity Office, and Big Stone Lake was the only interruption. • The park is open year-round. On a daily rings or fireplaces. Wood is available for Department of the Interior, Washington, Minnesota D.C. 20240. Established in 1961, the park consists of three basis, the park is closed from 10 P.M. to 8 purchase from park staff. Portable stoves In the early 20th century Ortonville became A.M. the following morning except to reg- or grills are permitted. distinct units: the Meadowbrook Area, the Over- DEPARTMENT OF look Area, and the Bonanza Area. Eight miles a popular tourist destination. In the summer- istered campers. • Daily or annual permits are required for © 1/2005 by State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources DNR Maps