Minnesota State Parks.Pdf
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Table of Contents 1. Afton State Park 4 2. Banning State Park 6 3. Bear Head Lake State Park 8 4. Beaver Creek Valley State Park 10 5. Big Bog State Park 12 6. Big Stone Lake State Park 14 7. Blue Mounds State Park 16 8. Buffalo River State Park 18 9. Camden State Park 20 10. Carley State Park 22 11. Cascade River State Park 24 12. Charles A. Lindbergh State Park 26 13. Crow Wing State Park 28 14. Cuyuna Country State Park 30 15. Father Hennepin State Park 32 16. Flandrau State Park 34 17. Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park 36 18. Fort Ridgely State Park 38 19. Fort Snelling State Park 40 20. Franz Jevne State Park 42 21. Frontenac State Park 44 22. George H. Crosby Manitou State Park 46 23. Glacial Lakes State Park 48 24. Glendalough State Park 50 25. Gooseberry Falls State Park 52 26. Grand Portage State Park 54 27. Great River Bluffs State Park 56 28. Hayes Lake State Park 58 29. Hill Annex Mine State Park 60 30. Interstate State Park 62 31. Itasca State Park 64 32. Jay Cooke State Park 66 33. John A. Latsch State Park 68 34. Judge C.R. Magney State Park 70 1 35. Kilen Woods State Park 72 36. Lac qui Parle State Park 74 37. Lake Bemidji State Park 76 38. Lake Bronson State Park 78 39. Lake Carlos State Park 80 40. Lake Louise State Park 82 41. Lake Maria State Park 84 42. Lake Shetek State Park 86 43. Lake Vermillion State Park 88 44. La Salle Lake State Park 90 45. Maplewood State Park 92 46. McCarthy Beach State Park 94 47. Mille Lacs Kathio State Park 96 48. Minneopa State Park 98 59. Minnesota Valley State Park 100 50. Monson Lake State Park 102 51. Moose Lake State Park 104 52. Nerstrand Big Woods State Park 106 53. Old Mill State Park 108 54. Red River State Park 110 55. Rice Lake State Park 112 56. Schoolcraft State Park 114 57. Sibley State Park 116 58. Soudan Underground Mine State Park 118 69. Split Rock Creek State Park 120 60. Split Rock Lighthouse State Park 122 61. St. Croix State Park 124 62. Temperance River State Park 126 63. Tettegouche State Park 128 64. Upper Sioux Agency State Park 130 65. Whitewater State Park 132 66. Wild River State Park 134 67. William O’Brien State Park 136 68. Zippel Bay State Park 138 2 Minnesota State Parks Introduction Our family has lived in Minnesota all of our lives. Our favorite vacation spots around the state are always Minnesota State Parks. When I was young we lived in Northwest Minnesota and spent lots of time every year in our oldest state park, Itasca. When I met the man who was to become my husband, I learned that his family owned land right next to Itasca State Park. As you can imagine, we still spend a lot of time in that area. Camping vacations with our five children often took us to the beautiful state parks along the North Shore of Lake Superior. Temperance River State park was a favorite however we explored all of the others as well. We also came to love remote Zippel Bay State Park that took us to the shores of Lake of the Woods. This park is often overlooked and rarely as busy as many other state parks can be. We moved to the Twin Cities more than twenty-five years ago. Parks close to the cities are now often our destination. We love beautiful Afton State Park and historic Fort Snelling State Park. Day trips often take us to Interstate State Park on the Minnesota – Wisconsin border to enjoy a riverboat cruise or just to hike in the unique geologic pothole areas. Minnesota is known for its variety of terrain. There are actually seven distinct regions of the state that some have called the Seven States of Minnesota. These areas are: • The Arrowhead • The Iron Range • The Bogs • The Red River Valley • The BluffHeartland Country • The Southern Plains A perfect way to become acquainted with these seven regions is to visit at least one • The state park in each of them. We will introduce you to all of our Minnesota State Parks with the hope you will learn to love them as we do. ©Visit Minnesota http://www.minnesota-visitor.com 3 Afton State Park Afton State Park is located in the Heartland region of Minnesota near the village of Afton and the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. How to Get to Afton State Park: From Saint Paul, take Highway 94 east for nine miles to County Road 95. Go south on Highway 95 for seven miles to County Road 20. Three miles on County Road 20 will bring you to the park entrance. Park Highlights: kiing destination because of its proximity to the Afton Alps ski area. • This is a popular winter s out free geocaching units and explore the area for hidden “treasures.” • Geocachers love to come to Afton for the geocaching program. You can check Afton’s Natural Attractions: The park includes a mixture of prairie and forest land. Some of the landscape features deep, wooded ravines and sandstone outcroppings ravines and bluffs, and stop to enjoy the overlooks to the river. Walk the prairieland andthat enjoydrop downthe abundant to the St. wildflowers Croix River. and You birds. can hike Visit the in trailsautumn that for wind spectacular through fall the color and glimpses of migrating eagles and hawks. Things to Do in Afton State Park: The Afton Visitor Center is open all year. Some of its offerings include occasional interpretive programs and a self-guided interpretive interpretive center, and another near the river. There are four picnic shelters in the park.trail. There is also a gift shop in the center. You will find a picnic area near the The St. Croix River provides several recreational opportunities. There is a swimming beach, as well as access to the river for fishing and boating. Trails in the park include 4 hiking, biking, horse-back riding, cross-country skiing, and snowshoe trails. In winter you can enjoy a sledding hill, and then warm up in the warming house. Camping in Afton State Park: Campground facilities are more limited than in most other Minnesota State Parks. There are 24 backpack campsites, 1 canoe site at the river, and 2 rustic group sites that will accommodate up to 30 people. More Things to Do in the Area: Because Afton State Park area is so close to the metro area, you can enjoy the atmosphere of a Minnesota state park and still have a taste of the attractions in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Other state parks in this area of Minnesota Fort Snelling State Park, William O’Brien State Park, Frontenac State Park. Contact 6959 Peller Avenue South Hastings, MN 55033 Phone: 651-436-5391 Fax: 651-436-6912 Email: [email protected] 5 Banning State Park Banning State Park is located on the southern edge of The Arrowhead Region in east central Minnesota and on both sides of the Kettle River. How to Get to Banning State Park: Take Highway 35 north from the Twin Cities for about an hour and a half to Highway 23 east, which will take you to the park entrance. Park Highlights: when a sandstone quarry was opened at Hell’s Gate. A rock quarry operated • nearThe (now the river extinct) in the village early of20th Banning century. was When established you visit, here you in can the seeearly the 1890s, remains of the stone buildings. Scenic” by the state of Minnesota. Whitewater enthusiasts can shoot the mile- • longThe Kettlegorge Riverover rapids was the with first names waterway like Dragon’s officially Tooth designated and Hell’s as “Wild Gate. and the gorge for views of the river and of those who brave the waters below. • Several of the most scenic hiking trails in the state are found here. Hike along Banning’s Natural Attractions: The Kettle River provides much of the scenic beauty, as well as the recreation, making it a canoeing and kayaking paradise. Explore impressive sandstone rock formations. If you look carefully, you will see potholes carved into the rocks by rushing waters in time past. Things to Do in Banning State Park: Explore the historic ruins of the Sandstone Quarry. Hike to Wolf Creek Falls, Big Spring Falls, and the Log Creek Arches. Hike the trails in spring to view an awesome wildflower display. In winter, 12 miles of trails 6 are groomed for cross-country skiing. Six miles of snowmobile trails connect to the Willard Munger Trail. Snowshoeing is permitted in all areas of the park. Camping in Banning State Park: The Banning campground is at the crest of a pine- forested hill. There are 33 campsites available for tents and RVs; 11 sites have electrical hookups. There are 4 canoe-in campsites, 1 backpacking campsite, and 1 seasonal cabin as well. Picnic table, fire rings, showers, and flush toilets are available. More Attractions in This Region: Other area attractions include the Midwest Country Music Theater, the Audubon Center of the Northwoods, and the Robinson Park stone quarry in Sandstone. In Hinckley, you can visit the Hinckley Fire Museum and Grand Casino. Don’t miss tiny Askov. All the streets have Danish names, and they host the annual Askov Fair and Rutabaga Festival. Other Minnesota State Parks in This Region of Minnesota: St. Croix State Park, Moose Lake State Park and Jay Cooke State Park Contact 61101 Banning Park Road Sandstone, MN 55072 Phone: 320-245-2668 Fax: 320-245-0251 Email: [email protected] 7 Bear Head Lake State Park Bear Head Lake State Park is located in the Arrowhead Region of northeast Minnesota near Ely.