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Blue Earth County Parks, Trails & Campgrounds

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Blue Earth County Parks, Trails & Campgrounds CONSERVATION AREAS Schimek WAYSIDE REST AREAS Watonwan Stop Located along the Maple River, Schimek Park consists of varying This attractive seven-acre riverside elevations with woods, brush and open areas. The park Fort Le Hillier Landing park features a canoe and Eagle Lake offers a calm, serene area for a picnic or nature hike. small boat landing, park- This is one of our most popu- ing lot and picnic shelter. Located on the shoreline of Eagle Lake, this roadside rest area Location: On the east side of the Maple River, about 0.6 miles offers picnicking, swimming and boat access to the lake. lar canoe/kayak landings. east of Good Thunder, 0.7 miles northwest off County Road 10. The landing was established Location: On the Waton- wan River, about 6 miles Location: On the northeast shore of Eagle Lake off Highway 26, in 2009. There is ample park- River: The Maple River provides variable success in fishing for ing to handle large groups. south of Lake Crystal on about 3.5 miles west of the City of Madison Lake. bullheads, catfish and an occasional walleye or northern. County Road 20. Location: Off the southeast Lake: Eagle Lake’s shallow waters contain numerous bullheads River: The Watonwan River provides excellent opportunity for and an occasional northern and walleye. corner of the CSAH Wildwood 90 bridge. canoeing and fishing. This scenic park has a total River: Blue Earth River. Indian Lake of 28 acres in three parcels Weagel Park lying on alternate sides of This 120-acre drained wetland was restored to serve as a wetland the river. The parcels are Hungry Hollow Stop Located on the Red mitigation site. It provides excellent wildlife viewing and a na- joined by a 140 foot long Jacket Trail just off ture trail for hikers and horseback riders that winds through the swinging-foot bridge and a This wayside park resides along Highway 90, and includes a Indian Lake Road, east boundary of the park. The Indian Lake Conservation Area 120 foot long trail bridge. this small 3 acre rest received a federal canoe launch to the Le Sueur River, a small boat landing and The intent is to retain this parking lot. stop provides parking Environmental area in its natural state, and a shelter for Excellence Award providing only a park- Location: 1 mile east of the South Route bike trail. trail users. in 1999. ing area, nature trail, and canoe access to the river. Location: About Location: One Lone Pine 2.5 miles south of mile south of Location: Approximately Mankato on Indian Mankato off three miles south of the Lake Road. This one-acre park area offers a boat landing, picnic area and Township City of Eagle Lake on both shore fishing. Road 174. sides of the Le Sueur River off Highway 28. Location: Off of County Road 48 on the east end of River: At and near the park, the Le Sueur River affords the op- Madison Lake. portunity to fish for walleye, catfish and bullheads. Lake: Madison Lake (1,347 acres) contains crappies, sunfish, walleye, northerns, bass and bullheads. PARKS & CAMPGROUNDS Duck Lake Park Location: The Rapidan Park is located adjacent to the west end of the Rapidan Dam on the Blue Earth River, off County Road 9 This popular day-use park offers in the hamlet of Rapids. Bray Park & Campground volleyball, picnicking, fishing, swimming, boat launching and River: Adjacent private accesses to the Blue Earth River allows a playground area. Canoes, anglers to try for walleye, small-mouth bass, northerns, catfish Bray Park features open and crappies. space and attractive kayaks, paddle boats, and fishing wooded areas with a 0.7 boats are available to rent. A mile-long hard surfaced resident caretaker is provided Red Jacket Trail Park nature trail. An additional during the park season. 1.4 mile-long primitive This day use park, which footpath trail includes a Location: On the southern shore is part of the Red Jacket unique swinging bridge of Duck Lake off County Road Trail System, is located over a ravine. Overnight 187, about one-half mile north of the City of Madison Lake. next to a renovated rail- RV and tent campers are welcome and an on-site log cabin/ road trestle that stretches interpretative center can be reserved for group meetings, family Lake: Duck Lake (288 acres) contains crappies, sunfish, walleye, across the Le Sueur River. gatherings and company picnics. northerns and bass. A picnic shelter, parking lot, viewing area and ca- Location: On the southeastern shore of Madison Lake off Coun- noe launch are highlights ty Road 48, about 2 miles southeast of the City of Madison Lake. Lake George Park of the park. Lake: Madison Lake (1,347 acres) contains crappies, sunfish, This small day-use park offers great recreation with a picnic Location: About 2.5 miles south of Mankato off State walleye, northerns, bass and bullheads. A fishing dock and boat area, swimming beach, boat launch, fishing dock and play- Highway 66. landing dock are provided. ground area. Location: On the southeast shore of Lake George off County River: A public canoe launch allows for easy access to the scenic Daly Park & Campground Road 187, about 3.5 miles northeast of the City of Madison Lake. Le Sueur River. This scenic park, which offers a perfect combination of open Lake: Lake George (141 acres) provides fishing for large-mouth Williams Nature Center space and wooded areas, has a wide range of facilities for bass, northerns, crappies and sunfish. overnight campers and picnickers. Explore the natural state of Blue Earth County the island on a 0.5 mile-long primitive trail, or enjoy a round of Overlooking the Minnesota River, the land for this park was do- frisbee golf at the park’s course. Rapidan Dam Park & Campground nated by Williams Pipeline and developed by the Mankato Area Foundation. Williams Nature Center features 1.5 miles of hard- Parks, Trails & Location: Daly Park is on the northeastern shore of Lura Lake Located in an attractive setting, this pleasant park provides for surfaced nature trails, two overlooks, self-guided interpretative off County Road 191, about 4.5 miles southwest of Mapleton. daytime picnicking, tent camping and playground use. An out- stations and an outdoor classroom. The park includes a heated Campgrounds standing view of the scenic river valley is afforded from the park interpretative center/log cabin that can be used for classroom Lake: Lura Lake (1,263 acres) contains crappies, sunfish, perch, and top of the adjoining dam. A nearby small store provides discussions, group meetings and family functions. northerns, walleye, bass and bullheads. A fishing pier and dock basic needs for picnickers. A resident caretaker is provided for are provided with a double ramped boat landing. the season. Location: About three miles west of Mankato off State Highway 68. MAP & INFORMATION GUIDE RECREATION & CONSERVATION AREAS Conservation Wayside/ Parks Areas Rest Areas ACRES) ACRES) ACRES) (65 2 (4 ACRES) ER Cambria Lake (4.2 188 George ) 26 187 12 187 ACRES) Wita Lake Lake (36 ) George CENT 22 DuckLake ACRES) PARK ACRES) K Mankato 187187 (7 k Park 4 STOP 187 Duck Lake e 87 Regional Airport Cre Ballantyne ) ACRES n Kiwanis Park ACRES) ACRES) ga ACRE) r Eagle Lake Lake 3 PAR o Re cr eation (4.2 Sak h Pa rk Madi son (120 ACRES M 68 M Area ata S 26 27 STOP in in 11 TRAIL (28 (1 n Lake (26 (1.4 g ACRES) NATURE e 169 i KE s 27 Madiso ACRES Judson ota 12 ng n Lake DAM (30 R H HOLLOW i i a il KE LA l l r i v i lls S T Bray MS a West Minnesota a tate r 68 e r 14 1 LAKE T T r LA r Park r (98 (126 GEORGE PINE e River Trail e WOOD v v i i JACKET R R Eagle Lake 60 Y 7 Lone Y a a 12 t t TONWAN Land of o Williams Sibley Minnesotao 14 60 ss Pine Memories Park e Nature nRiver Trail 48 CHIMEK in Park Park M 17 Minneopa Center BRA DAL DUCK LAKE RAPIDANRED WILLIA INDIAN S WILD EAGLE LONE HUNGRY WA WEAGEL PARK (3 ACRES) 17 State Park Eagle Lake l Mankato 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Armstrong ek Minneopa Trail i 22 Amenities 10 11 12 13 14 15 Lieberg re a Lake C Minneopa r Rasmussen 14 Lake a T Falls p t Woods 27 10 15 o 66 Tent Camping Sites 20 Strom 60 S 90 e 60 83 e o n u k Lake n th R 15 i o c ute a T M 169 r J Weagel Park 33 71 iver a Alice Lake Mobile Camping Sites R il ed Wildwood h Indian Lake t R County Park 1 0 r Conservatio 23 a il n a 8 Electrical Hookups E r Area Hungry T S Lily Lake e et ou Hollow 28 u k Indian Lake l ac Red th Rou te T rail Stop Crysta l Lake B Rapidan J 90 Lake Crystal 6 Bathhouse Dam d Jacket e L Basic Park Rules 9 County County 13 R e Loon Lake 5 S Park Park u e Boat Launch 9 Rapidan er 60 ur Riv 20 St.Clair Mills La ke Canoe Rental r 15 15 1. Glass beverage containers 66 e v i Drinking Water and beer in containers larger R e l than one quart are not p Dump Station a M allowed.
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