Buffalo River State Park

This park is in north western Minnesota. Took me about 4 1/2 hours to drive here.

 

 Not too many trees in this campground, western Minnesota has a lot of prairie.

You could fit a very large RV in one of these spots and reach out to shake your neighbors hand..

The area for tents has a few more trees.

I was tucked back do far one other camper did not even know I was there.

 

This is the first time I have seen a pool with a sand beach, it sure looked like fun.

The rangers told me on a hot day it gets very crowded.

 

Another picture of the campground to show how open the area is. 

 

The trails wind through trees and across prairie.

There is fishing in the river, and a golf course is located near the park.

Did not see playground equipment but they do have a picnic area.

 

Beaver Creek Valley State Park,, what an interesting and Beautiful park but be warned. Cell hone service in the campground is pretty non existent (perfect).

Again I had some family with me which is one reason it is one of my favorites.

I forgot to get a picture of the sign.

Pulling in to the campground was interesting, I have always been told to

never drive over a flooded road. Here it is set up that the stream flows over the road.

 

 

I really want to come back in the winter, they say the stream is spring fed and always 45 degrees so even in the middle of winter it has green vegetation.

 

There is a small playground.

And a lot of hiking trails, most are very steep and up and down. But the views are beautiful.

We did a lot of walking.

 

We did see people fishing in the stream and they caught a few fish but there is no lake or swim area.

The campground is tucked in a small valley and despite it being a very hot day it stayed relatively cool and wet.  The campsites are pretty close together with not a lot of trees between each site so you don't get much of a sense of privacy.

If your main objective is to walk trails this is a great place, and one I am planning on returning to especially in the middle of winter.



 

Moose Lake State Park has to be one of my favorites,

perhaps because my kids and grandkids joined me to Hunt for Big Foot.

What we learned is not all small children want to go walking in the woods at night looking for

Big Foot and listening for scary sounds in the shadows. So no we did not find Big Foot, if we had this may have been the last park I went to as well.

Lance enjoyed a canoe ride, the lake is small enough to canoe around in half a day or so.

(C'mon mom faster)

This park also has boat rentals.

 

The lake is large enough to get out and do some tubing on.

 They also have a really nice beach and swimming area, picnic area and playground. 

 

Can't say to much about the fishing, pretty slow when we were there but they do have a fishing pier.

 

And lot's of wildlife.

 

The campsites are large and roomy, the trees between the sites give you a nice sense of privacy.

(Yes the big dog sleeps in the little teardrop with me)

 

 

Just North West of the Twin Cities is Lake Maria State Park,

 I thought this to be one of the prettiest parks.

 

 

Lake Maria is a beautiful lake that you can access by car.

Lake Bjorkland is only accessible by walkin. They do have canoe rentals here with canoes by

Lake Bjorkland so you don't have to carry yours in.

 

Several of the parks have self guided trails

 

 

So far I have found the parks have these maps throughout the trails

which makes it much easier to find your way out if you get turned around.

 

This park has walk in campsites which are well tucked back into the woods. I did not see much here as far as playground equipment but they do have a very nice picnic area.

I look forward to returning to this park to do a little camping but since everything has to be carried in it might be more challenging with little children.

 

 

Just an hour north of the Twin Cities is

William O'Brien State Park

A larger park with so much to do between swimming and fishing and games and trails.

 

 

 

Beautiful Lake Alice has a large swimming beach and beautiful picnic areas.

You can rent fishing gear from the park office (you can in many of our state parks)

Also Volleyball equipment and horseshoes!

 

The trails are nice and easy to follow which I find true in all our state parks.

This makes it really nice for kids.

 

This park has a large campground, some sites are more in the open and some more shaded.

Remember the best part of any trip is getting home safely.

 

                             One of the first state parks I camped in was Nerstrand Big Woods                         
The campsites are very roomy and as you can see lots of trees (I like the parks with a lot of trees)
It is also the only place known where the Dwarf Trout Lily is found.

 

There is a very nice creek that meanders through the park. 

 

and Hidden Falls is an easy hike in. 

 

Keep an eye out for this tree and if anybody can figure out just how this happened let me know.

Then again the mystery is half the fun.

This tree is right alongside one of the many trails. 

The do have a playground here for the kids and with 11 miles of trails to walk you can keep pretty busy.  If you want to go into town you are only a few miles from Northfield. Lots of history here and let's hope the James Younger gang doesn't come back through town! (A bit of history)

 

Split Rock Creek State Park

 

 

It is by the largest lake in Pipestone County and has a nice swimming beach and boat rental as well.

 

The trails are very easy to follow and not very long.

The campground has electric and non electric sites

although there are not a lot of trees between each site.

This is a state park I would visit again with the kids as it is not very large

has a nice beach, a lake for fishing. It is also not very far from the city of Pipestone

or Blue Mounds State Park.

While you are at Blue Mounds State Park be sure and take a little drive to the Pipestone National Monument. This is where the Plains Indians would go to quarry catlinite or Pipestone.  Traditionally it was used to make ceremonial pipes.

It is a very pretty spot to walk with a bit of history as well.

Blue Mounds State Park - Pipestone MN

Hi, my name is Karen and I would like to introduce you to our Minnesota State Parks.
Our state parks have a wonderful easy to use website that introduces you to each state park.
 http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/index.html
You can make reservations, take a virtual tour of many of the parks as well as view individual campsites when making a reservation.
My goal is to visit each state park and encourage others to join me in our parks.

My first park to share is going to be one I look forward to sharing with my Grandkids when they get a bit older. It is down in Pipestone Minnesota in the southwestern corner of our state.

What is really fun is the buffalo, you can't get real close but there is a viewing platform to stand on.

This part of Minnesota is mostly flat prairie/farm land except for the mound that is a part of the park and you can hike to the top of.

Yes that really is a trail and it goes straight up.

Blue Mounds Park also has a lake with a really nice swimming beach, unfortunately the picture I took did not turn out, but you get a glimpse of it in this picture with a volleyball net and part of the swings at the playground.

The campground is nice but not a lot of trees separate each campsite.

There are several state parks within easy reach of here as well as the old pipestone quarry that was used by the Indians. This is nice as you have a variety of things you can see and do.

Lake Elmo Park Reserve - Lake Elmo

Lake Elmo Park Reserve

10th Street, Lake Elmo

Washington County Parks

Lake Elmo Park Reserve has a lot to offer. You could spend an entire day here and then some.  They have picnic areas, 3 playgrounds, a boat launch into Lake Elmo, a fishing pier, a man made filtered and clorinated beach, an equestrian center, two campgrounds (one modern for campers) and miles of walking paths and hiking trails.

It is a county park, so its either $5 for a day pass, or its $25 for an annual pass to any of the county parks. We decided to invest in the annual pass, afterall it'll only take 5 visits to one of the many parks to make it worth it.

This playground is HUGE.  

Its almost like they took 3 different large playgrounds
and made them into 1 giant park. They also have
the small ship you see that is
designed for smaller children.

After playing at the playground for quite some time,
we wandered down one of the many paths that circle
the park reserve. It was a very quiet peaceful walk through
grasslands and trees.  Part of the path takes you down to
the fishing pier and then follows the lake shore
for some time.

While walking the paths we found another smaller playground,
much less people than the main one had and much more quiet.
It had a covered picnic area with dozens of picnic tables,
and a shelter with a bathroom.

This "North" park had a beautiful sitting area. I
absolutely loved the beauty and tranquility of this
space. 

As we continued walking the paths we found another playground.
Both the North and South playgrounds had shelters, ample picnic tables
and plenty of room to run and play.

There was a ton of wildlife, this is a wonderful place for
someone who enjoys spending time
outdoors and in nature.
(Can you spot the deer in the photo above?)

There were plenty of signs to direct you to
each area of the park. As long
as you followed the signs, you weren't
going to find yourself lost. 

This park is great, we spent 4 hours there
and if I had prepared better (more drinks)
I could have spent much more time there.