12 Scenic State Parks In Minnesota To Explore, One For Each Month Of The Year
We in the North Star State are blessed with four seasons, four biomes, 66 state parks, nine state recreation areas, and nine state waysides – which means that even if you picked one scenic state park in Minnesota for every month of the year, you’d still have a long way to go to experience all the Bold North has to offer. But it’s a start!
January is an ideal time to visit Big Bog State Recreation area. It makes the bog environment easier to explore (also, no bugs) and opens up a ton of recreational opportunities, from snowmobiling and ice fishing on Upper Red Lake to winter hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.
Big Bog State Recreation Area Southern Unit, 55716 MN-72, Waskish, MN 56685, USA
The gorgeous St. Croix National Scenic Riverway is just as stunning in winter as it is in other seasons. Experience its cold weather splendor with a cross-country skiing adventure at Wild River State Park. The park boasts miles of trails groomed for skate and classical skiing. It also offers on-site equipment rental through a concessionaire.
Wild River State Park, b n, 39797 Park Trail, Center City, MN 55012, USA
As winter loosens its grip, head to the southwestern corner of the state to experience Blue Mounds State Park's iconic Sioux quartzite under a mantle of white. Look for the park's bison herd as its members shake off the cold and ready themselves for spring.
Blue Mounds State Park, 1410 161st St, Luverne, MN 56156, USA
In mid to late April, look for early-spring forest wildflowers at Beaver Creek Valley State Park. Spring is also a fine time to take advantage of the trout fishing the spring-fed creek affords anglers.
Beaver Creek Valley State Park, County Road 1, Caledonia, MN, USA
Carley State Park is renowned for the bluebells that blanket its bluffs every May. Also keep an eye out for false rue anemones and Dutchmen's breeches.
Carley State Park, 50366 Wabasha County Rd 4, Plainview, MN 55964, USA
Minnesota's wildflower season peaks in June, when the state flower bursts onto the scene. And one of the best places to find showy lady's slippers, as well as other species of orchids, is Scenic State Park.
Scenic State Park, 56956 Scenic Hwy, Bigfork, MN 56628, USA
With a swimming beach, hiking trails, and a historic WPA camp site, Lake Bronson State Park is the perfect place to beat the July heat. Its also one of the best parks for exploring Minnesota's aspen parkland biome, which only exists in the extreme northwestern part of the state, where the tallgrass prairie meets the edge of the big woods biome.
Lake Bronson State Park, County Rd 28, Lake Bronson, MN 56734, USA
Tettegouche State Park climbs up the rocky bluffs that rise from Lake Superior and the Baptism River gorge. The cool north woods and lakefront location help to keep the heat at bay as you hike to one of the state's tallest waterfalls or explore the rugged coastline of the world's largest lake.
Tettegouche State Park, 5702 MN-61, Silver Bay, MN 55614, USA
For those who wish to get an early jump on fall foliage, Cascade River State Park is good place to start. Look for aspens, birch, sumac, and tamarack starting to make the change. Worst case scenario? You get there too early and have to hike along the namesake river's stunning series of waterfalls.
Cascade River State Park, West, 3481 Minnesota 61, Lutsen, MN 55612, USA
In the southern part of Minnesota, October is the peak month for fall foliage, and the best place to experience it is in the big woods biome. Minneopa State Park boasts plenty of bottomland hardwood forest that bursts into bright and brilliant colors every autumn. Throw in its bison herd and a waterfall, and there's not really a better way to spend an October day in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
Minneopa State Park, 54497 Gadwall Rd, Mankato, MN 56001, USA
As the November chill sparks in the air, warm yourself up with a hike at Great River Bluffs State Park. You may be treated to some of the last vestiges of fall color in the state, but you'll certainly be wowed by the sweeping vistas of the Mississippi River valley.
Greet the coming winter with a hike or snowshoe in Minnesota's north woods, where the headwaters of the Mississippi spill humbly from Lake Itasca. While there, marvel at some of the tallest old-growth pines in the state as you negotiate the quiet woodland trails of Itasca State Park.
Itasca State Park, 36750 Main Park Drive, Park Rapids, MN 56470, USA
Not only can you plan your calendar around Minnesota’s scenic state parks, but you can also find an awesome hike for every month here in the North Star State. Do you have a favorite park for each season? Or is there just one park where you enjoy watching all the seasons as they come and go? Let us know in the comments.
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