Minnesota State Parks

Minnesota has 75 state parks — the system is one of the finest in the Midwest, covering the full range of boreal forest, lake country, North Shore, and prairie landscapes.

Gooseberry Falls State Park (Two Harbors)
The most visited state park in Minnesota — five waterfalls of the Gooseberry River within 1 mile on the Lake Superior North Shore. The Upper Falls (60 ft), Middle Falls (50 ft), Lower Falls (30 ft), and the Fifth Falls are all accessible by short trails from the parking area. The basalt canyon walls and the lake views from the river mouth make this the most photogenic state park in Minnesota.

Tettegouche State Park (Silver Bay)
The finest of the North Shore state parks — the Shovel Point Trail (2 miles round trip) traverses exposed basalt cliffs 175 feet above Lake Superior with views of the lake's horizon. High Falls of the Baptism River (the highest waterfall in Minnesota at 70 feet, entirely within the state) is accessible via a 1-mile hike. The Baptism River gorge and the lake view from the Palisade Head volcanic escarpment are exceptional.

Judge C.R. Magney State Park (Grand Marais)
Home of the "Devil's Kettle" — the Brule River splits above a waterfall; the right fork falls into a pool that drains to Lake Superior normally; the left fork disappears into a pothole in the basalt and, until 2016, it was unknown where the water went. (Dye tracing in 2016 confirmed the water surfaces downstream — the mystery is now solved, but the kettle remains dramatic.) The 5-mile round trip hike to the falls is one of the finest in Minnesota.

Itasca State Park (Park Rapids)
Minnesota's oldest state park (1891) — the Mississippi River headwaters, the Preacher's Grove of ancient white pines (some 250 years old, 120 feet tall), and the Wilderness Drive (an unpaved forest drive) make Itasca one of Minnesota's most complete state park experiences. The Douglas Lodge (1905) is excellent.

Blue Mounds State Park (Luverne)
In the southwest corner of Minnesota — a Sioux quartzite escarpment (the "Blue Mounds") rising abruptly from the prairie, with a free-roaming bison herd (100+ animals). The prairie wildflowers in June are exceptional; the bison are viewable year-round.