I can hardly believe it, but today I will be visiting the last two State Parks on my list, thus completing my goal of visiting all 75 State Parks in Minnesota.
It’s crazy to wrap my mind around the fact that I’m done! I’m incredibly excited, but it’s also a little bittersweet. I know I can visit all of the parks I’ve already been to anytime, but there’s something about exploring fresh spaces that’s special. It’s been a fun, adventurous, and peaceful journey to each of these parks, and I’m grateful to live in such a beautiful State.
My appreciation for Minnesota has grown tenfold throughout the course of my adventures – prior to starting this particular adventure, I had no idea that there were 75 State Parks in Minnesota, nor did I understand how different they all are.
In celebration of completing my goal, I’ve pulled together my top ten favorite State Parks that I’ve visited so far. Who knows, maybe today Myre Big Island or Whitewater State Parks will make their way to the list!
You’ll note that many of my State Parks have one of two things in common: 1) They have a waterfall or 2) They’re on the North Shore. I can’t help it. I’m biased toward those gorgeous North Shore Parks.
In order, here are my top ten Minnesota State Parks:
1. Interstate State Park
Whenever people ask me for a State Park recommendation, this is always the first one I suggest.
This park has stunning bluff overlooks, and is super fun to roam around. It has glacial potholes throughout the park, which are super interesting to look at.
Especially the ones you can walk into.
Here’s a view looking up from the “Bake Oven Pothole,” which you can climb down a little spiral staircase into.
This park is best visited during the fall, when the leaves are changing.
2. Judge C.R. Magney State Park (+10 nostalgia points)
This is the second park I recommend to people when they ask for park suggestions.
In addition to just being an incredibly stunning place to hike, it’s also home to Devil’s Kettle Falls.
It used to be an intriguing mystery as to where one of the falls, which flows into one of the “kettles” went, but evidently scientists finally figured out that it comes out right into Lake Superior. Part of me wishes they didn’t discover where it leads, and it remained a mystery, but we can’t have it all!
What we do have, though, is gorgeous views.
Even better, there’s a landing that brings you right up to the second waterfall. You can walk (carefully) out onto a big rock and get super close to the water.
This is hands-down one of my favorite memories of my whole life. My friend Kaysey and I climbed right out onto that giant rock, and were immediately drenched by the ferocious spray of the waterfall, but it only made us more gleeful. It was awesome, in the original intent of the word, to stand in front of that roaring waterfall, and marvel at its power and beauty. I stood there for quite some time, taking it all in, and when I was ready to leave, I turned around to see a full, circular rainbow appear in the spray of the waterfall. It was one of the most beautiful, magical things I’ve ever seen.
And for that, it gets 10 bonus nostalgia points.
3. Grand Portage State Park
Grand Portage.
I feel like all I have to do is show photos of this one. Words aren’t needed.
I thought it was dreamy and beautiful in the winter (which it is).
But Grand Portage in the spring is really something else.
The mist in the background is coming off the waterfall.
This is a great park for some insanely gorgeous waterfall views, and it also has some nice trails for exploring and lung-cleansing with evergreen air.
4. Jay Cooke State Park
Jay Cooke State Park is an actual playground, and that’s why I love it so much.
You can get as close to the waterfalls as you dare, and I certainly dare.
You can run around the rocky terrain in this park like it’s your personal playground, and it’s exhilarating.
Plus, the views.
Cannot be beaten.
Also, you know I love a good suspension bridge.
There’s a lot of fun trails through the woods, in addition to the rocky areas around the waterfalls and river, so there’s plenty to explore here.
5. Itasca State Park (+10 nostalgia points)
Itasca gets +10 nostalgia points because it’s where I started this blog.
I sat at the mouth of the Mississippi headwaters, bare feet dangling into the start of an incredibly important river, and jotted down the words to my very first blogpost.
I was so stoked to visit the headwaters. Look at my face.
It’s also home to the first fire tower I ever climbed, and it has a truly beautiful set of woods that are fun to walk through.
It’s crazy how much life has changed since I visited this park two years ago. Therefore, the nostalgia points.
6. Minneopa State Park (+20 nostalgia points)
Minneopa has earned its nostalgia points because it is the first State Park that I ever visited, and I went with my Dad on Father’s Day. It was super fun to hike around the park with him. He’s just as adventurous as I am – I remember wanting to jump out onto a rock to get closer to the waterfall, but the rock was mildly wet, so I was afraid of slipping and falling in, and with a casual shrug, he was like, “No, just do it!” So I did. And I didn’t die, and it was super fun. It’s also the first waterfall I’d ever seen in my whole life, and I was utterly blown away by it.
Additionally, it’s one of the first places that I’d ever taken my first Polaroid camera for a spin at.
So, if I haven’t made myself clear yet, Minneopa gets 20 nostalgia points!
7. Scenic State Park
Is truly Scenic.
I loved this park because the trail was so unique. It was at the top of a super thin esker (a giant ridge that’s formed when glaciers melt and deposit sediment in between each other), and is surrounded on all sides by cedar trees and lakes. It’s gorgeous, and super fun to walk through.
Here’s a little glimpse at how thin the ridge and trail is.
The steep sides roll right into the lake.
At the end of the main trail is a lookout that offers a beautiful view of the lake.
You know I love a good lookout.
8. Beaver Creek Valley State Park
I like Beaver Creek Valley because it also felt like a giant playground to me.
It’s a simple park, but so beautiful.
It was so easy to run around, splash through some streams, and climb some rocks at this park. Life’s simple pleasures.
Kaysey and I waded through the Big Spring, which wasn’t truly huge, but was fun to splash around in.
It also has a suspension bridge, which again, you know my feelings on.
This is all around a great park for exploring and longer hikes.
9. Temperance River State Park
Temperance River took me by surprise.
I’d like to go back in the fall or summer, but in the winter it was amazing.
The sun was perfectly situated in the sky to light up the park and glisten off the snow while we visited.
There’s a fun bridge that brings you to the front of the gorge, and wraps around to bring you to the shores of Lake Superior.
It was just a stunning place to visit, and we stood on the bridge for quite some time, just absorbing how beautiful it was.
10. Crow Wing State Park
I’m a big history nerd, so Crow Wing State Park is super appealing to me.
When you arrive, the main trail takes you down what used to be Main Street in the town of Crow Wing, which is so crazy to think about as you walk along.
This town used to be a thriving area that rapidly grew, and now it’s a dirt trail and wooden boardwalk.
One building still stands – the home of a fur company owner.
In addition to the cool history behind the park, it has a really pretty overlook that is one of my favorite parts of the park.
I also saw a baby deer the last time I was there, so I particularly enjoyed that.
It’s actually a park that’s bursting with wildlife – for better or for worse, depending on what your view of mosquitos is. Go when the mosquitos aren’t as bad, and then bring a whole canister of bug spray with you, because you will certainly need it.
However, if you can brave the clouds of bugs, the Chippewa Lookout at the park has a gorgeous view of the Mississippi.
Minnesota is so beautiful!
I’m so proud to belong to this stunning state and all of it’s 10,000-lake-beauty. While a lot of my favorite parks have common themes (waterfalls, bridges, bluffs), there is truly so much variety to each and every park. We’re lucky to have preserved this land, and I hope we’ll continue caring for it for years and years to come.
While today I will conclude my State Park adventure, I will continue to post about the various parks I’ve visited, as I haven’t published all of my posts about them yet.
So stick around for more State Park fun, and for all of the inevitable adventures that will come afterward.
If you’re still here, thank you for celebrating this milestone with me.
Want to read more about my 25 Things list? Click here for more adventures.
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