Saw the sign for the auto tour on the way to Big Stone Lake State Park. Looked it up on Google and…read moreit is a MUST SEE!!! 5 mile paved loop through the wilderness with views of wetlands full of birds, rock outcroppings you can walk on, and a path along trees and a stream... Only saw one other car on a Saturday morning. Three bikes were doing the loop. Now that would be fun... If this place was closer to a big city it would be overrun with people. It is in the middle of nowhere. The perfect place to be for a wild life. :) I can say, if you are in the area, visit. But if you are in the area, you do. I can tell everyone else, IT IS WORTH A DRIVE FROM WHEREVER YOU ARE!!!

Love the prairie setting! There is something calming about tall waves of grass in all directions…read more We stayed three nights in the upper campground at site 7 with full hook ups. TONS of room. These campsites are big with lots of prairie in between. Loved that there was mowed grass throughout the site. (Instead of the dirt sites you get in forests.) The camper spots are gravel. The pit toilet by us was spotless and checked every morning by ranger staff. The shower building was also clean. There are prairie trails with epic views of the lake right from the campground. They were all recently mowed which we greatly appreciated! I would also recommend walking to the state record cottonwood tree. As big as you think... We did drive to the beach twice and had a fabulous time. The water seems to be much better than what the previous reviewer said 9 years ago. Maybe all the rain we got this season helped? We didn't see any issues. We will be back to this park!

After the recent rains, the hiking club trail was a bit squishy in some places. Field and woods…read morewalking. Not a lot of features to see. Some of the highlights included the visitor center. The woman working there was so nice and helpful. There is also a room full of stuffed birds and furs so you can get up close and personal with the animals of our region. The wild flowers around the center were stunning. You must stop and see the giant cottonwood tree. It's ginormous. It's amazing how big a tree can get. So cool. The pelicans that hang out at the dam were interesting to see as well. Huge beautiful birds.

In my tour of state parks this will be another spot that ranks high on my list. Historic in the…read moresense as it's a good example of how the glacier affected Minnesota topography, as we usually see more examples of the ice age draw back in Wisconsin. There are some quiet scenic campsites and various hiking trails, some open all year, some for horses. The hiking trails are mostly easy with packed down grass and a few rough areas on the hill climbs. From the scenic hills you will see what's left of the Minnesota prairie with wildflowers. The highest elevation is 1352' which in Mn is almost considered a mountain.

For a smaller Minnesota state park, this is a pretty great stop for anyone looking to get out to a…read morepark! While there aren't a million miles of hiking, this park does offer some tremendous lookouts, lots of bird watching, the option to get into the water, and plenty of education on the geography of this place! The rangers were very friendly and we were able to get firewood. Bathrooms were decent and the campsite was splendid. The campsite isn't as secluded or covered as other parks, so be aware that your neighbors will be staring right at ya. Overall, super great park. Easy access to trails and lots to look at and learn. Bring sunglasses and a hat! Not a ton of shade.

Great park to spend a few hours in. There is a little zoo with elk, bison, goats and some birds…read more Lots of playgrounds and trails to burn your kiddos energy down. On top of that, there is a nice little walk to a small water fall. No entrance or parking fees. Rustic camping is an option as well if you are looking for a place to stay. Big hadd to find, the park is right on town. A good use of a few hours if you want to get outside.

The zoo is a nice touch. My 4 year absolutely loved it. Lots of trails for folks if all ages plus a…read moregood driving path to the waterfall if that's all you want to see. We had fun and can't wait to go back to explore more.

Other than breaking my wrist on my most recent visit here this summer (oops), Mellette Hill is a…read moreplace of many fond memories from my childhood. We used to play all day on "the hill" - riding bikes, playing hide & seek, sledding in the winter - you name it, this was the ultimate outdoor playground for the entire neighborhood. Oh, and when you do break your arm like me - the ER at the hospital is just up the street! Maybe this is why parents are allowing more video games vs. real life experiences. Real life can be dangerous. But it also leaves some great lasting memories...

Pretty park and city run campground. The sites are right next to each other but I'm guessing the…read morecampground doesn't get much use? No one else was here while we were here anyway, but that could just be the time of year. It's right next to the road, so it's noisy during the day. Electrical hookups for only $10 (pay down the street). Oh, and no restrooms on site (again, down the street). Sounds like a bunch of negatives but for a one night layover, it's a nice spot next to a calm pond with ducks. Take a walk to the island and enjoy the peacefulness.