Not a ton of trails. Has some nice hills which provides an overlook of the prairie. Part of the…read moretrail was along the river, which with recent rain, was too waterlogged for us to use. We were able to find a 2-3mile path which took us through the woods and onto the prairie. Not the best of MN State Parks but still nice and well maintained.

Beautiful campground! All areas around the campground were…read morevery well maintained. Restrooms/showers were spacious, clean and plenty of hot water during showers. Campsite spots are Huge! Pretty sure the biggest spots of any campground I've been to and #9 the spot we camped has its own road leading to it so it's completely private from foot/vehicle traffic. Around 5 miles of trails from prairie hills to wooded trails across streams leading to the Des Moines River. Well marked and wide paths make it an enjoyable hike. Can't go wrong with a weekend at this campground

Just wow. It was my first time being on this side of South Dakota, having visited the Badlands and…read morethe Black Hills last year, and I had no idea what to expect! We headed out to South Dakota to attend a family wedding and added on a couple of days to go camping. I didn't know anything about this park but when we got there I was delighted by the maintenance, and the care of the park. It looks like there are areas where people can visit the park for day use and areas where people can stay, either in the cabins, the campgrounds, or the lodge. I was impressed by how many people we came across that come here to visit during the day. We saw many guests hiking the trails, relaxing in the water, and enjoying the outdoor grills. We found our campground and I loved that they made each campsite pretty private next to other campgrounds. We stayed at the King Campground, the newer one of the two campground areas, and you walk up to your area and it's a large flat grassy area with a picnic table and extra green space before walking down to the parking area. You have a good amount of privacy from the next campground over. I loved that, it was easily the most well thought out campground I've ever stayed in. We loved the fire pit and used it each night and morning. My boyfriend also managed to set up our hammocks on the trees near by for us to nap in in the shade. We brought our dog along for this trip and she did so well hiking with us along the trails and hanging out at the camp ground. The trails got a little iffy since there were off shoots from the trail that -seemed like it was part of the original course but we managed to make it through all trails without getting lost!! There are also a mixture of outhouse/compost like toilets that were cleaner than some I've come across at parks and hand sanitizer that was full as well. The main bathrooms and showers were a short distance from the campground and were clean! It was nice to be in nature but still have the option to use a regular toilet and shower! Another thing to note, the campground host here is wonderful! I can't remember his name now but he was great to talk to and learn how he and his wife got into hosting! This area of the camp was probably the best area to see the sunset. We got to see a couple of beautiful sunsets looking out over the park as our campground area was on a hill with no view obstruction. I was so impressed by this campground that I'm already hoping we go back sometime!

Absolutely beautiful area! We were there in 30 degree weather and will definitely be back in the…read morespring/summer to check things out again, we had a great time walking and checking out all the sites!

This park is full of history and legend, combined with the beauty of the gulch and stream...!…read more The highlight of the park...! The legend of Jesse James's leap across the chasm to evade a posse! You can now walk across a bridge that spans the gap which brings this jump into perspective. The steep, quartzite walls, and rushing water make it easy to understand the legend's persistence. The feat's impossibility adds intrigue to the natural landscape! The park also features hiking trails with views of the river, wildflowers, and prairie grasses. A narrow path has been etched into the landscape by Split Rock Creek! A two-tiered waterfall creates a symphony of rushing water amidst the terrain. The path offers various viewing points of the rock formations and stream. The park offers discoveries, including the historical marker about Jesse James, the waterfall, and multiple rock formations. Devil's Gulch offers an adventure for those who appreciate local lore and natural beauty!

I went for the first time yesterday with my man and our Frenchie, "Bobo" after work and let me just…read moresay, it was a beautiful day. Meeting families enjoying the weather and the trails was a highlight as well. Get out there and enjoy!!!

Just a fun little museum and historical exhibit a short bike or car ride from Lake Shetek. We…read morestopped by during a camping trip and the kids had a blast climbing around and then picnicking at the tables. I wouldn't go out of my way unless you're a huge railroad buff, but it's a great little stop to break any journey past Currie. And very inexpensive, totally worth it at $5 per.

End-O-Line Railroad Park & Museum is a hidden gem! If you are in the area this is worth the stop…read more It is off the beaten travel path a bit, but worth the effort to drive a short distance to see this location. A lot of history here with many out buildings, but the focal point here is railroad history. The town of Currie marked the end of the line for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad. This line was originally supposed to go through to South Dakota but with lines going through Tracy on the north and Slayton on the south, they didn't see a need to continue the tracks past Currie. The turntable was built in 1901 and was used to turn the steam engines around to head back to Bingham Lake. The turntable is on the National Register of Historic Sites and is the only one left in the state of Minnesota, on the original site, still operable, and always turned by man power - it was never hooked up to steam or horses. This is a seasonal museum (Memorial Day - Labor Day) and is open 10 am to 5 pm Wednesday - Saturday and 1 - 5 pm on Sunday's. They do offer off season tours for groups but you need to make prior arrangements. Allow plenty of time when stopping here. There is a lot of history to see and absorb. They also offer picnic grounds, very nice and clean restrooms, a gift shop and playground area for the kids. Our family was so very glad we took the time to tour this museum. It is fun for all ages and very informative. There is an admittance fee of $5 for those 18 and over, students 6 - 17 receive a $3 reduced fee and kids 5 and under are free. Well worth the stop if you are in the Currie area. Beautiful grounds and well kept exhibits. So heart warming to see a small town be able to maintain such a wonderful historic attraction. A must see!

It's hard for me to use the word "monument" here... When I think monument...I consider a monument…read moreto be something man made. To me this is more of just a gorgeous cutout of well kept and preserved natural landscape... A park. A vibrant scene. With over 400 native plant species, including big bluestem, little bluestem, and buffalo grass, the area teems with natural beauty. Stunning red stone bluffs and cliffs of Sioux Quartzite, a hard rock formed between 1.6 and 1.7 billion years ago.. A highlight of the area is Winnewissa Falls, a beautiful waterfall that cascades into Pipestone creek. Two main trails allow you to navigate this park. The Circle trail is a paved, 3/4-mile loop trail guides visitors to the key natural highlights including the quarries, historical markers, Old Stone Face, Winnewissa Falls, and the tallgrass prairie. The South Quarry trail is about 1/2 mile roundtrip, out and back on the same path, and it provides a look into the active quarrying pits where Indigenous people have been extracting pipestone for thousands of years. Both trails are easy to navigate and I'd consider them to be a very easy hike... And I'm not exactly athletic. Lol The paths are both paved and are considered wheelchair accessible. Parking is free, the lot is nice sized, and near the visitor center and restrooms. As you leave the lot heading towards the park you are basically at the starting point of the Circle trail. If you like a nice little walk... This is a great place to get out to and witness the enduring natural beauty of it's prairies, cliffs, and waterfalls, and explore remarkable geological formations... I'm willing to bet parts of the park are spectacular at sunset! And as long as you are in the area... Visit nearby Fort Pipestone and it's gift shop along with Keepers Gift Shop & Gallery!

We are enroute to Brookings, SD for football game and left a day early. Due to government shutdown,…read morethe visitor center is closed. I guess I missed a video and other displays. IDK. Stopped at a store in Pipestone and worker talked some about it. Today was a nice day in October and the place was very sparce with other visitors. The walking trail was short at .75 mile, so my spouse could handle it. It was very scenic and pretty. I read more about the monument from the brochure at the store downtown. It is also free to attend at all times.

Loved my time camping at Blue Mounds State Park!!! They have a well taken care of quiet campground!…read moreGood bathrooms and facilities! At the campground you are just a bike ride or a short driver over to the old quarry! Fortunately the whole herd of buffalo was right outside the observation deck!!! Luverne, MN is the town nearby and it is just a 10 min drive. Close enough to grab some food but far enough to not ruin the nature atmosphere! The park is a great getaway from normal life and I will definitely be returning soon!

I really enjoyed the 4m hike through this park. The prairie is a beautiful place. We saw lots of…read moreflowers and wild life. I love how the wind blows patterns over the long grass. No trees so bring sunscreen. The nice breeze kept the bugs at bay.

Pretty small state park. The two mile hike brings you around the outer edge. The main attraction is…read morethe beach but we weren't swimming. It was a combo of woods and open field hiking. Bugs were a bit annoying.

In the summer of 2018, my husband and I stopped at this park for the Passport stamp and to do the…read moreHiking club trail. Nice pretty park. The historic WPA bridge is made with local stones. There are other WPA era buildings at the park also. This was a fun park for a quick day trip.

The Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery is located between East Lake Okoboji and Spirit Lake. This facility…read morecollects, spawns, incubates, and raises walleye for use throughout the state. Each year between 60 and 70 million walleye fry are hatched at this facility. My son and I love to come here every year. There's a neat aquarium in the lobby that's stocked with a variety of local fish. And depending on what's going on, many of the fish tanks on the floor are fully accessible for viewing. The DNR staff has always been very friendly and willing to explain almost anything about their jobs. Of course in a resort area such as this, there are many other options, such as Arnold's Amusement Park, swimming at Pikes Point, etc. But also this area is about the Lakes as natural resources and this place kind of grounds our entire experience here.

This was a stop that we had planned coming from South Dakota, back down to Texas. It was well worth…read morethe stop. These beautiful falls are different than the usual stops at gas stations and McDonald's during road trips. But it was a great place to stretch our legs, use the restrooms, and have some snacks that we had packed. It was a free stop, free parking, and it was nice to see people just walking along the falls, enjoying theirselves. We did not get a chance to go up to the observation deck, but even still, we enjoyed ourselves. Definitely make the stop if you are in this area! And even if you are not in this area, it would be well worth the drive.

I'm finding there's so much more to South Dakota than I realized. Nestled amongst what looked to…read moreme, office buildings near by is this majestic and well maintained park, Falls Park. We were meeting up with family here before we headed to our vacation rental and it was the perfect place to do so. The day that we went there was a wedding party taking pictures in the green areas near the trees and as we drove further in I could see why they call this park Falls Park. There's ample parkin here and several seating and picnic tables sporadically placed through out. There's also a tower you can go up to have a better view of the falls, the park, and the surrounding area. It was also a nice reprieve from the heat of the day. There are a few trails that take you around the area and to the water. It's a lovely park to enjoy nature right in the city. When we walked closer to the falls we found the perfect picnic table under the shade to cool off. We didn't get to see the whole park but what we did see was impressive. I'd love to visit this park again should we be in the area.