13 Top National & State Parks in Minnesota

Author Brad Lane enjoyed a lengthy reporting trip throughout Minnesota for PlanetWare.

The state and national parks in Minnesota reflect the wide range of landscapes found throughout the state. From 10,000 lakes to tallgrass prairies and lighthouse vistas, it's hard to define Minnesota with just one image. But with a long trip and a lifetime to explore, the state parks and national park units of Minnesota offer a great gateway to it all.

Whether you are coming from Rochester, the Twin Cities, or up near Duluth and the North Shore, you can enjoy experiences like climbing a fire tower, hiking to a waterfall, or coming across a herd of buffalo within a short drive. Other popular activities include underground mine exploring and casting a line into calm waters.

The designated natural spaces of Minnesota offer unique opportunities to explore, as well as different perspectives of the people that came before us. Take some time to enjoy the parks' visitor centers to learn more about the cultural significance of each state and national park and its terrain.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources maintains the most up-to-date information on state parks and logistics, like campground reservations. Discover the best places to visit with our list of the top national and state parks in Minnesota.

Voyageurs National Park

Named after the French-Canadian fur traders that once frequented the area, Voyageurs National Park consists of rugged terrain mostly defined by water. The confluence of four major lakes on the Canadian/US border comprises much of the park. This aquatic environment makes Voyageurs one of the best national parks for canoeing, kayaking, and other boat adventures.

You can reach the visitor centers for Voyageurs by car, but the Kabetogama Peninsula and the heart of the park are only accessible by boat, plane, or crossing the frozen lake in the winter. Many visitors opt for the city of International Falls to be their launching point, and once they've hitched a ride into the depths of this unique national park, the adventure continues day and night.

Set against the backdrop of a southern boreal forest, popular activities at Voyageurs include canoeing and fishing the many waterways, visiting historic sites like the Ellsworth Rock Gardens, and exploring the many trails and ecosystems found throughout the park.

To get the most out of the park's hard-to-reach location, it's recommended to spend a few nights at one of the 270 campsites available, which are only available via boat travel. Several private and public campgrounds on the inland shores of Voyageurs cater to car camping.

With a few extra days to explore the many shorelines, inlets, and smaller lakes of Voyageurs, you'll also better your chances of catching one of the most brilliant starscapes you'll ever witness, including the full spectrum of the aurora borealis.

Rainy Lake Visitor Center Address: 1797 Ut - 342, International Falls, Minnesota

• Read More: Exploring Voyageurs National Park

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park

The North Shore of Lake Superior is one of the most scenic destinations in Minnesota, and the open water beauty of this environment is only enhanced when visiting Split Rock Lighthouse State Park.

Split Rock is named after its key feature and proudly displays its historic lighthouse atop a rocky bluff for all visitors to enjoy. The pebble beach shoreline is a great place to admire the lighthouse, and thanks to the adjacent History Center, you can even explore the historic structure from within.

As well as admiring the lighthouse, visitors can also enjoy hiking on the Superior Hiking Trail, which provides backpackers and hikers the ability to experience the entire North Shore on foot.

If you are looking to spend the night, a few of the cart-in sights offer excellent views of the lighthouse in the distance. These big views and access to the rest of the North Shore make Split Rock Lighthouse State Park one of the best campgrounds in Minnesota.

Address: 3755 Split Rock Lighthouse Road, Two Harbors, Minnesota

Read More: Top Hiking Trails in Minnesota

Jay Cooke State Park

Great views of one of the park's most dramatic features, the St. Louis River, greet visitors to Jay Cooke State Park right from the parking lot. The St. Louis River serves as a tributary for Lake Superior, which lies only 20 miles to the north and exposes the bedrock to define much of the rugged environment found within the state park.

It is quite a sight to see the churning waters of the St. Louis River continue to make their mark on the landscape. And with more than 50 miles of hiking trails throughout the park, you'll find many outlets to explore Jay Cooke beyond the parking lot.

The 3.5-mile looped Silver Creek Trail is a standard when visiting, and the trail crosses the Swinging Bridge at the parking lot to further expose big views of the St. Louis River and Silver Creek. For the best views in the park, however, the Carlton Trail offers steep terrain and a high vantage point.

Other trails at Jay Cooke lead to backcountry campsites and more views of the St. Louis River. A few trails also connect to the North Country National Scenic Trail. This collection comprises many of the best hiking trails in Minnesota.

Address: 780 Minnesota 210, Carlton, Minnesota

Whitewater State Park

The 27,000-acre Whitewater State Park is on the banks of the Whitewater River in southern Minnesota. It provides many outdoor adventure opportunities just 25 miles east of Rochester. Popular things to do here include casting a line in Trout Run Creek, swimming from the sandy beaches of the Whitewater River, or exploring the many limestone bluff hiking trails found sprawling throughout the park.

You won't find as many mosquitos at Whitewater as at some of the more northern state parks, and this is one of the reasons it's a popular place to visit. Another reason is the stunning scenery, including the prominent Chimney Rock that avid hikers can scale for a bird's-eye view of the bountiful landscape. Other inspiring vistas at the park include Eagle Point and Signal Point.

Camping is also popular at Whitewater State Park, with hundreds of drive-in sites and four camper cabins.

Address: 19041 MN-74, Altura, Minnesota

Great River Bluffs State Park

Great River Bluffs State Park overlooks the wide banks of the Mississippi River and is scenic at almost any time of the year. Come autumn, however, the many blended colors of fall paint a stunning picture throughout the river valley.

The park offers more than six miles of trails to explore, and perhaps the best views come from the King's Bluff Nature Trail.

The King's Bluff Nature Trail also includes a self-guided tour that sheds some insight into the surrounding prairie and woodland landscapes. More scenic viewpoints are scattered across other half-dome bluffs and sheer rock cliffs that define the park.

Hikers who bring their binoculars have the best chance to glimpse the active avian wildlife that shares the area, including red-tailed hawks and 100 other species of birds.

Address: 43605 Kipp Drive, Winona, Minnesota

Tettegouche State Park

In nearly every direction you turn in Tettegouche State Park, you'll come across an image worthy of a postcard. That's because this North Shore natural space embodies everything the Superior shoreline has to offer.

The state park is a hot spot for exploring the outdoors in Minnesota, with pebble beaches, jutting cliffsides, and more than 20 miles of hiking trails to explore. Tettegouche State Park also has designated sections for rock climbing, a rare attraction in the Minnesota State Park system.

A popular excursion at Tettegouche involves hiking up to where the Baptism River falls into Lake Superior, creating the impressive 60-foot High Falls.

With plenty of designated spaces to pitch a tent at Tettegouche, you can take as many days as you like exploring all there is to see. For a little more luxury, the Tettegouche Camp Cabins provide rustic accommodation that will satisfy all the campers in your party.

Address: 5702 MN-61, Silver Bay, Minnesota

Grand Portage State Park

Grand Portage State Park is home to the highest waterfall in the state of Minnesota and sits on the US/Canadian border. It's also the only Minnesota state park not owned by the state itself. Instead, the use of this natural space is through cooperative efforts and a lease agreement between the Grand Portage Band of Chippewa Indians and the Department of Natural Resources.

Grand Portage State Park is designated as day-use only, and upon your visit, it's almost required to travel the half-mile, wheelchair-accessible boardwalk that leads to the viewing platform for the stunning 120-foot High Falls created by the Pigeon River.

This rushing waterfall makes Grand Portage a popular day trip when exploring the North Shore. If you have a little extra time on your hands, the more remote Middle Falls is a five-mile round trip and provides more stunning waterfalls to view, plus a glimpse at the shimmering waters of nearby Lake Superior.

The harbor village of Grand Marais, 40 miles south on the shoreline, is a popular jumping-off spot to visit Grand Portage State Park.

Address: 9393 MN-61, Grand Portage, Minnesota

Banning State Park

Once home to a thriving 19th-century sandstone quarry, Banning State Park is now a fascinating historical space that offers educational opportunities alongside stunning scenery.

Located roughly an hour south of Duluth, along the state-designated Wild and Scenic Kettle River, Banning State Park allows visitors to paddle in the rapids, rock climb the sandstone cliffs, and hike the sprawling trails all in a day's visit.

Popular hiking routes begin with the Quarry Loop Trail, which takes hikers past interpretive signs and sandstone quarry ruins adjacent to the rugged banks of the Kettle River. From here, a recommended attraction is Wolf Creek Falls, which provides the perfect spot for lunch or a photo, if not simply just a place to enjoy the natural beauty of a moving landscape.

The state park features drive-in sites, electric sites, and a few canoe sites available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Address: 61101 Banning Park Road, Sandstone, Minnesota

Itasca State Park

Itasca State Park is home to the headwaters of the Mississippi River and provides many outlets for adventure. It also provides a worthwhile glimpse of why Minnesota is known as the land of 10,000 lakes.

As Minnesota's oldest state park, Itasca has been exposing state residents and visitors to a stunning landscape for more than a century. But the environment surrounding this park has been evolving for much longer.

The park encompasses old-growth forests, ancient lakes, and some of the best campsites in Minnesota. Visitors to Itasca can climb to the top of a spiraling fire tower, take a scenic wilderness drive, or stay at the historic Douglas Lodge.

About 49 miles of trails thread throughout Itasca, exposing hikers to a variety of environments, and the Jacob V. Brower Visitors Center provides educational and cultural opportunities.

Address: 36750 Main Park Drive, Park Rapids, Minnesota

Minneopa State Park

Minneopa State Park is in the southern portion of the state. It may be one of the smaller state parks of Minnesota, but with a two-tiered waterfall and a reintroduced American bison herd, it is well worth an afternoon of exploring.

Minneopa State Park has some of the most unique natural sights to see in all of Minnesota. The half-mile trail that leads to Minneopa Falls is evenly graded and easily accessible, allowing every member of the family to enjoy the view of this stunning double waterfall.

After checking out the falls, you can't leave without taking a quick trip along Bison Drive, where you might see the resident bison herd that roams over 300 acres of the park. Bison Drive is open to the public Thursday through Tuesday, and the gates close promptly at 3:30 pm.

It's important to stay in your car along Bison Drive, and if you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of these big animals alongside the cascading Minneopa Falls.

Address: 54497 Gadwall Road, Mankato, Minnesota

Blue Mounds State Park

Blue Mounds State Park is home to one of Minnesota's largest prairie remnants. But what really sticks out are the Sioux quartzite rock outcroppings that punctuate the space. These stunning rock formations are pink in color, but when settlers first came upon the area, they thought they saw blue from the distance, giving this state park a name that still sticks more than 150 years later.

These days, Blue Mounds State Park is popular with hikers exploring the 15 miles of trails. Rock climbers also frequent the park to ascend the various quartzite cliffs, and a small herd of reintroduced American bison also call the park home.

A wide array of camping is available at Blue Mounds State Park, including walk-in sites for tent camping and drive-in sites able to accommodate RVs up to 50 feet in length.

Address: 1410 161st Street, Luverne, Minnesota

Soudan Underground Mine State Park

Soudan Underground Mine State Park goes deep into northern Minnesota history, located at what was once Minnesota's first iron mine. This underground access gives visitors a look into a world located a half-mile beneath their feet.

The biggest draw of the Soudan Underground Mine is the mine tours, which are offered daily from Memorial Day to September. Self-guided surface audio tours are also for those who are a little uncomfortable with tight spaces.

Soudan Underground Mine State Park also provides plenty of recreation above ground, surrounded by old-growth forests and the nearby banks of Lake Vermillion. A few of the popular activities to do outside the mine include hiking to the unique banded iron formation, completing a challenging multi-stage geocache, and enjoying the water and shoreline of Lake Vermillion.

Camping at Soudan Underground Mine State Park consists of 33 electric sites at the Vermilion Ridge Campground.

Address: 1302 McKinley Park Road, Soudan, Minnesota

Gooseberry Falls State Park

Gooseberry Falls State Park is another stunning place to visit on Lake Superior's North Shore. It's a popular spot for several reasons, including its namesake waterfall. An Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls comprise this gravitational attraction, each dropping approximately 30 feet along a wide wall.

It's easy to see the streaming water at this state park. The waterfalls surge on either side of Highway 61, making little-to-no hiking required to get a good picture. But for those looking to stretch their legs and get the best views, the family-friendly Waterfalls Walk and Falls View Loop are easy hiking trails to follow.

Camping at Gooseberry Falls is available, and any visit should include time spent in the Visitor Center near the falls. Here you can learn more about the cultural and geologic history of the falls. Gooseberry also connects to several other hiking and mountain biking trails, including the Superior Hiking Trail and the paved Gitchi-Gami State Trail.

Address: 3206 MN-61, Two Harbors, Minnesota

Map of National & State Parks in Minnesota

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