Quick Summary:

  • No matter what you enjoy doing in the outdoors, you’ll probably find a state park or nature preserve in Minnesota that will more than accommodate you.
  • Visitors can choose to partake in activities such as hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, camping, hunting, fishing, boating, canoeing, and kayaking.


  • Updated with new information since originally published.
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  • Our editors recommend these diverse local experiences.

1. Bear Head Lake State Park ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Activities
Bear Head Lake State Park | Minnesota State Parks
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2. Blue Mounds State Park ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Activities
Blue Mounds State Park | Minnesota State Parks
© johnsroad7/stock.adobe.com

3. Cascade River State Park

Category: Activities
Cascade River State Park | Minnesota State Parks
© sgtlorentzen/stock.adobe.com

4. Frontenac State Park

Category: Activities
Frontenac State Park | Minnesota State Parks
© Jacob/stock.adobe.com

5. Glacial Lakes State Park

Category: Activities
Glacial Lakes State Park | Minnesota State Parks
© oriolegin11/stock.adobe.com

6. Gooseberry Falls State Park

Category: Activities
Gooseberry Falls State Park | Minnesota State Parks
© AMB-MD Photography/stock.adobe.com

7. Grand Portage State Park

Category: Activities
Grand Portage State Park | Minnesota State Parks
© DavidMohn/stock.adobe.com

8. Interstate State Park

Category: Activities
Interstate State Park | Minnesota State Parks
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9. Itasca State Park

Category: Activities
Itasca State Park | Minnesota State Parks
© scandamerican/stock.adobe.com

10. Jay Cooke State Park

Category: Activities
Jay Cooke State Park | Minnesota State Parks
© Sharon Day/stock.adobe.com

11. Judge C. R. Magney State Park

Category: Activities
Judge C. R. Magney State Park | Minnesota State Parks
© artesiawells/stock.adobe.com

12. Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park

Category: Activities
Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park | Minnesota State Parks
© Jacob/stock.adobe.com

13. Maplewood State Park

Category: Activities
Maplewood State Park | Minnesota State Parks
© Baronb/stock.adobe.com

14. Mille Lacs Kathio State Park

Category: Activities
Mille Lacs Kathio State Park | Minnesota State Parks
© johnsroad7/stock.adobe.com

15. Mississippi National River and Recreation Area

Category: Activities
Mississippi National River and Recreation Area	 | Minnesota State Parks
© jcg_oida/stock.adobe.com

16. Myre-Big Island State Park

Category: Activities
Myre-Big Island State Park | Minnesota State Parks
© Steve/stock.adobe.com

17. Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

Category: Activities
Nerstrand Big Woods State Park | Minnesota State Parks
© lenonka/stock.adobe.com

18. Pipestone National Monument

Category: Activities
Pipestone National Monument | Minnesota State Parks
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19. Scenic State Park

Category: Activities
Scenic State Park | Minnesota State Parks
© ananaline/stock.adobe.com

20. Split Rock Lighthouse State Park

Category: Activities
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park | Minnesota State Parks
© DavidMohn/stock.adobe.com

21. Superior National Forest

Category: Activities
Superior National Forest | Minnesota State Parks
© stevengaertner/stock.adobe.com

22. Tettegouche State Park

Category: Activities
Tettegouche State Park | Minnesota State Parks
© AMB-MD Photography/stock.adobe.com

23. Voyageurs National Park

Category: Activities
Voyageurs National Park | Minnesota State Parks
© georgeburba/stock.adobe.com

24. Whitewater State Park

Category: Activities
Whitewater State Park | Minnesota State Parks
© johnsroad7/stock.adobe.com

25. William O'Brien State Park

Category: Activities
William O'Brien State Park | Minnesota State Parks
© wolterke/stock.adobe.com

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