Favorite Minnesota State Park?? (Duluth, Maplewood: camping, live, activity)

[demtion35]

What is your favorite Minnesota State Park?

I will start.

My favorite top three State Parks in Minnisota are
in order
Lake Itasca State Park near Park Rapids Minnesota

Gooseberry Falls State Park about 25 miles NorthEast of Two Harbors Minnesota, and

third Jay Cook State Park Minnesota Near Carlton Minnesota.

[heartwd]

If you don't consider the high traffic levels I would say:
1) Temperance River State Park
2) Gooseberry (agreed that this place is beautiful)
3) Forestville State Park near Preston (SE corner of the state)
Mystery Cave is also located here

I also have to add that I think Minnesota maintains the most beautiful state parks in the nation. I have lived in several different states, and most of them develop a state park by cutting down all of the trees so large groups can picnic and camp. Minnesota does a wonderful job of integrating tourism into the natural state of the area.

[marmac]

I like Sibly State Park and also Maplewood State Park.

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by heartwd

If you don't consider the high traffic levels I would say:
1) Temperance River State Park
2) Gooseberry (agreed that this place is beautiful)
3) Forestville State Park near Preston (SE corner of the state)
Mystery Cave is also located here

I also have to add that I think Minnesota maintains the most beautiful state parks in the nation. I have lived in several different states, and most of them develop a state park by cutting down all of the trees so large groups can picnic and camp. Minnesota does a wonderful job of integrating tourism into the natural state of the area.

Wow, never heard of cutting down trees to make a park. We do have some great parks for sure, but camping areas are mostly lacking unless you go with some of the walk in sites. Most main areas are highly tailored to RVs and campers, and quite lacking if you like to use a tent. I have often wondered why the sites are so increadbly small as well. Most of these parks are giant, but finding a campsite with any privacy is difficult. Seems there could be better balance in leaving large tracts of the park in a natural state with some trails and also providing campsites that are spread further apart with more privacy. Picnic area seems mandatory but a couple acres is plenty for that. Most parks have thousands of acres.

On the north shore, I like tettegougche a lot. Great place to do some hiking on the trail with great lake views. Fall is best. None of the North Shore parks are anything less than awesome.

Cuyuna Country is very new as a state recreation area. For many years you could drive back and camp wherever you wanted to, or put your gear in the boat and go find a spot. Great trout fishing in old mine pits and perfect example of how land can be restored. Lot of scuba divers go there too as the water is very deep and clear. Cold for that matter too.

Wild River which is the best I have seen for tent camping so far. There are a number of remote sites on the St. Croix that you can get to with a boat or canoe that fit my type of camping very well.

[whatnow]

Jay Cooke is my favorite maybe because I am so familiar with it. A lot of trails for every activity. I also love the Willard Munger trail which goes through it. Take your bike for a nice ride to Duluth on that trail - gorgeous!! There is/was a place called the Willard Munger Inn that serves good food. Be careful though, the ride back to Carlton is uphill!

North Shore parks are great too, if you can get to the trails AWAY from Hwy 61 - in a lot of the parks you can hear the traffic. Visually beautiful.
I like the park way up on the shore - Judge C.R. Magney. And you just have to go check Devil's Kettle when you're there - try to figure out where the water comes out.

My goal is to start exploring the parks in eastern MN along the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers. For me the eastern part of MN and the western part of WI are tops!

[Shyness76]

My favorite is Fort Snelling State Park. It has lots of trails to bike or walk. At least the last time I went there. I grew up going there every summer to picnic and swim. It has a very dear place in my heart.

Gooseberry is also very beautiful. I finally made it up there last year.

[MN55]

Jay Cooke and Gooseberry Falls, definitely.

[kuan]

Hmm... For today? Forestville for the fishing, Jay Cooke for the river and XC skiing, Itasca for skiing and also the hostel, St. Croix, Sibley for the canoeing, Gooseberry Falls, Fort Snelling.

Something like that.

[crazy_life3567]

itasca definatly itasca. its so pretty there