9 state parks and recreation areas where you can escape big crowds

Good luck finding solitude at the best-known Minnesota state parks on a summer weekend. There are the people trying to find the perfect photo, the constant stopping to allow others to pass on a narrow trail and — among the worst offenders — self-proclaimed DJs blaring their music.

Some of the most popular are Gooseberry Falls State Park, which drew 758,400 visitors last year, and Fort Snelling State Park, which recorded 480,159 visitors.

We asked state parks insiders like Doug Ohman, host of PBS’ “Landmarks” series, how to get away from the big crowds.

For a project with the Minnesota Historical Society, Ohman visited every one of the state’s 64 parks. Some of the best are in little-known forests up north or in the prairies of southwestern Minnesota, he said.

“The hidden gems are off the beaten path. You either have to stumble upon them or find them by talking to state park staff,” Ohman said. “By doing some research, you’ll find yourself in some really great state parks.”

In addition to Minnesota’s state parks, there are nine recreation areas with trails that allow motorized recreational vehicles. State parks prohibit all off-highway motorized vehicles except snowmobiles.

Here are some favorites we’ve tracked down:

What to expect: The Continental Divide goes through the park with water on the west side flowing into the Mississippi River and Lake Superior on the east side. Encompassing almost 16,000 acres, Savanna Portage State Park has 22 miles of hiking trails. The four lakes at the park prohibit gas-motored boats, which makes the park especially serene to walk around, Ohman said.

The gem: The historic canoe portage trail is about 6.3 miles one way. In the past, it was used by Dakota, Ojibwe and European people to travel between the Mississippi River and St. Louis River waterways. The trail starts near the West Savanna River (which empties into the Mississippi River) off Lake Place and ends at the East Savanna River (which empties into Lake Superior). The park was created in 1961 to preserve the trail, which goes through marsh, swamp and forest lands, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

“Everyone should walk it,” Ohman said. “It is a piece of American history.”

Click here for map and park information.

Address: 10221 County 9, Solway

It features dramatic elevation changes made from glaciers. Though in a remote area, the park has Wi-Fi, bathrooms with showers and a campground.

The gem: La Salle Lake is one of Minnesota’s most pristine, according to the DNR. It is also one of the state’s deepest at 213 feet and stretches 221 acres. There is a canoe and kayak access point from La Salle Creek. Fish in the lake include walleye, northern pike and largemouth bass.

Click here for map and park information.

Address: 307 3rd St., Ironton

What to expect: Minnesota’s newest recreation area was formerly a region of iron mines. The Mahnomen Mine provided raw materials for World War II and closed in the 1960s. Over time, water filled in the pits creating crystal clear lakes, according to the DNR.

Click here for map and park information.

Address: 1615 Lindbergh Drive S., Little Falls

What to expect: The state park has a wider diversity of flora and fauna than many others, according to Doug Veeder, natural resources technician at the park. It is a meeting point of Minnesota’s three major biomes: pine, prairie and hardwood.

“While other parks struggle to replace the white pines lost to logging, they grow like weeds here, and some red pines in the park are over 120 years old,” he said. “The campground is fairly wooded, so people frequently comment that they feel like they are up north despite being in the middle of corn country.”

The area has four museums, including the Charles Lindbergh House and Museum and the Weyerhaeuser Museum. The Minnesota Fishing Museum is 2 miles north of the park, and Camp Ripley, which has a military museum, is 7 miles north of the park.

Click here for map and park information.

Address: 61101 Banning Park Road, Sandstone

What to expect: Kayakers and whitewater canoeists are often seen paddling down the Kettle River, which is one of the most challenging whitewater experiences in the state, according to the DNR. Walking paths run along the river, and there are remnants of historic sandstone quarry operations along the trails with informational signs.

The gem: Most people visiting Banning State Park hike south from the parking lot along the Kettle River to Hell’s Gate and then turn back. They miss the park’s best feature: Wolf Creek Falls, Ohman said.

“This has got a very tranquil flow to it when I’ve seen it,” he said. “What I like about it is that nobody’s there. It’s almost like you’ve discovered it for the first time.”

Click here for map and park information.

Address: Latsch Park Road, Minnesota City

What to expect: John A. Latsch State Park is a 450-acre preserve that features three rocky bluffs that were used as landmarks by steamboat captains navigating the Mississippi River, according to the DNR. It was classified as a state scenic wayside and today is the only state park that does not require a state park permit. It is a day use park and no camping is allowed.

The gem: Take Riverview Trail up to Mount Charity Overlook, which rises more than 500 feet above the river, giving views of the bluffs, prairie, floodplain and oak forests. The trail is about a half-mile and includes a trek up 592 steps.

Click here for map and park information.

What to expect: Forestville State Park is well known for its popular Mystery Cave tours that offer views of stalactites, dripstone formations and underground Turquoise Lake. The cave is the longest in Minnesota, according to the DNR.

The gem: Hike to Zumbro Hill Cemetery. The graveyard was forgotten until the state park was established in 1963, according to the DNR. It contains burials from the 1850s. From the parking lot, Zumbro Hill Cemetery is about a 2.5 mile trek. Start at Sandbank Trail, to Sugar Camp Hollow Trail and then up Cemetery Trail.

“There’s great trout streams and old growth trees,” said Chris Ingebretsen, manager of Blue Mounds and Split Rock Creek State Park. Ingebretsen has been to every state park but one. “They have fantastic forest and limestone bluffs that are really incredible to hike through.”

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Address: 1410 161st St., Luverne

Highlights include the Upper Cliffline Trail that goes along the historic quarry with Sioux quartzite. Things that can’t be missed near the park include Touch the Sky Prairie, Brandenburg Gallery and Pipestone National Monument. Pipestone is one of two national monuments in Minnesota and is about 25 miles north of the state park.

The gem: The park features bison on a 533-acre pasture, and about 20 to 30 calves are born each spring, according to the DNR. It can be tricky to see the animals up close. There’s an observation deck and also the Western Loop Trail, which goes by the southwest corner of the range.

Another way to possibly see the animals is on a 90-minute tour.

Click here for map and park information.

Address: 1897 Camden Park Road, Lynd

The gem: Hike the Dakota Valley Trail to an overlook of the Redwood River Valley. The 2.3-mile loop starts at the swimming pond and winds along the river.

“It’s a neat walk that showcases the different landscapes the park offers,” said Adam Kurtz, park supervisor at Camden State Park. “You go up on the prairie where it’s nice and open and then head back down to the river valley.”

Another gem: The Redwood River is stocked with trout, making it one of the only places in southwestern Minnesota that has the fish. Trout are usually found in southeastern Minnesota, Kurtz said.

Click here for map and park information.