The 2,700-acre park is open year-round. Red Cedar State Trail Share on MTB Project. They were right on. Looking for a great trail near Whitewater, Wisconsin? One of the trails, the Meadow Trail follows along the Whitewater River with a great view and accessibility to the water. The acorns of these trees provide valuable food and shelter for small animals like, squirrels and chipmunks, which can be seen scouring the ground for their next meal. Be sure to take water bottles with you and the maps provided were easy to get acquainted with the trails. They connect people to towns, parks and lakes and make for a nice getaway. Some facilities are … Banning State Park. Blazing Star State Trail: 6.5 Miles. The interpretative markers (grab a map at the trailhead) along the Trout Creek Run Trail told the story of the river and its wildlife. Wisconsin Great River Road. Your FREE account works with all Adventure Projects sites . 10 miles of hiking; snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, snowshoe rental available. Whitewater State Park is located approximately 3 miles south of Elba, Minn., on State Highway 74. •Watch for poison ivy and wild parsnip. Eagle Mountain Trail in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area near Grand Marais, MN; Bear and Bean Lake Loop on the Superior Hiking Trail near Silver Bay, MN ; Coyote Point Trail at Whitewater State Park in Altura, MN; Keep reading to find out more about each of these trails and why my pups and I enjoy them so much. If you have an hour or an afternoon, these trails are for you. AllTrails has 12 great hiking trails, trail running trails, wildlife trails and more, with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers, and nature lovers like you. In the 1980’s an earlier Friends of Whitewater group helped push for construction of the Whitewater State Park Visitor Center. Some facilities are … Some facilities are … Next Generation Mountain Bike Trail Maps. The 2,700-acre park is open year-round. Banning State Park is less than 100 miles from the Twin Cities, attracting those who want to experience the thrill of whitewater rafting and bouldering or just go for a hike and watch the action on the water and the rocks. Getting there. Facilities: A warming house is located in the park. Hell’s Gate Trail. Hikes to Chimney Rock and Inspiration Point are recommended or check out the Elba Fire Tower, a nearby extension of the park for a unique climbing experience. Connect with Facebook. Beach is open May 1 to Labor Day. We pieced together several trails on two different days to spend about 2 1/2 hours hiking each of the days. Whitewater State Park is an intricately beautiful place - it takes a while to find all the nooks and crannies tucked away between and on the ridgetops. The cool, shady, dirt-packed trail soon ended and we were faced with more steps. This park is nestled along the Whitewater River and boasts … The 2,700-acre park is open year-round. Add a Symbol . Trout Run Creek Trail and Inspiration Point at Whitewater State Park. The beautiful trail extends approximately 10 miles through the southern part of Whitewater. You have to start somewhere! Some facilities are … Be sure to see the new Whitewater Visitor Center. We trudged upward and were rewarded with endless looks at the treetops from Inspiration Point. Great River Ridge: This 13-mile paved trail connects the southeast Minnesota towns of Plainview, Elgin and Eyota and is near Whitewater and Carley state parks. Whitewater State Park (30 mins.) Whitewater State Park is located approximately 3 miles south of Elba, Minn., on State Highway 74. Approach From the junction of Interstate 90 and Hwy 74 south of St. Charles, Minnesota, take Hwy 74 north through St. Charles to Interstate Hwy 14. Beauty and quiet, that is the essence of Carley State Park. Explore the best trails in Whitewater, Wisconsin on TrailLink. Whitewater Memorial State Park boasts 9 miles of horseback riding trails with access both for day users and from the horsemen’s campground. The 2,700-acre park is open year-round. Whitewater State Park is located approximately 3 miles south of Elba, Minn., on State Highway 74. Whitewater State Park offers a combination of easy, moderate and challenging trails that take you from down by the river to up along the bluffs. Some facilities are … Throughout the park there is a constant breeze, making the 80-degree hiking weather bearable. Share a Photo . Whitewater State Park Info When I first started reading about Whitewater State Park, I had just come back from a visit to Banning State Park and was the proud owner of 30+ mosquito bites. The saddle barn concessionaire offers hayrides, guided trail rides, and sleigh rides, weather permitting. The Blazing Star State Trail connects the city of Albert Lea with Myre-Big Island State Park. This park features six scenic overlooks and excellent trout fishing in the spring fed Whitewater River and Trout Run Creek. Whitewater State Park: Another great place for hiking is Whitewater State Park located in Altura, MN. In the spring, delicate bluebells (Mertensia virginica), and other wildflowers carpet the valley with a profusion of color. The eight miles from the southern trailhead, just north of Eyota at the junction of Minnesota 42 and County Road 9, are lovely, following a winding creek. Sign Up. Whitewater State Park is located approximately 3 miles south of Elba, Minn., on State Highway 74. Not pesky buggers to find. Compared to other parks, there are far fewer mosquitoes here. Local snow depth is 0". This trail is only one of many that can be taken. Discover the beauty of southeastern Minnesota's blufflands, with its absence of mosquitoes. •Find Wi-Fi at the visitor … Carley State Park. This new Friends of Whitewater started work on the centennial celebration with little experience in raising funds. The park is a beautiful park with a number of short hiking trails (the longest was less than 4 miles I think). Check for wood and black- legged ticks. It will provide a recreational, transportation and greenway connection between the cities of Rochester, Eyota, Dover, St. Charles, Elba, Plainview, Elgin and Viola. Whitewater State Park is located approximately 3 miles south of Elba, Minn., on State Highway 74. The 2,700-acre park is open year-round. 19041 Hwy … Winter camping is available, contact park for details. The park offers easy to challenging hiking trails. This seemed too crazy to believe so I brought my can of bug spray anyway. The Trail is also connected with the Whitewater Lake Campground. Alma, WI. View detailed trail descriptions, trail maps, reviews, photos, trail itineraries, directions and more on TrailLink. We camped 4 nights at Whitewater State Park. There’s also a visitor center and year-around interpretative programs to check out. These underwater streams and other odd depressions in the landscape indicate that that we are treading near underground caves and sinkholes. Whitewater State Park. Create Recommended Route or Trail . So when I read that this park is noticeably mosquito-free, my ears perked up. Just a short drive, this park has so much to offer. After this project, the group suspended for several years until 2013 when it was revived in part as a MN Master Naturalist Volunteer’s capstone project. OR. Two self-guided options are available – the Trout Run Creek Trail wanders two miles through the wooded valley, or, if you'd rather stay close to the water, the Meadow Trail provides an easy, one-mile walk along the middle branch of the Whitewater River. The 2,700-acre park is open year-round. Password help. •Trail crossings and steps may be slippery, use caution. Whitewater State Park. Albert Lea, MN to Myre-Big Island State Park. Log In. Altura, MN. Banning State Park is located four miles north of Sandstone in Minnesota’s Pine County. You may cross country ski or snowshoe anywhere in the park, however we will not be grooming ski trails at this park. Blufflands State Trail System in southeast Minnesota. 19041 MN-74, Altura, MN 55910 . Rochester’s go-to state park. With more than 102 Whitewater trails covering 966 miles, you’re bound to find a perfect trail like the Eisenbahn State Trail or Lower Yahara River Trail. It is a wonderful escape from the mosquitos. Read more … The Whitewater River meanders through the bottomlands of the Whitewater Wildlife Management Area, and the upper part is a designated trout steam. The trail is nearly 1,200 miles long stretching from Minnesota to the shores of Lake Michigan. Frontenac, MN. Whitewater State Park is located approximately 3 miles south of Elba, Minn., on State Highway 74. I swear I was wearing bug spray! Lac Qui Parle State Park. Frontenac State Park. Altura, MN. This was our first visit to Whitewater State Park and we enjoyed the hiking to Inspiration Point on a warm Saturday afternoon. Whitewater State Park is located approximately 3 miles south of Elba, Minn., on State Highway 74. 1. Southern Minnesota Short & Sweet Bike Trails. Some facilities are … Unlike most state parks, I decided to leave the hiking club trail for last. 3. People in Minnesota visit Whitewater State Park for its rugged hiking trails, beautiful wildflowers in the spring, and great trout fishing in both summer and winter. Hiking Whitewater State Park Whitewater State Park is rumored to not have any mosquitos. Whitewater State Park is located approximately 3 miles south of Elba, Minn., on State Highway 74. Not too crowded and the swimming hole was pleasant to cool down. OR. The trail will connect to Chester Woods County Park, Whitewater State Park and Carley State Park. The 2,700-acre park is open year-round. The 2,700-acre park is open year-round. Some facilities are … Listen for the sweet song of orioles, song sparrows, house wrens, and indigo buntings. Although Whitewater is a bit further away than Quarry Hill, it offers more of a variety of hiking trails. Share a Video . Sign Up or Log In. OR. Snowshoe rental is available at the park office. Hike along the trail that follows the Whitewater River and take in the grand old white pines. Large trees, such as white oaks, tower above the trail. In FY16 (the first year of the biennium) we began a major new state-of-the-art campground at Whitewater State Park and made progress on state park projects such as expansion of mountain biking opportunities at Cuyuna State Rec Area and a paved trail connection from Father Hennepin State Park to the Soo Line South Trail. There are no campsites or rest areas, and users should be sensitive to the ecological integrity of the river. Whitewater State Park home page » Last updated on December 04, 2020. Named after the river it hosts it is surrounded by striking tree-covered bluffs. • • There are cliffs, keep small children close. Some facilities are … This section of the trail is near scenic Whitewater Lake and Rice Lake. STATE PARK 19041 HIGHWAY 74 ALTURA, MN 55910 507-312-2300 • WINONA COUNTY WHITEWATER.STATEPARK@STATE.MN.US VISITOR TIPS •Wear hiking shoes (not flip flops). Whitewater State Park Highway 74 St. Charles, MN 55972 507-932-3007 dnr.state.mn.us . 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