There's A State Park Hiding On The Very Edge Of Minnesota And It's Such A Peaceful Escape
By Trent Jonas|Published July 06, 2023
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Trent Jonas
Author
Trent Jonas came to Minnesota to attend college - and never left. He's a Twin Cities-based writer with a BA in English and a MFA in creative writing, a Minnesota Master Naturalist, and the proud father of two adult children. With more than a decade of freelance writing experience under his belt, Trent is often out exploring his favorite topics: Minnesota's woods, lakes, and trails. Rhubarb pie is his weakness, so discovering new diners is also a passion.
Big Stone Lake State Park, on the far western edge of the state, is a Minnesota state park bordering South Dakota. Out here, you’ll enjoy big skies, big trees, big water, and small crowds. Come explore with us!
Big Stone Lake State Park, not surprisingly, is located on the shores of the narrow, 26-mile long lake for which it’s named.
Big Stone Lake is the headwaters of the Minnesota River, which flows all the way across the state to its confluence with the Mississippi in the Twin Cities.
The northern part of the park, in fact, is protected as the Bonanza Prairie Scientific and Natural Area (SNA), which is also home to a nature and learning center.
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The SNA also preserves 60 acres of oak savanna, a threatened ecosystem in this part of the Upper Midwest.
We think you’ll definitely appreciate the relative peacefulness you’ll find at Big Stone Lake State Park. Whenever you’re planning to spend time outdoors, remember to bring everything you’ll need, like water, sunscreen, and bug spray, along with any other essentials. Don’t feel like camping? You can always go the other way and stay in a castle! It’s located in nearby Ortonville, so you can explore the park by day and sleep like royalty at night.
Have you been to Big Stone Lake State Park? Tell us about your experience in the comments.
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