The Land of 10,000 Lakes has endless opportunities for cooling down with a refreshing swim. Even if you aren’t near a lake, there’s a good chance you’re close to a fun-filled waterpark or public pool. Those are both great options, but today we would like to talk about a beautiful swimming hole. Take a short hike through gorgeous scenery, and you’ll arrive at one of the best swimming spots in Minnesota.

Quarry Park and Nature Preserve is a popular spot near St. Cloud, Minnesota. It draws people in from all over Stearns County.
Michelle Kramer/Google
Address: 1802 County Road 137, Waite Park, MN 56387
The park spans 683 acres, so there is plenty to see. Many trails cross through the beautiful scenery.
Mike Yamry/Google
Follow the trails and you'll come face to face with some of the most stunning — and interesting — sights in the area.
Rohan Abraham/Google
You'll see birds, insects, frogs, and more. Lucky visitors at the right time of day may even see deer.
Susan Lueck/Flickr
You'll also see the quarries. A series of old quarries — now filled with water — show off the history of the area.
Danny Leach/Google

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You may also run into old mining equipment that was used in the area long ago. This place was once a major source of granite in Minnesota.
Yung Wei Chin/Google
Your short hike ends when you reach a swimming hole. There are two swimmable quarries at the park. Quarry #2 has a sandy beach and a lovely dock.
Christopher Tales Franklin/Google
Quarry #11 is also great. While it doesn't have a beach, it does have much deeper waters. The water is up to 116 feet deep, making this a popular place to cliff dive.
Nefarious Marmot/Google
We don't recommend jumping, but we do recommend swimming! Both quarries are excellent places to cool down on a hot summer day.
melissajK7520VY/TripAdvisor
Load up the car with your floaties and towels, and ahead on down to Quarry Park and Nature Preserve. You will not regret a second spent in this beautiful swimming hole.
Matt B/TripAdvisor

Have you been to Quarry Park and Nature Preserve? For more information about visiting the park, check out the Stearns County website.

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