Your Ultimate Guide To Spring Attractions And Activities In Minnesota
By Trent Jonas|Published March 15, 2024
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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.
From baby animals and maple syrup to wildflowers and waterfalls, you’ll find an incredible number of things to do in Minnesota in spring – all you have to do is explore a little bit. But if you’re looking for a little more guidance, we’re happy to help you out! Here are some of our favorite Minnesota spring activities – most of them are free, many of them are cheap, and all of them are fun. Enjoy!
One amazing thing about spring in Minnesota is the number of gorgeous wildflowers you’ll find – throughout the state. When Mother Nature graces us with her springtime splendor, we think heading out to experience wildflower blooms in the Bold North is one of the best and, frankly, most romantic things to do in Minnesota in spring.
1. Carley State Park
Carley State Park, 50366 Wabasha County Rd 4, Plainview, MN 55964, USA
Popularity: Can be busy on weekends during bluebell season.
Price: Admission to the state park by vehicle requires a permit, which costs $35 per year or $7 per day. There is no cost to enter the park on foot or by bicycle.
Although it’s located less than an hour from Rochester and Winona, Carley State Park is one of the smallest and least-visited state parks in the system, often overshadowed by its nearby sister park, Whitewater - until the Virginia bluebells bloom, that is. In late April or early May, a blanket of bluebells carpets the forest floor along the park’s Wildflower Trail, drawing folks from all around to have a look at this natural wonder.
2. Lady Slipper Scenic Byway
Lady Slipper Scenic Byway Interpretive and Rest Areas, Scenic Hwy NE, Blackduck, MN 56630, USA
Location: Lady Slipper Scenic Byway, Black Duck, Minnesota
Popularity: Rarely crowded, although there are more visitors in late May through June.
Price: Free.
One of our favorite free things to do in Minnesota in spring is to visit the Lady Slipper Scenic Byway in northern Minnesota. In late spring, this unassuming stretch of highway along the edge of the Chippewa National Forest and over the nascent Mississippi Rover becomes a wonderland of orchids, including patches of Minnesota’s state flower: the showy lady’s slipper. An interpretive site and boardwalk offers all sorts of information about these amazing flowers and the byway that’s named for them.
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Botanical Gardens In Minnesota
Another fantastic way to welcome spring is to visit one of the botanical gardens in the North Star State to see all the cultivars come to life. With an exception or two, this is one of our favorite cheap things to do in Minnesota in spring. Check out these suggestions.
3. Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, 1225 Estabrook Dr, St Paul, MN 55103, USA
Location: Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Popularity: Very busy on weekends, especially during events like the spring flower show and Hop Into Spring.
Price: Free.
There may be no better place to celebrate spring in St. Paul than the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory hosts its annual spring flower show, which the Como Zoo helps to kick off with the combined Hop Into Spring event - one of our favorite seasonal festivals in the state. It’s one of the best family things to do in Minnesota in spring, and perhaps best of all, it’s free to attend!
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4. Lyndale Park Gardens
Lyndale Park Gardens, 1300 W 42nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55409, USA
Location: Lyndale Park Gardens, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Popularity: Can be busy on weekends and when roses are in bloom.
Price: Free.
Located near Lake Harriet on the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, Lyndale Park Gardens is an amazing place. Adjacent to Roberts Bird Sanctuary and the lake, this series of gardens is the perfect place for city dwellers to visit and soak up the beauty of spring. Keep returning throughout the year, though, as the various gardens bloom across the growing season.
5. Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Dr, Chaska, MN 55318, USA
Popularity: It can be busy on weekends and during special events.
Price: $15 for adults 16 and older. Free to members, indigenous peoples, and visitors 15 and younger.
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a wonderland of phenology - one of our favorite places to experience the changing of seasons. Operated by the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, this incredible, 1,200-acre arboretum and botanical garden is a place where you can immerse yourself in blossoming flowers and budding trees while listening to birdsong alongside the buzzing and chirping of insects and amorous amphibians.
Parks To Visit In Minnesota This Spring
You’ll find some incredible parks in the Land of 10,000 Lakes – and they are some of the best places to visit to take in all that spring has to offer. Here are some of our favorite parks to visit in Minnesota in spring.
6. Blue Mounds State Park
Blue Mounds State Park, 1410 161st St, Luverne, MN 56156, USA
Location: Blue Mounds State Park, Luverne, Minnesota
Popularity: Can be busy on weekends, but typically uncrowded.
Price: Admission to the state park by vehicle requires a permit, which costs $35 per year or $7 per day. There is no cost to enter the park on foot or by bicycle.
Blue Mounds State Park, in southwestern Minnesota is a fantastic place to experience spring on the tallgrass prairie. In addition to fantastic hiking and rock climbing opportunities offered by the park, the best thing about spring here is the baby bison. Be sure to bring your camera for the cute baby pics, as well as a good pair of binoculars, as the bison herd can sometimes be a way off from the viewing area.
7. Wells Fargo Family Farm at the Minnesota Zoo - Apple Valley
Minnesota Zoo, 13000 Zoo Blvd, Apple Valley, MN 55124, USA
Location: Wells Fargo Family Farm at the Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley, Minnesota
Popularity: Very popular. Prepare for crowds.
Price: Parking and admission are free for zoo members. For non-members, parking is $8 per vehicle. Admission is free for children ages 2 and under; $15.95 for children ages 3 through 12 and adults 65 and older; $21.95 for visitors ages 13 through 64.
Our state-operated Minnesota Zoo is a wonderful place any time of year. But spring is especially magical - particularly at the Wells Fargo Family Farm. At this time of year, folks can get up close and personal with all manner of baby farm animals, as well as their parents. It’s an amazing hands-on activity that the whole family can enjoy before heading out and looking for the zoo’s more exotic residents. (And yes, there are hand washing stations!)
Location: Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay, Minnesota
Popularity: It may be busy on spring weekends if the weather is nice, but the interior of the park is typically less crowded than the Shovel Point and visitor center area.
Price: Admission to the state park by vehicle requires a permit, which costs $35 per year or $7 per day. There is no cost to enter the park on foot or by bicycle or to visit the rest area portion of the park.
If you’re wondering what to do for spring break in the Upper Midwest, you may want to consider a trip to Tettegouche State Park, one of the most stunning units in the system. Enjoy the buds on the trees, the rushing waterfalls on the Baptism River, and all the splendor northern Minnesota has to offer this time of year. It may be a little early for kayaking the park’s sea caves, but you may be able to find an outfitter willing to guide you. Continue up scenic Highway 61, along the North Shore of Lake Superior, to Grand Marais. There, you’ll find Voyageur Brewing, one of our favorite breweries, places offering live music, and a perfect basecamp for your spring outdoor activities in this part of the state.
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9. Minneopa State Park
Minneopa State Park, 54497 Gadwall Rd, Mankato, MN 56001, USA
Popularity: It can be crowded on weekends with nice weather.
Price: Admission to the state park by vehicle requires a permit, which costs $35 per year or $7 per day. There is no cost to enter the park on foot or by bicycle.
Minneopa State Park, in Mankato, combines a couple of the best things about spring in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. First, it’s home to one of the best waterfalls in southern Minnesota. And, like Blue Mounds, a portion of the state bison herd resides here. Come springtime, you get the awesome combination of a rushing waterfall and sweet baby bison - all in one amazing park not far from the Twin Cities.
Spring Hikes In Minnesota
Is there really any better way to experience spring in Minnesota than getting out for a hike? None of these suggested hikes in the Land of 10,000 Lakes is particularly arduous or even long. In fact, they’re some of our favorite fun things to do in Minnesota in spring. So, fire up your AllTrails Plus app and head on out to the trail!
10. Fifth Falls Trail Loop at Gooseberry Falls State Park
Gooseberry Falls State Park, 3206 MN-61, Two Harbors, MN 55616, USA
Location: Gooseberry Falls State Park, city, Minnesota
Popularity: This park is very popular, although the recommended hike will be less crowded than the area around the visitor center. If wish to avoid crowds, consider a weekday visit.
Price: Admission to the state park by vehicle requires a permit, which costs $35 per year or $7 per day. There is no cost to enter the park on foot or by bicycle or to visit the rest area portion of the park.
Gooseberry Falls State Park is located about 45 minutes past Duluth - and just beyond Two Harbors - on the North Shore of Lake Superior. It’s the most visited state park in Minnesota, and for good reason: It’s stunning. From the dramatic volcanic shoreline along the lake to the gorgeous series of waterfalls along the Gooseberry River, it seems everything about this park is a head-turner. In spring, those waterfalls tend to be at their peak, so we recommend the Fifth Falls Trail Loop, which is a relatively easy hike that can be accomplished in a couple hours. You’ll experience a northern Minnesota spring in the park’s forests while enjoying the sight of several cascading waterfalls.
Check out this video to get an idea of the spring flow at Gooseberry Falls:
11. Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary
Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary, 1 Theodore Wirth Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55405, USA
Location: Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary, Minnesota, Minnesota
Popularity: Popular on weekends, particularly in late spring and early summer.
Price: Free.
With its visitor shelter/nature center and interlaced network of trails, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary is the perfect place to spend an afternoon hiking and exploring or to stretch your legs for a few minutes before hitting the Minneapolis Farmers Market or heading to a Twins game at nearby Target Field. Eloise Butler is the oldest wildflower garden in the country, and if you live in or visit the Twin Cities regularly, you should make a point of visiting this American treasure at least a couple times a year.
12. Circle Trail at Pipestone National Monument
Pipestone National Monument, 36 Reservation Ave, Pipestone, MN 56164, USA
Location: Pipestone National Monument, Pipestone, Minnesota
Popularity: Busier on weekends but, typically, not too crowded.
Price: Free.
The Circle Trail at fascinating Pipestone National Monument is a perfect way to get a feel for spring in several different environments over a short distance. Although the walk comes in at under one mile, you’ll experience tallgrass prairie coming to life after winter, a swollen waterfall tumbling over the face of Sioux quartzite cliffs, and riverine woodlands starting to turn green once again. Be sure to spend time at the visitor center to learn more about this historic and sacred site.
Spring Picnic Spots In Minnesota
Picnics are some of our favorite free things to do in Minnesota in spring. They’re a great way to experience all that the outdoors has to offer this time of year – plus food! These are a few of our picks for awesome spring picnic spots in Minnesota.
13. Horticulture Display Garden
West Central Research and Outreach Center, 46352 MN-329, Morris, MN 56267, USA
Location: Horticulture Display Garden, U of MN West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris, Minnesota
Popularity: Usually not crowded unless an event is taking place in the garden.
Price: Free.
The Horticulture Display Garden at the University of Minnesota - Morris’ West Central Research and Outreach Center is an incredible oasis of trees, plants, and flowers in western Minnesota. After you’ve strolled the gardens, enjoying the spring flowers, head up to the Pomme de Terre Overlook, and enjoy sweeping views of the eponymous river’s valley with a your picnic.
Location: Minnehaha Falls Regional Park, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Popularity: Very popular - especially on weekends and nice days.
Price: Entrance to the park is free, but there is a cost for parking a vehicle in the metered lots that varies by day and time.
Minnehaha Falls Regional Park is one of the most popular green spaces in the Twin Cities metro - and for good reason. It sits along the Mississippi River and includes its confluence with Minnehaha Creek, which boasts one of the most beautiful urban waterfalls in the whole country. Apart from the waterfall, the park offers plenty of large, mature trees, historical sites, and many places for families to relax and enjoy a picnic.
15. Whitewater State Park
Whitewater State Park, 19041 MN-74, Altura, MN 55910, USA
Location: Whitewater State Park, Altura, Minnesota
Popularity: More popular on weekends with nice weather but rarely crowded in the spring.
Price: Admission to the state park by vehicle requires a permit, which costs $35 per year or $7 per day. There is no cost to enter the park on foot or by bicycle.
Located near Rochester, Whitewater State Park is a fantastic year-round destination for outdoor adventure, including spring when the park’s eponymous river is rushing and wildflowers are starting to pop up. It’s also a wonderful place for a day trip for a little hiking, trout fishing, and picnicking. In early spring, typically March, the maple sap starts to run, which gives rise to a super fun and family-friendly activity: maple syruping. Several ranger-led programs take place during syruping season. If you’re interested in attending a maple syrup program, you will need a free reservation. Visit the DNR’s maple syruping web page for dates, locations, and reservation information.
We think these are some of the best ways to take advantage of this wonderful season in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. What are some of your favorite spring activities in Minnesota?
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