Looking for a place in Minnesota to take in the great outdoors? Look no further than Sandstone. This little town is the perfect place to visit if you want to explore all that Mother Nature has to offer. With plenty of hiking trails and scenic areas, Sandstone is a great place to get away from the city. Read on to learn more about all the outdoor attractions that beautiful Sandstone has to offer.
Sandstone is a tiny town in east-central Minnesota, about 90 miles north of the Twin Cities.
This town of just under 3,000 people is small, but it does have a charming downtown. The quiet main street has a few local shops and restaurants, making it the perfect place to stop before you set off to take in the town's more natural attractions. In fact, there are many opportunities to take in nature when you visit Sandstone.
One of the best ways to learn about the outdoors in Sandstone is to visit the Audubon Center of the North Woods.
This environmental education facility prides itself on educating people from all backgrounds. While at the Audonon Center you can participate in team building exercises and events. Guests may also hike along many miles of trails through the 533 acres of mixed forest. It's a gorgeous place to learn about the land in one of Minnesota's most beautiful landscapes.
There are many other outdoor activities to take part in, too.
This offers locals - and a few tourists who catch wind of its beauty - a place to breathe in Mother Nature. In the summer, you can be sure to find people gathered to camp, fish, and even hike the many trails available at the park. For the more adventurous, Robinson Park offers rock and boulder climbing and even whitewater rafting with its easy access to the Kettle River. In the winter, you can catch people Ice and mixed climbing, enjoying winter camping, or even visiting the Sandstone Ice Fest.
Also be sure to visit the beautiful Banning State Park.
This park offers lot to do besides the typical camping and hiking trails. Banning State Park also offers biking trails, cross-country ski trails, and opportunities to kayak and canoe the rapids of the Kettle River. For those looking to just take in the beautiful view, Banning State Park also offers dramatic sandstone rock formations to stop and take a look at as you walk the peaceful trails.
One of the biggest reasons to visit Banning State Park - and Sandstone in general - is for the waterfalls.
Wolf Creek Falls is a beautiful waterfall hidden in the Banning State Park. This waterfall is quite the secret and is known mostly by locals. Wolf Creek Falls has stayed such a hidden gem over the years partly because it is only accessible by foot. In order to access Wolf Creek Falls, you will have to a rocky trail through the woods. It may be rough, but it's totally worth it. The view is stunning, and you can even stand right on top the falls.
Another great waterfall? Big Spring Falls.
This wide waterfall is located on the choppy yet beautiful Kettle River. It was hidden until a dam was removed in '90s, leaving this beautiful waterfall exposed for all to enjoy. It's a gorgeous place to visit every season of the year.
A final must-see stop at Banning is Hell's Gate.
Take a trail through the forest to reach this gorgeous spot deep in the park. The trail follows the Kettle River and it beautiful for the entire way. Those looking for a more rugged experience can raft, canoe, or kayak the river down to Hell's Gate. It'll be a choppy ride, but one you'll never forget. No matter how you get there, Hell's Gate is truly stunning. The sight of the water swirling beneath tall rocky cliffs is one you have to see to believe.
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