Take a Road Trip to 5 Minnesota State Parks with Our Epic 7th Anniversary Adventure Route
In case you’re just beginning to follow our adventures. This article features our annual Anniversary Adventure Road Trip and on this trip we camped and explored Five Minnesota State Parks. We headed to the Western and Northwestern parts of Minnesota. Our current goal is to camp two nights in every Minnesota (and other Midwest states) State Parks. Whether you plan to camp more than one night, or just looking for a fantastic road trip route…here is our recommendation for an epic adventure!
We have the Minnesota State Park Passport and the Hiking Club; so we also try to hike each park’s hiking club trail – if we aren’t too busy finding things to do just beyond the park (to enjoy and share with you). The rule we created for ourselves (to stamp our passport book) is that we must camp two nights in the park (if there is a campground). We will definitely re-adventure to these incredible places again to hike more trails and dive even deeper into their ecosystems and history. Another piece to the puzzle that we do for you is capture images of every campsite. Check out the parks we’ve shared with our YouTube Subscribers so far by visiting Just Beyond Parks on YouTube. Remember to subscribe so you don’t miss our next adventure or campground! Ok, back to the Five Park Adventure!
Park One – Lac Qui Parle State Park
The first park of this adventure was a one-nighter (which is rare for us as we typically camp at least two nights in each park) at Lac Qui Parle State Park. This was not our first visit to Lac Qui Parle. We visited, camped for two nights, and completed the hiking club trail last year. It was a blast! On this particular trip though, we arrived and cleaned up prior campers trash (see the shocking video here – which is becoming more and more common and infuriating), set up camp, and enjoyed an absolutely gorgeous sunset. If you love sunsets…this is your park. They also have full hook-up RV sites…this is the first park we’ve discovered (so far) in the MN State Park System with full hook-ups. If you’re planning to camp here watch our campsite photos video to help choose your site!Last time we were here we did the Hiking Club Trail, which is on the other side of the lake, in the “Lower Campground”. The campground on that side is closed due to excessive flooding over the years. There’s a very cool and historic structure that the Civilian Conservation Corps built which features a 3D model of the lake and surrounding area. Be prepared that the structure is home to numerous bats, so you’ll see some bat guano.
Two major highlights of the park is Minnesota’s State Record Cottonwood Tree and fishing on the lake or at the dam. There’s also historical structures in the Lower Campground and on the drive into the park, near the dam. And a beach near the Lower Campground on the Western side of the lake. See more of our recommended adventures here, by checking out our post dedicated to Lac Qui Parle State Park.
Park Two – Big Stone Lake State Park
The second park on this adventure was Big Stone Lake State Park. This is where the headwaters of the Minnesota River begin. We even visited and fished the official headwaters! Stay tuned for our recommended adventures at Big Stone Lake State Park (we’ll link our post dedicated to all things Big Stone Lake here, once it’s posted!). A lovely little campground. If you’re planning to camp here watch our campsite photos video to help choose your site! And if you don’t need electric sites…you can camp [and fish!] right on the water with absolutely perfect views of the sunset. If you are camping in an electric site, hopefully there will be an open campsite along the water so you can fish and enjoy the sunsets.While camping here it happened to be our 7th wedding anniversary; so we treated ourselves to surf n turf. And of course we made a video to show you how you can grill your own lobster tail while camping!
An interesting thing about this park is that there are three sections. While driving in-between them all I daydreamed about how maybe one day the tracts of land between them all would be acquired and there would be nearly endless hiking opportunities. But it’s such a distance between the sections…so for now, be sure to stop by the Wayside Rest which is a must-see overlook on the way to the Bonanza section of the park. The Bonanza area is where the hiking club is located.
And be sure to travel to Ortonville and cross the state line, so you can say you visited South Dakota while in the area. Another thing to do just beyond the park is driving through the Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge. So many waterfowl! And so many big rocks – when climbing them you can see for miles and miles! If you’re in need of something to help you sleep at night, we captured a peaceful video of an unnamed creek in this park. Running water always brings us peace; whether to help us sleep, meditate, or stay focused on writing and editing videos to share with you. Check out this calming video here, if you’re in need of some peaceful water sounds.
Park Three – Maplewood State Park
The third park we camped and explored, during this trip, was Maplewood State Park. And it was absolutely incredible, as we just-so-happened to be camping during the peak fall color season! This park screams fall. I can’t wait to finish and post our official blog article to go into more details about all things Maplewood. But for your planning purposes, we’ll share a few highlights here.
One can’t miss thing at Maplewood is the Prairie Restoration Driving Tour. We drove this auto tour during their “fall color spectacular.” And it’s not just the trees that change in the fall…the prairie bursts full of different shades of grasses and yellow flowers peek out.
In 2022 the park restrooms underwent a remodel, which means (if you use the restrooms/showers in parks) 2023 and beyond will offer more up-to-date amenities that weren’t available in 2022. We choose to use our travel trailer’s bathroom, but it’s helpful to know for many visitors that the restrooms and showers are now upgraded in this park.
If you’re planning your camping trip here, be sure to watch our Maplewood State Park Campsite Photos Video so you find your perfect site! Once we finish up our post dedicated to Maplewood…we’ll link it here.
Park Four – Buffalo River State Park
Our fourth park on this year’s Anniversary Adventure was Buffalo River State Park. On social media, I never really hear much about Buffalo River State Park. And sometimes I feel like prairie and oak savanna parks get less attention, but we were so impressed with this unique park. It’s near Moorhead, MN and Fargo, ND – so trust us…there’s so much to do Just Beyond the park! We’ll include a link here soon for more about what we did Just Beyond this park once we finish up its very own blog article. But you’re guaranteed to find interesting things nearby or a quiet hike along the Buffalo River and through the prairies.
This campground is definitely big rig RV or any size travel trailer friendly and has a nice smaller loop for nonelectric camping. It was the most eclectic camping experience we’ve ever had. There were so many varieties of campers/tents/even someone sleeping under a tree…a memorable park indeed. Here’s the campsites to help you choose your perfect site!
Our first night here was stormy and rainy…so bring out the card games! Phase 10 is one that we always have in our camper. Do you have a favorite camping game? If so, drop it in the comments below so we can pick it up and learn to play!
While hiking some of the trails, you’ll hike along the Buffalo River and into the Bluestem Prairie Scientific and Natural Area (SNA). This is one of Minnesota’s largest state prairie preserves. There’s also quite a bit of history here; ranging from prehistoric Indians, to a settler who bred cattle and horses, to the Northern Pacific Railroad.
One really interesting thing is that as you drive in, you’ll drive underneath a railroad trestle!
Park Five – Monson Lake State Park
The fifth and final park we camped and adventured at during this trip was Monson Lake State Park. This is a Minnesota State Park that we see people call “boring” on social media…but the history mixed in with the quiet nature of this small park…and TWO lakes make it a hidden gem in our book. Definitely bring your kayak(s) or canoe(s) to this park!
While we could only fish from shore (we didn’t have our kayak yet) and didn’t catch anything; fishing is noted as quite popular here year round. The campground’s sites are nearly all private and more secluded than the sites we saw at our previous parks, which was a nice reprieve from being so out in the open. We prefer campgrounds that have more space between sites; especially when there’s significant plant growth between them.
There is a bit of spooky, sadness here as it was the site of one of the very first skirmishes between the Dakota and pioneers; one of the first that began the the U.S. Dakota War of 1862. This park serves as a memorial to the Borberg and Lundberg families, who were the pioneers that lived here. 13 people were killed and only two people survived. History continues on with the park’s buildings, which were built in the 1930s by the Veterans Conservation Corps.
Another very interesting thing about this particular park is that it lies in the Alexandria Glacial Moraine Complex. Both Monson and Sunburg Lakes formed by glaciers that melted here more than 30,000 years ago. More to come once we post our article dedicated to Monson Lake State Park. Stay tuned!
Map of Our Epic 7th Anniversary Road Trip to Five Minnesota State Parks
Have you been to any of these 5 Minnesota State Parks? Let us know which one was your favorite in the comments!
- Address: Lac Qui Parle State Park, 14047 20th St NW, Watson, MN 56295
- Address: Big Stone Lake State Park, 35889 Meadowbrook State Park Road, Ortonville, MN 56278
- Address: Maplewood State Park, 39721 Park Entrance Rd, Pelican Rapids, MN 56572
- Address: Buffalo River State Park, 565 155th St S, Glyndon, MN 56547
- Address: Monson Lake State Park, 1690 15th St. NE, Sunburg, MN 56289
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