Just wow. It was my first time being on this side of South Dakota, having visited the Badlands and…read morethe Black Hills last year, and I had no idea what to expect! We headed out to South Dakota to attend a family wedding and added on a couple of days to go camping. I didn't know anything about this park but when we got there I was delighted by the maintenance, and the care of the park. It looks like there are areas where people can visit the park for day use and areas where people can stay, either in the cabins, the campgrounds, or the lodge. I was impressed by how many people we came across that come here to visit during the day. We saw many guests hiking the trails, relaxing in the water, and enjoying the outdoor grills. We found our campground and I loved that they made each campsite pretty private next to other campgrounds. We stayed at the King Campground, the newer one of the two campground areas, and you walk up to your area and it's a large flat grassy area with a picnic table and extra green space before walking down to the parking area. You have a good amount of privacy from the next campground over. I loved that, it was easily the most well thought out campground I've ever stayed in. We loved the fire pit and used it each night and morning. My boyfriend also managed to set up our hammocks on the trees near by for us to nap in in the shade. We brought our dog along for this trip and she did so well hiking with us along the trails and hanging out at the camp ground. The trails got a little iffy since there were off shoots from the trail that -seemed like it was part of the original course but we managed to make it through all trails without getting lost!! There are also a mixture of outhouse/compost like toilets that were cleaner than some I've come across at parks and hand sanitizer that was full as well. The main bathrooms and showers were a short distance from the campground and were clean! It was nice to be in nature but still have the option to use a regular toilet and shower! Another thing to note, the campground host here is wonderful! I can't remember his name now but he was great to talk to and learn how he and his wife got into hosting! This area of the camp was probably the best area to see the sunset. We got to see a couple of beautiful sunsets looking out over the park as our campground area was on a hill with no view obstruction. I was so impressed by this campground that I'm already hoping we go back sometime!

Absolutely beautiful area! We were there in 30 degree weather and will definitely be back in the…read morespring/summer to check things out again, we had a great time walking and checking out all the sites!

The setting and surroundings of Olson Park are absolutely fantastic!…read more I tell ya...for just quickly visiting and hanging out here for a couple of hours, this Olson Park was so well maintained! I'll say it again, lol, very well maintained!! The park is flush with green grass and is situated right by a scenic lake. Too bad I wasn't spending the night here because they offer camping. And...I am a camping enthusiast! I was here at Olson Park back at the end of June 2021 and the conditions were truly pleasant. I honestly felt like taking a blanket out of my car and having a midday nap underneath a tree, lol. I really can't say enough good things about this park. Before I do...I'll just provide some insight and details about where Olson Park is located and some of the worthwhile benefits it offers that make it such a worthwhile destination for enjoying nature and the outdoors. Olson Park is located in the town of Worthington, Minnesota. Worthington sits about 175 miles southwest of Minneapolis and only 10 miles north from the border with Iowa. It's situated about 3 miles outside downtown Worthington. I was traveling down through Minnesota along my 2021 cross country road trip. Eventually I was heading into Sioux Falls, South Dakota and further west towards Badlands National Park and the Mount Rushmore area. Along my driving for half the day, I was just a little fatigued and pulled off Interstate 90 and figured why not take some time to relax at a park and rest up before continuing on my journey. I discovered Olson Park through the wonderful app on my phone called Campendium. Upon arriving here, I was surprised they offered camping. I just figured this place was a quiet town park where you could come play some ball, have a picnic or just simply go fishing by the lake. Well cool...this Olson Park was perfect and ideal for camping! The best part being that you can set up your tent along all the fluffy and lush green grass which definitely make a for comfortable night sleep. Plus...I can't tell you enough how clean this park was! Seriously it was like out of a fresh springtime catalogue for a photo album! Lol, just reflecting back on my pictures invoke warm memories. Too bad...I should have just camped out for the night. But instead, I took it easy for a few hours before returning back to Interstate 90. Also...there wasn't a cloud in the sky during my time here. The sun reflected down on the lake's waters making for a wonderful ambiance. The campsites located next to the lake were efficiently set up. Just taking pictures of the park with the lake in the background was beautiful. For camping... - Campsites 1 - 12 w/ electric hook-up was $33 for the night. - Campsites 13 - 63 w/ electric hook-up was $28 per night. - Campsites 64 - 68 without electric hook-up was only $22 per night. All these sites were very reasonable and fairly priced for camping out at such a well-maintained park! You can book a reservation by calling 507-372-8600 Monday thru Friday. If there isn't a campsite occupied, then it's first come, first served. For spontaneous campers coming here on a whim, once you find an unoccupied site, simply claim it and then drop the fee into the courtesy box on the east side of the office if no attendant is around. And that's it, you're good to go! Here are some other terrific amenities about Olson Park... - They have a shower house with flush toilets, so no vault toilets are always a good thing, lol. - Cell phone reception worked perfectly here. - You can bring swimming apparel to enjoy the waters of the lake. - There were picnic tables situated all around. During my visit here on June 30, the park was empty. It was so quiet for such a picturesque park. And btw, it's always a benefit not having too many campers occupying the grounds. Overall...having tons of green grass, trees situated all around, good shade and a calm setting made this Olson Park to be an absolute winner in my book. I can't remember finding a better campground along my entire 5-month journey across the United States! For those who happen to be driving Interstate 90 and or making their way through the southern portion of Minnesota during their travels, I can't recommend Olson Park enough, so refreshing to discover this hidden gem of a park and campground.

Beautiful park and very nice for camping. Stayed here on our way out to South Dakota. Will…read moredefinitely stay again.

Nice clean visitor center. Over 6 miles of scenic trails. Classrooms are available for rent. Neat…read morehistory of the Poncas.

This park is full of history and legend, combined with the beauty of the gulch and stream...!…read more The highlight of the park...! The legend of Jesse James's leap across the chasm to evade a posse! You can now walk across a bridge that spans the gap which brings this jump into perspective. The steep, quartzite walls, and rushing water make it easy to understand the legend's persistence. The feat's impossibility adds intrigue to the natural landscape! The park also features hiking trails with views of the river, wildflowers, and prairie grasses. A narrow path has been etched into the landscape by Split Rock Creek! A two-tiered waterfall creates a symphony of rushing water amidst the terrain. The path offers various viewing points of the rock formations and stream. The park offers discoveries, including the historical marker about Jesse James, the waterfall, and multiple rock formations. Devil's Gulch offers an adventure for those who appreciate local lore and natural beauty!

I went for the first time yesterday with my man and our Frenchie, "Bobo" after work and let me just…read moresay, it was a beautiful day. Meeting families enjoying the weather and the trails was a highlight as well. Get out there and enjoy!!!

This was a stop that we had planned coming from South Dakota, back down to Texas. It was well worth…read morethe stop. These beautiful falls are different than the usual stops at gas stations and McDonald's during road trips. But it was a great place to stretch our legs, use the restrooms, and have some snacks that we had packed. It was a free stop, free parking, and it was nice to see people just walking along the falls, enjoying theirselves. We did not get a chance to go up to the observation deck, but even still, we enjoyed ourselves. Definitely make the stop if you are in this area! And even if you are not in this area, it would be well worth the drive.

The Falls, with the exception of the dirty looking water, are pretty cool. The park is…read morewell-maintained and has nice walking trails. What I can't get past is the stench coming from the Smithfield Foods pig slaying plant only a block or two away. Why would the city allow this stench to sit right at the front door of their greatest jewel? Makes no sense to me. Not only that, but Smithfield Foods has the unmitigated gall to put happy pig statues around the plant, like we don't know the carnage taking place inside. Despicable. If there's one thing those poor pigs never are, for a moment of their pitifully short and painful lives, is happy. The place reeks of death.

Had no idea this was in the seemingly middle of nowhere. If you can, don't pass this up. Nice…read morelittle paved walk. Lots of wildlife.

It's hard for me to use the word "monument" here... When I think monument...I consider a monument…read moreto be something man made. To me this is more of just a gorgeous cutout of well kept and preserved natural landscape... A park. A vibrant scene. With over 400 native plant species, including big bluestem, little bluestem, and buffalo grass, the area teems with natural beauty. Stunning red stone bluffs and cliffs of Sioux Quartzite, a hard rock formed between 1.6 and 1.7 billion years ago.. A highlight of the area is Winnewissa Falls, a beautiful waterfall that cascades into Pipestone creek. Two main trails allow you to navigate this park. The Circle trail is a paved, 3/4-mile loop trail guides visitors to the key natural highlights including the quarries, historical markers, Old Stone Face, Winnewissa Falls, and the tallgrass prairie. The South Quarry trail is about 1/2 mile roundtrip, out and back on the same path, and it provides a look into the active quarrying pits where Indigenous people have been extracting pipestone for thousands of years. Both trails are easy to navigate and I'd consider them to be a very easy hike... And I'm not exactly athletic. Lol The paths are both paved and are considered wheelchair accessible. Parking is free, the lot is nice sized, and near the visitor center and restrooms. As you leave the lot heading towards the park you are basically at the starting point of the Circle trail. If you like a nice little walk... This is a great place to get out to and witness the enduring natural beauty of it's prairies, cliffs, and waterfalls, and explore remarkable geological formations... I'm willing to bet parts of the park are spectacular at sunset! And as long as you are in the area... Visit nearby Fort Pipestone and it's gift shop along with Keepers Gift Shop & Gallery!

I cannot for the life of me understand why they are calling this a Japanese garden. This is a small…read morestretch of grass and paving stones near some water. If this city wanted to call it a park, that would be passable, but it's actually insulting and frustrating that they are calling this a Japanese garden. I was able to find what I think is a Japanese maple and they had a bridge that looks like they tried to style it in a Japanese style over an empty bed of rocks that was possibly intended as a koi pond once upon a time, but as it stands, there is nothing Japanese about this location. It's really confusing. For anyone who's not clear, putting a stone lantern from Pier One next to a walkway does not make it a Japanese garden. To add insult to injury, they had the sprinklers going full blast at noon with only one pathway in and out. We got soaked, as did many other people who seemed like locals that were just trying to walk on their lunch break. I was hoping to stop here and feel a little more Zen but I left wet and annoyed.

Beautiful! You would never know you're in a big city. It was peaceful and a great spot to have a…read morepicnic and a walk.

We started with a hike on Loon Island. Liked this part of the park. The causeway provided a bridge…read moreto get to the island. The path on the island was nice and shady. There were also nice educational stops along the way. We then hiked around Smith Lake. It's a nice distance of over three miles but the greenery between the path and lake cut out most lake views. There is also this odd section where the trail takes you into a corn field for a bit. There were lots of amazing birds in and around the lake. I think the large white birds were Pelicans. We also saw pheasants and many others. We liked this park with its many trails and water features.

They've different fun things to different ages of kids, and very nice rest area, my baby boy had…read morelots fun !

I absolutely love love love this park. When you have multiple children of different ages it's a…read morechallenge entertaining all of them. Here, you have many choices and by agree range.