We stopped here to do some geocaches and to check out the view of the St Croix River from the land…read more The day before we had boated by and saw the park from the river. The park does have a nice overlook down to the river and you can walk the path down to the beaches at the river level. If you have a boat you can tie-up here though I don't know it you can camp overnight in your boat. The park did not appear to have a campground though it did have a number of hiking trails. No surprise that this time of year also attracts lots of mosquitoes! Overall an OK state park.

This is a park on the Wisconsin side of the St Croix River. We have been here in the summer which…read morewas nice. It is completely different in the winter. The trail down to the river is very steep. It is a long climb up. The river when it was frozen allows you to walk along the swampy area and see several bald eagle. It was also very quiet and peaceful.

As a previous campground host, this was THE # 1 place I recommended people check out while here…read more It's only a 5 minute drive up. It is SPECTACULAR. I cannot imagine why anyone would give it less than 5 stars. While there are only swings here ( marked down by a previous viewer for this reason) there is lots of grassy area for kids to run around far away from the cliffs. Be aware, there are no guardrails at the viewing point... so watch kiddos closely . Enjoy the views of the Minnesota bluffs across the water as you gaze upon the Mississippi river down below and the Alma dam to your right ! You might get lucky and see a barge coming through. There is a steep hiking trail @ the north end of 2nd St in Alma to start your way up. Otherwise, you drive up from the far South end of town. Well marked. Don't miss this "beautiful view"!

Buena vista park is nice little place with a terrific view of the Mississippi, the Alma lock and…read moredam and a lot of interesting scenery in between. There are some nice stair and benches, plus a restroom (that I did not go into, so no idea if it is a flush one or not) by the parking lot. Not any barriers between you and the bluff, but it isnt too bad as far as the fear factor. We had a nice little visit and the photo ops are GREAT!! It was an easy enough drive up to the park from Alma as well. Nice little place

We like to make the trek from the twin cities to this park in Red Wing. There is a lot of parking…read moreat the trailhead and once you get going, it isn't too long of a hike up the hill and you are rewarded with really nice views of the town, the surrounding county, the river, as well as being able to see deep into Wisconsin. There is a lot to look at from the northern vantage point. Then, you can head south along a ridgeline and get to the southern vantage point and the views there go on for miles as well. It is definitely kid-friendly, as my 4 year old walked the whole thing and my 2 year old walked a bunch of it, too. Just make sure to take a few breaks and bring some snacks.

Very nice place for a quick hike of different distances and levels of difficulty…read more Plentiful parking spots on the streets if need it. We'll pave and well navigate with signs, directions, and directions. We hike the Midland Trail and the South for an easy to moderate hike. We went the west outlook point. Well designed trails and stairs for everyone to come and enjoy. Overall yes, would come by if in the area for a nice breezy hike. The overall view point from the top overlooking downtown red wing is spectacular. Pictures cannot do justice to.

After a few duds, we were exploring other area parks while visiting family in Hudson. This was the…read morewinner! Expansive play area with towers, sandbox, slides galore, climbing walls, covered picnic area, benches, swings, tire swing, etc. There are also baseball fields, bathrooms available, and a great view of the Hudson water tower. The area is pretty enclosed, with much of it fenced, so we played with confidence that our wanderer child would be contained. :-)

It is Probably the smallest pork I've ever seen, but I've been coming here since I was little, so I…read morehave a lot of Nostalgia for this park. Things are in generally good condition, But some things can be iffy. The park also has a creek, which is good fun for minnow fishing.

Two acres of nice park along Highway 63, built by volunteers 1987. It has a non-functional…read morerotating Dutch windmill, playground, bathrooms, picnic tables, trees for shade on sunny days, grassy field, a creek running through it. It appears CLEAN and well cared for-the flowers are cared for and the bathrooms clean. It's a welcome place to stop. Psst...there's a secret bench hidden in the trees, surrounded by hostas-be sure to check it out!

We went to this park after my daughter's daycare had a field trip here. What a little pearl. It's…read moresuch a fun park. I wanted to tell all my friends...but at the same.time want to keep it secret. It has some fun items that you dont see at other parks. One in particular is the circular monkey bars...so fun! My kids really enjoyed their time here There is also a spacious parking lot. Easy to find. And both a play structure for littles as well as a bigger one that goes up to 12 years old.

Beautiful trails, very nice campsite and gorgeous bathroom/shower facilities! It was our first time…read morevisiting and we enjoyed the family-friendly atmosphere. A very easy and beautiful drive from Rochester, perfect for a weekend getaway!

We visited the electrical campsites for a weekend in August. We appreciated the proximity to the…read morecities/Mississippi River, and the number of trees surrounding the campsites. The sites were very close together in the first loop and not particularly spacious. There are several walking paths with lookouts close to the campgrounds. I would not consider those paths friendly to all - they are uneven, narrow, and there is no railing. Full disclosure, it was rainy during our stay so we didn't get to fully experience the park.

Willow River State Park was absolutely beautiful and ended up being one of our favorite stops. We…read morehiked the 0.4 mile trail down to the base of the falls, and while the climb back up was definitely steep and a workout, it was completely worth it. We were proud of ourselves for making it! The waterfall and scenery are gorgeous, and the whole park feels peaceful and well maintained. If you enjoy nature, hiking, and scenic views, this place is definitely worth visiting. We loved our time here and would absolutely come back again.

We wanted a spot that offered outdoor fun with a nearby city for lunch, and this park delivered!…read moreIt's huge.... offering hiking, camping, biking, swimming, and even skiing in the winter. There's always something to do no matter the season. Parking is $8, and on busy days you might wait a few minutes, but it's worth it. At the entrance, you'll get a helpful map (also available online) that shows all the trails and recreation options. We parked near the boat launch and took the 1.5-mile loop to the waterfall, a beautiful, family-friendly walk with no complaints from the kids! The waterfall itself is stunning. We kicked off our shoes, dipped our feet in the cool water, and climbed around the rocks above the falls. There are more challenging hikes if you're feeling adventurous, and it's only about 10 minutes to great Hudson riverfront dining afterward. We left smiling and saying, "That was so fun maybe we should get an annual pass!

"I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay, wastin' time..." (Otis Redding)…read more If you've got time to waste, I can think of no better place to fritter it away than at this scenic, activity-filled park. Bay Point and Ole Miss Marina are located along the banks of the Mississippi, where one can listen to trains roaring through town while taking in gorgeous views of the city, Barn Bluff, barges floating down the river, and perhaps even the Pearl of the Lake replica of an 1800's paddleboat. Viewing the Boat House Village to the side of the park is a unique experience, as this is one of only a few remaining gin-pole installations in existence. Note the forty-ft-tall poles which hold the houses in places as the river rises and falls. Dig into a potluck feast with your family in one of the park's covered picnic pavilions. Aunt Jenny's tater-tot hotdish disappears quickly, so don't dilly-dally queueing up! Burn off those chocolate revel bars afterwards by taking a few laps around the park, while kids hang out upside-down on the playground. For visiting fishermen, Bay Point is one of the two main boat launches in town (the other located at Colvill Park). There is ample parking nearby for trucks with boat trailers, and bathrooms for breaks in between catching lunkers. Overall, this park is the perfect place to park yourself whether you're a fisherman, walker, eagle enthusiast, dog, or kiddo...or you're just looking to waste some time! I give it 5 tugs on the steam whistle!

Great place to chill and read or sit and watch the boat and train action on the river. There are…read morepicnic pavilions and play areas for kids. It can be a base for a bike excursion of scenic Red Wing ( if you bring your bike). People often fish off the rocky point. Eagles frequent the area. A soothing yet energizing place.

Well, I'll say this much - it's certainly the best covered bridge I've ever been on. Looking at the…read moreinformation packets later, there are photos of this in the last decade with snow having totally collapsed the roof to be flat - it's wild to see how you can't even tell now. The bridge is all wood, with new supports after being moved around a lot. It was a nice time walking down it. I didn't expect a thrill ride, but I got what I was expecting! It is, historically speaking, pretty neat that they kept it. Great theme for the whole town. The park itself is huge and expansive, tons of space, some amazing trees, a great river, and when we were there, a very nice display of flags for Memorial Day. A genuinely huge park space, and a huge fun-looking castle-themed playground for kids, too.

Minnesota's only remaining functional covered bridge, it has been restored to authentic condition…read more The town lattice truss design spans the Zumbro River. It was completed in November 1869 and sort of looks like a barn. It is 116 feet long and the roadway is 15 feet wide. It is NOT open to vehicular traffic, having been moved about 100 yards from its original location to keep it available for viewing for posterity. You can walk or bicycle across the bridge and see it from both sides. The bridge is the centerpiece of the park and there are restaurants and such nearby. There is parking and several captions that provide history and context. [Review 20718 overall - 130 in Minnesota - round number 1700 of 2023.]