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!

Another stop on our quest to visit all MN state parks. This was the third of three parks in a day…read moreso we were very tired and only saw a small part of the park. We checked out the remains of the fort and learned about the people who lived there. The visitor center was still closed due to the pandemic but there were many placards around to read and learn. We took a short hike to a lookout point and found these amazing communal cocoons (my bug people say they are either gypsy or tent caterpillars). Views were beautiful. The area looked hilly and would have liked to see more. Best part about visiting all the parks is we get to see which areas are our favorites and visit again.

This is a state park and historic site as well, thus the name. There are ruins showing a much…read morelarger fort at one time and one preserved building and monument. Plenty of interpretive signs that have obviously been rewritten to reflect modern values of inclusive history. There are plenty of camping sites available in this seemingly very quiet park. The walking trails are generally in good shape until you go deeper in to the adjoining trails . There are steep hills and damp valleys and warning signs that trails are rougher. For reasons unknown many sections are closed and certainly it's not from flooding as the summer of 21' is drought stricken. One less star because of some poor or lacking signage and guide maps while at trail intersections. Pick up a paper map at the closed headquarters, (they are in a box), and use your phone compass if need be.

Just a fun little museum and historical exhibit a short bike or car ride from Lake Shetek. We…read morestopped by during a camping trip and the kids had a blast climbing around and then picnicking at the tables. I wouldn't go out of my way unless you're a huge railroad buff, but it's a great little stop to break any journey past Currie. And very inexpensive, totally worth it at $5 per.

End-O-Line Railroad Park & Museum is a hidden gem! If you are in the area this is worth the stop…read more It is off the beaten travel path a bit, but worth the effort to drive a short distance to see this location. A lot of history here with many out buildings, but the focal point here is railroad history. The town of Currie marked the end of the line for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad. This line was originally supposed to go through to South Dakota but with lines going through Tracy on the north and Slayton on the south, they didn't see a need to continue the tracks past Currie. The turntable was built in 1901 and was used to turn the steam engines around to head back to Bingham Lake. The turntable is on the National Register of Historic Sites and is the only one left in the state of Minnesota, on the original site, still operable, and always turned by man power - it was never hooked up to steam or horses. This is a seasonal museum (Memorial Day - Labor Day) and is open 10 am to 5 pm Wednesday - Saturday and 1 - 5 pm on Sunday's. They do offer off season tours for groups but you need to make prior arrangements. Allow plenty of time when stopping here. There is a lot of history to see and absorb. They also offer picnic grounds, very nice and clean restrooms, a gift shop and playground area for the kids. Our family was so very glad we took the time to tour this museum. It is fun for all ages and very informative. There is an admittance fee of $5 for those 18 and over, students 6 - 17 receive a $3 reduced fee and kids 5 and under are free. Well worth the stop if you are in the Currie area. Beautiful grounds and well kept exhibits. So heart warming to see a small town be able to maintain such a wonderful historic attraction. A must see!

Fantastic park right off the lake. Wood structures with plenty of areas for play - even for the…read moreyounger children. A pavilion nearby, plenty of swings. Such a wonderful variety with balance beams and climbing walls. Nooks to hids. Play boat or castle....or dig in the sand and look out at the lake. Just beautiful. The only bad part is the city need to wipe the spider webs off more.

Great spot on the lake to stop and enjoy the view...or play on the playground equipment with the…read morekiddos! No wildcats witnessed on our visit.

After a meandering walk on the paved trail, we noticed that they are beginning to lrepare for Light…read moreUp the Night, hosted yearly here. The park was devoid of other children this early Friday morning, and we have been here other times where it has acoommodated 20 to 30 children easily. The pond at the center of the park is picturesque, and there is a cute, 4 person, fishing dock to teach your young fishermen and women.

Great park to spend a few hours in. There is a little zoo with elk, bison, goats and some birds…read more Lots of playgrounds and trails to burn your kiddos energy down. On top of that, there is a nice little walk to a small water fall. No entrance or parking fees. Rustic camping is an option as well if you are looking for a place to stay. Big hadd to find, the park is right on town. A good use of a few hours if you want to get outside.

The zoo is a nice touch. My 4 year absolutely loved it. Lots of trails for folks if all ages plus a…read moregood driving path to the waterfall if that's all you want to see. We had fun and can't wait to go back to explore more.

If I didn't have somewhere to be tonight, I'd have spent the night here in Sexauer Park. This park…read moreallows camping with 18 paved pads for trailers and RVs, five of which are pull-through and the remainder are back-in. The pads are only $25 plus tax, which is a complete bargain. The campground is operated by the city of Brookings and is the only park in the city that allows camping. They have electrical hook-ups, picnic tables, a playground, restrooms with showers and even a dump station. Very awesome and I enjoyed having a nice walk around today. The only thing missing is a water or sewer hookup, but that's really a minor inconvenience for a self-contained camper van. [Review 17852 overall - 58 in South Dakota - 1373 of 2022.]

The lower campground is beautiful however there is 0 cell service so be prepared to disconnect.read more

We hiked the 3+ mile Redwood River loop which took us through prairie and wooded areas. Part of the…read moretrail allowed horses but we did not see any riders on our visit. The trail was a mixture of sun and shade. Definitely bring some bug spray. We walked past a lovely trout stream. There was a small beach that a family was enjoying. We also saw camp sites available.

Love the prairie setting! There is something calming about tall waves of grass in all directions…read more We stayed three nights in the upper campground at site 7 with full hook ups. TONS of room. These campsites are big with lots of prairie in between. Loved that there was mowed grass throughout the site. (Instead of the dirt sites you get in forests.) The camper spots are gravel. The pit toilet by us was spotless and checked every morning by ranger staff. The shower building was also clean. There are prairie trails with epic views of the lake right from the campground. They were all recently mowed which we greatly appreciated! I would also recommend walking to the state record cottonwood tree. As big as you think... We did drive to the beach twice and had a fabulous time. The water seems to be much better than what the previous reviewer said 9 years ago. Maybe all the rain we got this season helped? We didn't see any issues. We will be back to this park!

After the recent rains, the hiking club trail was a bit squishy in some places. Field and woods…read morewalking. Not a lot of features to see. Some of the highlights included the visitor center. The woman working there was so nice and helpful. There is also a room full of stuffed birds and furs so you can get up close and personal with the animals of our region. The wild flowers around the center were stunning. You must stop and see the giant cottonwood tree. It's ginormous. It's amazing how big a tree can get. So cool. The pelicans that hang out at the dam were interesting to see as well. Huge beautiful birds.

Loved my time camping at Blue Mounds State Park!!! They have a well taken care of quiet campground!…read moreGood bathrooms and facilities! At the campground you are just a bike ride or a short driver over to the old quarry! Fortunately the whole herd of buffalo was right outside the observation deck!!! Luverne, MN is the town nearby and it is just a 10 min drive. Close enough to grab some food but far enough to not ruin the nature atmosphere! The park is a great getaway from normal life and I will definitely be returning soon!

I really enjoyed the 4m hike through this park. The prairie is a beautiful place. We saw lots of…read moreflowers and wild life. I love how the wind blows patterns over the long grass. No trees so bring sunscreen. The nice breeze kept the bugs at bay.