We did the Annie Battle Lake hike which had about half of it in a paved path that you share with…read morebikes. We tried to do the Lake Emma Trail loop as well but the bugs completely overwhelmed us and we turned back. The path follows the lake but most of it is in the woods and the lake is not viewable. In the south side there are some nice lookout points. The park has a great rental shop. I wish we would have had more time to take a bike ride or rent a kayak. Lots of park/water toys to choose from.

This relatively new state park in Minnesota is a treasure -- a beautiful example of Minnesota lake…read morecountry with rolling hills, forests, creeks, trails and camping. I hiked a few miles towards the end of the day and saw an eagle swoop down to grab a fish out of the lake. I shot photos of birds that I had not seen before and a young buck hiding in the birch forest. A variety of wild flowers were in bloom. Be warned that you need to apply insect repellent since ticks abound. There are both paved and unpaved path, and it is obvious that the park was well-planned. There is even a cemetery for pets. It's a must visit if you are in the area.

We always loved this place for the ducks and geese when we would visit in the summer…read more After moving here we learned that it's even better in the winter when it's an ice skating park. Our guests this summer loved it because it has a whole bunch of Pokemon stops and stuff.

The campsite was rather congested with not a large amount of privacy. The hiking itself was fairly…read moremild as we bounced along these glacial lakes and valleys. We brought our pup with us and she enjoyed it too. A great place for a more mild hiking experience, still with nice views.

What a gem! Tented here for two chilly fall nights. There is a nice lake with canoe and kayak…read morerentals, and a nice beach. Trails go around the lake, through the woods, and into the gorgeous rolling prairie hills. The campground isn't huge, which means the park never feels too crowded. I hope to visit again sometime in the summer when I can take better advantage of the lake. It's also only ~2.5 hrs from the Cities, so would also make a nice day destination for some hiking if camping isn't your thing.

The Lion's Park is home to the world's largest turkey. They have a festival every year in July.read more

In my tour of state parks this will be another spot that ranks high on my list. Historic in the…read moresense as it's a good example of how the glacier affected Minnesota topography, as we usually see more examples of the ice age draw back in Wisconsin. There are some quiet scenic campsites and various hiking trails, some open all year, some for horses. The hiking trails are mostly easy with packed down grass and a few rough areas on the hill climbs. From the scenic hills you will see what's left of the Minnesota prairie with wildflowers. The highest elevation is 1352' which in Mn is almost considered a mountain.

For a smaller Minnesota state park, this is a pretty great stop for anyone looking to get out to a…read morepark! While there aren't a million miles of hiking, this park does offer some tremendous lookouts, lots of bird watching, the option to get into the water, and plenty of education on the geography of this place! The rangers were very friendly and we were able to get firewood. Bathrooms were decent and the campsite was splendid. The campsite isn't as secluded or covered as other parks, so be aware that your neighbors will be staring right at ya. Overall, super great park. Easy access to trails and lots to look at and learn. Bring sunglasses and a hat! Not a ton of shade.

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.

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.

I love to stop and see these roadside oddities throughout the USA. Who can pass up a huge Otter…read morenext to a relaxing lake. We had to take a few selfies before some park visitors climbed on top of the Otter.

It's the world's largest otter - how can I not give it five stars? A great rest area to stretch…read moreyour legs as well.

There are two areas in this park to hike meadowbrook and bonanza. We hiked short trails in both…read more Meadowbrook was mostly a trail cut into a field. It had some nice wildflowers and butterflies to check out along the way. As it was only a mile, it was a nice way to stretch the legs. The hiking club trail is at the bonanza area which is about 11 miles from Meadowbrook. It's a walk along the lake which takes you to a small waterfall which is colored red from the iron in the water. We saw several deer, a turkey family, and a few frogs along the path. Nice hike. The gentleman in the visitor center was very helpful and knowledgeable about the area.

We are prairie fans!!! Loved the hikes. (If you like the prairie setting visit Blue Mound.) Loved…read morethat they are restoring the land to the original habitat with wild native grasses and flowers. We saw deer right when we turned into the long drive into the park. We had one of the few electrical sites. Park wasn't busy. This place is a secret?! There was a boat landing and parking lot adjacent to the campground. This is a fishing lake. Didn't see any water sports or even any swimming. As big as the lake is, it has a pond feel near the edge with algae and weeds. We still went in at the little beach area. Call us HOT and desperate. We found there was a big spring area in the water where it was literally freezing. I have felt cold spots in lakes before, but this was a big area where you could walk or stand on sand that was as cold as ice. ReFreshing! The staff comes by a couple times a day if you have questions. Otherwise there is a building with some tshirts and smore sticks where he hangs out.

One of the prettiest parks in Minnesota. This is a summer must visit! I'm so glad we made a visit!read more

What a beautiful park. Got to visit this beautiful park…read moretoday. There is a preserved flour mill. You can go in and learn about how they used to make flour. The mill sits on the river which is powerful and beautiful. The whole park is lovely taken care of. A play area, fishing, picnic area, and bathrooms.