This review is only regarding the cliff jumping you can do at the park into the water- this review…read moreis not meant to discourage others to go to this beautiful park - just to make people aware of the risks. If you plan to cliff jump - please read!!! I have been to this park many times in my life, and jumped off the high cliff into the water at least half a dozen times. Last Memorial Day, I went with my friends to enjoy the park. I went to the highest cliff jumping spot and I jumped off into the water. I immediately knew something was wrong with my spine when I hit the water as I could barely breathe and my back exploded in pain. As the signs state at the park - you jump at your own risk. It was clear they do not have a protocol for when people get injuries. It took about 10 minutes to get a ranger to come over and help, who did end up calling an ambulance, but they did not offer anything else. They didn't clear the area, and people continued to climb up and jump around me. My friends had to kick me across the whole quarry to get to the shore to get to the ambulance. At the hospital they did an x-ray and a vertebrae in my spine had compressed due to the angle I hit the water and fractured. It was about a 5-month recovery with a back brace full time. If you go for the cliff jumping just be aware that there is a risk jumping into the water, and the risk gets greater the higher you go. All this to say - the park is beautiful and it is still a lovely spot for swimming and hiking. Just know the risks before you go cliff jumping into the water.

Definitely a gem in this little town. The walking trails are pleasant and go for miles. Wear…read morecomfortable shoes. There's a quarry with cliffs to dive from. Parking fee's vary $5 Sep-May and $10 during the summer.

Along the Ricori Trail/Glacial Lakes State Trail on the Sauk River. Newer splash pad is near the…read moreplayground area. There is an outdoor auditorium-the John & Rose Alexander Memorial Auditorium. Clean, flushable public restrooms (and water fountain) are available. There were fisherman on both of the river today. Wonderful stop and I can't wait to bicycle here!

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.

Great park with AstroTurf and a water park to run in. A great time for kids of most ages. My son…read morehad a blast for hours and slept great.

Great splash park and playground. Just needs an ice cream stand or an ice cream truck.read more

We stayed in a camper cabin on a Saturday night in August. The cabin was great! There was a table…read moreand chairs, two bunk beads, and electricity! Cabin F was secluded with trees and just grassy area across the road. The campground was ok. I thought the sites were on the small side. The actual lake with beach area was far from the campground. You would want to drive there. The bath/shower house was in need of a good cleaning or remodel. Overall, a one night stay was just fine.

We are starting our journey of visiting every state park. We have been to some, but this is a…read morerestart for retirement! We started here and it was a wonderful start. The leaves were just starting to turn and the views were lovely. The hiking trails are well maintained. There was also work being done on the beach play area. Should be great when it is done.

Nice hiking trail. We took the Mt Tom trail which was a nice loop taking you to a lookout point for…read moreMt Tom as well as a lookout for Little Tom. The trail was in nice shape. There were a few areas that needed a little grooming but nothing to cause you to lose the trail. There was a detour because goats were fenced along the trail nearest the swimming area causing that part to be closed. We just cut that part out and followed the road back to our car. So glad we did because we found two fawns on the edge of the road and photographed them peaking at us from behind the trees. Lots of wild flowers along the trail. It seemed to be a popular camping spot and many were swimming in the lake on a warm afternoon. We actually missed the Mt Tom lookout as you have to leave the trail and cross a parking lot to get to the lookout path. We decided to drive up there and I'm so glad we did. They have some nice placards and a lookout structure so you can really see above the tree line.

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.

Nice camping spots on the Mississippi River. Sites have plenty of room in between them. Each site…read morehas a grassy yard that the maintenance mows regularly. Bathrooms are clean. The only negative is that a lot of the campers don't pick up after there dogs, so you have to watch out when your walking by the pond grass area. PICK UP YOURS DOGS POOP!!!!

Great campground lots of trees and flowers two large decks to relax and enjoy the beautiful…read moreMissippi river . Nice playground . Nice little camp store . Close to everything but like your a million miles away lots are large and have large trees . Nice folks . We have decided to come here every season .

Banning State Park was one of our favorite outdoor stops during our Hinckley getaway. The park is…read moreknown for its scenic hiking trails, sandstone cliffs, and the views of the Kettle River, making it a great place to spend a few hours exploring. Our goal was to find the waterfall, but like many first-time visitors, we ended up taking a wrong turn and wandered a little longer than expected. Honestly, it turned into part of the adventure. As we explored, we spotted deer quietly moving, squirrels darting between the trees, and plenty of birds and caterpillars along the way. We discovered quiet trails, beautiful overlooks, and peaceful stretches of the river that we might have missed if we'd gone straight to our destination. The sound of the water, the surrounding rock formations, and the forest scenery made it one of those places where you naturally want to stop and take it all in. If you're visiting Banning State Park for the first time, don't stress if you get a little turned around. Give yourself extra time, wear comfortable shoes, and enjoy the journey.

Nice trails. Great photo ops. Lovely small waterfall. Great views. Visited in October. Wished there…read morewere more bathrooms.