Perrot State Park
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Scenic blufftop views of Mississippi River Valley. Fall colors. Goat prairies. Prairie plants/flowers. Camping/hiking/picnicking. Birdwatching. Check seasonal updates. Bird checklist (PDF) Take a 360° virtual tour.
- Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
Enjoy this park on foot, any season of the year. In the...
- Minnesota DNR
Main Campground. This is in the park's main campground at...
- Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
- About Great River Bluffs State Park
- Geology and Nature
- History
- Activities at Great River Bluffs State Park
- Great River Bluffs State Park FAQs
- Enjoy Your Visit to Great River Bluffs State Park!
If you’ve never even heard about this state park, let me make introductions. Great River Bluffs State Park is a southeast Minnesota state park on the Mississippi River, in the Driftless Region of the state. Besides the river, its terrain consists of goat prairies, and as the name suggests, 500-foot-tall bluffs that also form valleys. The land has l...
Geology
Great River Bluffs State Park hasn’t always looked the way it does today! 500 million years ago, it was layers of sedimentary rock at the bottom of a sea. Then, just 10 thousand years ago, the melting glaciers from the ice age fed into the Mississippi River, which became more powerful, and began to carve the land. Smaller rivers branched into the Mississippi and did the same thing in the surrounding land. That’s why Great River Bluffs State Park has so many deep river valleys. This water eros...
Nature
So what’s so rare about the Great River Bluffs State Park lands? First of all, the bluffs are basically a natural history archeological site. Just think about how long they’ve been around! They’re a reminder of how small humanity really is in the grand scheme of things, and that we should protect the land around us (which has been around for so much longer than we have). Second of all, another unique and iconic natural setting is the goat prairies. Why are they so special? Because they only g...
Though the natural history of Great River Bluffs State Park is significantly longer than its human history, it’s still interesting to know how the state park came about. In 1963, the state of Minnesota passed legislation to allow the creation of a 1,350-acre state park on the Mississippi river bluffs. The state highway department named the future s...
Now that you know all about how Great River Bluffs State Park came to be, let’s get into what you can do on its amazing lands! Compared to other bigger and more equipped state parks, at first, it might seem that there isn’t a whole lot to do at Great River Bluffs State Park. But that certainly has its perks, especially for those of us that really w...
Where is Great River Bluffs State Park?
Great River Bluffs State Park is a state park on the Mississippi River, located in southeast Minnesota, close to the Wisconsin border. It’s less than a three-hour drive from Minneapolis.
Where is the best hike in Great River Bluffs State Park?
It seems like many people love Kings Bluff Overlook. The trail has a change in altitude of just 177 feet and is 2.5 miles.
What fees do I have to pay to visit Great River Bluffs State Park?
If you’re just visiting for the day, you can either purchase a seasonal pass for $35 or pay $7 each time you visit. Just so you know, that’s the same cost for every Minnesota State Parl. As for camping, most campsites are between $20 and $25 a night. You can find more specific information on Minnesota State Park fees on their website.
I hope this post has inspired you to make Great River Bluffs State Park your next nature destination. And when you’re there, remember how ancient the land is beneath your feet! Love spending time outside? Then discover the Minnesota Outdoorsto continue learning new ways to reconnect with nature!
Great River Bluffs State Park overlooks the Mississippi River and the main campground has 31 single-family campsites. There are also 4 rustic cart-in sites (tent only) and 5 bike-in sites. Campsites can accommodate tents, trailers and RVs (up to 60 feet).
- 43605 Kipp Drive, Winona, 55987, Minnesota
- greatriverbluffs.statepark@state.mn.us
- (507) 312-2650
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What is the best trail in Great River bluffs State Park?
This is beautiful bluff country! The park contains two Scientific and Natural Areas (SNAs), King's and Queen's Bluff. The King's Bluff trail offers a breathtaking view of the Mississippi River Valley. Bring your binoculars; the river valley is a major flyway for waterfowl, eagles, and hawks.
Great River Bluffs State Park, in the Bluff Country of Southeastern Minnesota, has dramatic shifts in elevation and steep bluffs hovering over the lush Mississippi River valley. For a solo camping trip on Labor Day weekend, I was happy to have driven down the scenic route along the river.
Great River Bluffs State Park. 109 reviews. #4 of 37 things to do in Winona. State ParksGeologic Formations. Write a review. About. Overlooking the Mississippi River, this park offers scenic views. Suggest edits to improve what we show. Improve this listing. All photos (110) Top ways to experience nearby attractions. Red Wing Ghost Walk. 1.
