Top 10 Things to do in a Minnesota State Park this Winter

Winter can get long in Minnesota, especially about the time that February rolls along, but forget your winter blues. Get out and make it fun all season long. You never know, it may cause winter to end all too quickly. These top 9 things to do in a Minnesota State Park this winter will keep you moving, motivated and enjoying the great outdoors, even on the worst of days!

1. Hike.

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Winter is beautiful and taking the time to explore it on foot is always a great adventure. Whether you’re going to hike for miles or just a short walk on a paved path expect it to be amazing and keep your eyes out for wildlife!

2. Go birding.

Eagles and hawks are especially entertaining to watch in the winter. Find an open area of water and sit up to watch the birds come to fish during the early hours of dawn. It’s quite an experience.

3. Camp in a camper cabin.

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Grab a heated camper cabin and wake up to fresh snow on the ground that you can enjoy while gathering around a campfire!

4. Go sledding

According to the Marshall Independent Fort Ridgely State Park has one of the best sledding hills in the state on Minnesota.

5. Ski.

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Most state parks have groomed paths for cross country skiing. They are kept up all winter long and you can check out skiing conditions on the front page of each state park’s website. Just make sure you purchase a skiing permit before you head out!

6. Snowshoe.

Snowshoeing is just like hiking, except so much easier to do over the snow. Once you start snowshoeing you’ll never want to explore any other way.

7. Enjoy a hot fire.

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Campfires and hot wood stoves. Enjoy sitting in front of a roaring fire in one of the “lodges” on the trail head at numerous state parks while your face thaws out.

8. Walk on water.

Lakes, rivers and waterfalls all freeze over in Minnesota and become amazing places to explore. Get up close and personal with spots that are normally completely inaccessible.

9. Ice Fish.

Check out the regulations for fishing in Minnesota, grab a fishing license, drill a hole, drop a line and bring dinner home tonight!

Note: A Minnesota resident may fish in a state park without a fishing license when: the body of water does not require a trout stamp.

10. Have a snowball fight.

It’s been years since I’ve had a good snowball fight. Visiting a Minnesota state park is all abut getting out into nature, so why not have some fun with it and throw a few wet and cold balls at each other.

Top 10 Things to do in a Minnesota State Park this Winter