Check Out Minnesota's State Parks

Being outside in nature can help improve your mood / reduce stress and improve productivity, according to research. Take advantage of Minnesota’s extensive state park and trail system to get outdoors.

We are lucky to have a great park system here in Minnesota compared to many places. Minnesota’s 65 state parks are all over the state and include lots of different recreational facilities and buildings:

  • 9 recreation areas

  • 9 waysides

  • 4,440 campsites

  • 207 horse camp sites

  • 104 group camps

  • 105 water access campsites

  • 644 archaeological and historic cemetery sites

  • 306 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places

In addition to appreciating our parks, trails, forests and management areas, I am also impressed with the DNR’s push to incorporate sustainability into its operations, inlcuding its Energy Smart program. The DNR has installed wind and solar power and implemented many practices to conserve fuel and energy. The combination of saving money and reducing pollution is yet another way the DNR is a good steward of our state’s resources.

If you want to know more about the benefits of being in nature, see the Outside magazine article: “The Nature Cure.”

Barbara Jean Conti