Escape The City Life Of Minneapolis At This Nearby Secluded Lake State Park To Camp And Hike

The land of 10,000 lakes, Minnesota is also the land of state parks — 64, to be exact (plus nine recreation areas). These state parks cover around 235,000 acres (95,100 ha) of wild land, all just within the North Star State. That doesn't even include national parks or other federally protected areas! Of course, many of these parks include a lake or two, such as the lovely, calm waters found at Lake Maria State Park. 

Created in 1963 to provide wilderness near the large metropolitan area of Minneapolis-St. Paul,' Lake Maria State Park is home to two main lakes — Maria Lake and Little Mary Lake — as well as various ponds. It also holds one of the last remaining sections of Minnesota's 'Big Woods,' a type of forest that once covered much of Minnesota, consisting primarily of red oak, maple, elm, and basswood trees. All of this (plus miles of trails, rare wildlife sightings, and plenty of outdoor activities) make it one of the most accessible — in addition to one of the most stunning — U.S. state parks.

Just an hour northwest of the Twin Cities near the town of Monticello, Lake Maria State Park is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the wilderness of the Midwest. It's easy to visit on a day trip or a weekend getaway. If you're hoping to stay overnight at the park, the campsites and cabins are only accessible by foot (or, for the cabins, skiing and snowshoeing during the winter). However, all of them are within 1 mile of the main parking lot.

When you first arrive, head to the small interpretive center for maps, restrooms, and some educational materials, then hit the trail, the dock, or a picnic table. There's a boat ramp at Little Mary Lake (note: there's a 20 horsepower limit for motorboats), plus docks on both Little Mary Lake and Maria Lake for scenic views and fishing. Nature lovers also enjoy meandering along the wooden boardwalk of the Zumbrunnen Interpretive Trail, which winds through a marsh. Keep an eye out for the endangered, yellow-spotted Blandings turtle, which lives in the park, as well as deer, blue herons, trumpeter swans, and many other bird species. The park has many more trails, including the three-mile Anderson Hill Loop, which provides panoramic views of the lakes and the Big Woods.

Minnesota is famous (or infamous, depending on your point of view) for its long, cold winters. According to locals, the key to surviving the wintertime (along with proper clothing and gear) is participating in one of Minnesota's many winter outdoor activities. Lake Maria State Park is especially ideal for this, and it has miles of cross-country skiing trails, several cozy cabins you can access via skis or snowshoes, an ice skating rink, a sledding hill, and frozen lakes for ice fishing. 

There's plenty to do at Lake Maria State Park outside of winter. Canoeing or kayaking is popular when the lakes are thawed, especially in the warm summer months or in the fall,  when the colors of the trees are reflected beautifully in the waters. Autumn is also a popular time for horseback riders, hikers, and occasionally hunters, as the park has an occasional managed deer hunt for licensed hunters only! Finally, the Big Woods explodes with color during the spring when wildflowers bloom, and anglers come year-round to fish for bass, yellow perch, bullhead, and northern pike.