Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area

Welcome to Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area located just outside the Twin Cities in Jordan, Minnesota. This park boasts miles of multipurpose trails, 25 campsites, and a picnic area. Come on out and explore.

Park History: The Minnesota Valley was carved out by glacial retreat at the end of the last ice age over 10,000 years ago. In places the valley is five miles wide and 300 feet deep. The Minnesota River was named by the people who fished it's waters and farmed and hunted the surrounding lands, the Dakotas. Many places in the park are named after old Dakota chiefs including Shakopee, Black Dog, and Mazomani. In the early 17th century, European explorers, missionaries, and traders, traveled up the river. In the mid 19th century European settlers had set up farms and homesteads in the region. Once the railroads were built, the steamboats lost a lot of customers and many of the river towns were abandoned. Inside the park's boundaries stands the only remaining structure from the town of St. Lawrence.

Wildlife: This park helps protect habitat for numerous wild critters including raccoons, ducks, minks, beavers, squirrels, rabbits, foxes, deer, and many others. Please treat their home with respect.

To contact the office please call 651-259-5774.