Lake Maria State Park

Welcome to Lake Maria State Park, one of the few remaining stands of southern Minnesota's basswood, maple, and oak forest located near Monticello.

Park History: Lake Maria State Park is located in the heart of the St. Croix Moraine which was formed by glacial activity as far back as one million years ago and as recently as ten thousand years ago. The glacial activity helped to form the region's clay and sandy soils. The park's forest, commonly known as "The Big Woods" once covered over 3,000 square miles in southern Minnesota. In some places, the canopy was so thick that sunlight failed to reach the forest floor.

The French explorers called this place "Bois Grand" or "Bois Fort." Over time, industry, agriculture, and human settlement reduced the forest down to size. Lake Maria State Park helps protect one of the last remaining tracts.

Wildlife: Lake Maria State Park protects the habitat of numerous wild critters including bats, moles, rabbits, squirrels, gophers, mice, beavers, foxes, deer, hawks, owls, ospreys, herons, and many others. Please treat their home with respect.

For the lover of the outdoors this park boasts many miles of multipurpose trails, several picnic shelters, three cabins, and seventeen campsites. Come on out and explore!

To contact the office please call 763-878-2325.

This was RecPlanet place of the day on January 3, 2016.