The State Park Challenge I Didn’t Expect
Free Printable Checklist for The Minnesota Adventurer
At this rate, it will likely take us over a decade to accomplish. That is a lot of time to commit to one goal. If you worked quickly, and were very motivated, you could do it in a year. Although I’d expect a lot of burnout to come from that kind of pace. With one of the oldest state park systems in the country, Minnesota is well known for beautiful nature escapes. How long will it take you to visit all 66 state parks and 8 state recreation areas*?
A couple of years ago I decided to take my time on the drive up to my parent’s cabin. The drive normally takes three hours up I-94 and past Brainerd. Instead of going straight there I planned a couple of stops along the way for kid entertainment. We found a large playground and splash pad in St. Cloud. It was the perfect spot for lunch and energy burn. Then a quick visit to Treasure City in Royalton. Treasure City is a unique gift shop where I picked up a stuffed loon.
The last of these stops was Itasca State Park. It is the first state park in Minnesota, established in 1891, and home of the headwaters of the Mississippi River. My kids, ages 2 & 3 at the time, had a blast swimming at the headwaters. The water is very shallow and you even have a chance to walk on top of the rocks from edge to edge. Then you get to tell people that you walked across the Mississippi River. Of course I forgot the swimsuits in the car, but they didn’t care! They swam and splashed and got soaked until the park closed. I had no idea how much fun this extended road trip was going to be, but it has initiated a tradition of adventures big and small for years to come.
Our goal now is to visit all 66 state parks and 8 state recreation areas. We aren’t in a rush to finish any time soon. It’s about building memories and now, at 4 & 5 years old, these kids are just getting started. As of writing this we have crossed off 10 state parks from our list. That’s the result of two summers worth of road trips and one great camping trip. This summer will include more of these trips, especially with all of their summer camps (and my summer markets) cancelled due to COVID-19.
Visit this DNR page for more information about their COVID-19 restrictions. To see more detailed information specific to MN State Parks visit this page.
Maybe you have the same goal that we do. Maybe you are just getting the bug for state park adventures. Maybe during quarantine you were one of the many who made state parks an escape. Afton State Park alone had over 33,000 visitors in March 2020. That’s up from about 14,000 in 2019 according to this Star Tribune article.
Either way, I have a fantastic free resource below for you to keep on track and stay motivated for the years to come. I’ve designed a checklist which includes all of the current state parks and state recreation areas in Minnesota. This checklist comes in two sizes, one at 8.5x11 for easy at home printing and another at 11x17 to fit all of the information on one page (both sizes are included in one download). Both are great for display in your home. I have printed one for each of my kids so that they can see their own progress through the years.
Minnesota State Parks have so much to offer, and I will be sharing more about some individual areas that we love. Activities are available for most interests, whether you want to go hiking, boating, camping, or just relax in a secluded cabin. Please enjoy the Minnesota State Parks and join my family on a decade long adventure!
*note: the MN State Parks website indicates there are 66 state parks and 9 state recreation areas. I have left the St. Croix Islands State Recreation Area off of this list because it appears to be listed with the National Parks, not the state. If any changes need to made, I will revise and send an updated version.
