Area state parks are open for visitors during the winter season. While some amenities

are closed during cold months, the natural beauty of the parks is retained year-round. In

some cases, the winter weather can even enhance the enjoyment of the parks.

Flandrau State Park

Photo by Clay Schuldt The hiking trails in Flandrau offer impressive winter scenery. The Old Dam Trail has several scenic lookout points.

Flandrau State Park was originally named Cottonwood River State Park for the river. It was renamed in 1945 to honor pioneer Charles E. Flandreau.

In the 1930s and 1940s, the park was the site of a Work Projects Administration (WPA) camp. Several buildings constructed by the WPA remain in the park.

Flandrau is known for its hiking trails that are open year-round. In the winter, the trails become popular as snowshoe and cross country skiing trails.

Currently, Flandrau’s skiing trails are ungroomed, but the snowshoe and hiking trails remain open through the winter.

The main hiking path through Flandrau is the Old Dam Trail. Users are advised to use the snowshoe trail to access this trail. The wooden stairs on the trail are starting to erode after years of flooding on the Cottonwood.

Photo by Clay Schuldt Griffin Bell climbs the frozen waterfall at Minneopa State Park. This is not the first time Bell has climb the falls. His previous ascent was with a rope. This one is with ice picks.

The trail will take visitors to multiple scenic overlooks of the Cottonwood River and the old dam site.

Fort Ridgely

Fort Ridgely is one of Minnesota’s oldest state parks. The fort played a major role in the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. In 1896, the legislature passed a bill to preserve the grounds as a memorial. In 1911, it became a state park.

Aside from the historical significance, Fort Ridgely park offers over nine miles of hiking trails and over 13 miles of horse trails. In winter, the trails are open for hiking and snowshoeing. A chalet remains open year-round for visitors and is at the start of the walking trails.

In the winter months, Fort Ridgely is an excellent location for snowshoeing. Several group snowshoe walks are hosted each winter.

Photo by Clay Schuldt Carolyn Black and Roger Voelz break out the ski poles for hike through Fort Ridgely. Black and Voelz are regular visitors to the park. Black said she cannot say enough good things about Fort Ridgely. She has introduced many people to the park over the years.

This winter has been unusual in terms of snowfall accumulation. In a normal year, navigating the trails would require snowshoes, but with only a few inches of snow normal hiking shoes will suffice.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Naturalist Scott Kudelka said with minimal snow, snowshoes are more of a hindrance. He recommended only bringing out the snowshoes once the snow gets at least four to five inches deep.

One of the greatest advantages of hiking state park trails in the winter is it becomes easier to see evidence of wildlife.

Animal footprints are easily seen in the snow. Fort Ridgely and other state parks are filled with wildlife that few people would notice. Rabbit and deer tracks are common in the snow, but the snow also confirms the presence of coyotes.

Minneopa

Minneopa was established as a State Park in 1905, making it the third state park in Minnesota. The name “Minneopa” is from the Dakota language and means “water falling twice”. This is a reference to the waterfalls on Minneopa Creek.

The waterfalls in Minneopa attract thousands of visitors every year, but it is during the winter months that visitors can get the closest to the falls.

Minneopa Creek freezes over in the winter months and that includes the waterfalls. The result is an impressive vertical ice formation.

The walking path to frozen falls is open during the winter, though signs warn the steps could be covered in snow and ice. Those willing to brave the 70 steps down to the waterfall base can get an up-close view of the falls.

Recently, area climber Griffin Bell got as close to the falls as possible. Using ice picks and shoe cleats, he scaled the Minneopa ice flow. It was the second time he scaled the frozen falls this year. His first time was with ropes.

Aside from the falls, the Bison drive is open Thursday-Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The bison drive

is closed Wednesday for Maintenance.

Group Hikes

Those interested in exploring the parks with a group are in luck. Through the rest of January, group hikes are scheduled in these state parks.

On Saturday, Jan 15 Naturalist Scott Kudelka will lead a tour of Flandrau State Park starting at the Beach House.

Later in the evening, at 5 p.m. a candlelight hike will be held at Minneopa State Park starting at the group campground.

On Friday, Jan. 21 a hike through Fort Ridgely is scheduled for a 10 a.m. meeting at the chalet parking lot.

A second group hike will be held at 1 p.m. in Minneopa State Park.

Saturday, Jan. 29 a hike through Flandrau will begin at 10 a.m. This hike will include a program on the ecology of beavers. A second hike is scheduled at 1 p.m. in Minneopa.

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