Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park
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Enjoy this park on foot, any season of the year. In the spring, the park is a wildflower garden where hepatica, bloodroot, Dutchman's breeches, and the dwarf trout lily bloom. The dwarf trout lily is only found here. Relax by Hidden Falls in the summer. The autumn brings a burst of red, orange, and gold in the maple-basswood forest, one of the last extensive stands of the "Big Woods." When winter comes, ski or snowmobile the trails through picturesque woods.
Tell me more about this park's wildlife, history, geology and landscape.
Visitor Alert!CampingFirst-come first-served camping is available. Reservations can be made for favorite sites especially for weekends and holidays. SceneryHikers: All trails are in good condition and are open for hiking. Recent rains keep Prairie Creek flowing nicely with a good showing at Hidden Falls. Wildflowers: As of May 20, Wild Ginger, Purple Violets, Lousewort, Kidney-leaf Buttercup, Phlox, Buttercup, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Canada anemone, Wood Anemone, Golden Alexander, wild geranium, phlox wildflowers, Virginia Waterleaf, Woodland sedges, cow parsnip and columbine are blooming. Check here for updates, or call for current conditions. Loaner Kits AvailableBird identification kits are great for seeing birds. Check at the office for details. |
Park Notes
Gift Cards:Purchase a Minnesota State Parks Gift Card. Firewood Restrictions Information:Firewood is available for sale at $4.00 per bundle. Minnesota has enacted legislation that restricts firewood being brought to or used on DNR lands. Learn more and review vendor lists. Hiking:All trails are open to hiking. All trails are open, south trails are wet after rain. Squirrels and chipmunks are active and noisy in the leaves and treetops, turkeys are displaying. Yellow Swallowtail, Luna moth, Mourning Cloak, Compton's Tortise Shell, Red Admiral and Bluet butterflies are out along the trails. Come out to observe the Big Woods. Birders:Bird Checklist Birding is great! Feeding stations bring out the birds. Best viewing in the morning. Red-headed woodpeckers, catbitds and Rose-breasted grosbeak are at the feeders. Watch for the occasional pileated woodpecker that visits when traffic is low. Overnight listen for barred owls calling. Cardinals,goldfinches, chickadees, white-breasted nuthatches and woodpeckers can all be seen at the bird feeders these days. Also seen: Chipping Sparrows, American Kestrel, mourning doves, red-winged blackbirds, robins, bluebirds, pheobe, eastern meadwolarks and house finches. |
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"Big Woods" LandscapeEvents |  | |||
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Hours
Best time to contact the park:
Spring: Saturday - Sunday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Monday - Friday, variable depending on staff availability. If no one is available, please leave a message.
When office is closed, please use the self-registration station at the front of the office to purchase daily and annual permits, and to register for camping. Annual permits purchased through self-registration will be mailed to you...............................
Contact
9700 170th Street East
Nerstrand, MN 55053
tel: 507-333-4840
email: nerstrand.statepark@state.mn.us
Getting There
Take I-35 to State Highway 19 east into Northfield. Go south on State Highway 3, east on State Highway 246, then turn right onto County Road 29.