Rice Lake State Park
Trail conditions:
The condition of trails at the park has improved significantly over the past week. Most of the trails have good snow cover, however, areas exposed to sun and wind, are still quite thin. Non-motorized were packed mid-week so there is a fairly good base for hiking or skiing. The snowmobile trails in the park, as well as those in the surrounding area, are still very marginal. No grooming has been done because of the thin snow cover in the open areas. We invite you to join us on Leap Day, February 29th, 6-9 p.m. for a hike, ski or snowshoe (conditions permitting) and refreshments around the bonfire or in the nature store. The picnic area and campground roads have been closed for the season - they are both used as trail connections for the winter season. Parking is available at the boat launch.
| Skiing |
|---|
| Trail conditions: good |
| Trail groomed? no |
| Trail base: 2-4" |
| Trail mileage: 0.0 |
| Difficulty: beginner (track) |
| Snowmobiling |
|---|
| Trail conditions: fair |
| Trail groomed? no |
| Trail base: 2-4" |
| Trail mileage: 3.0 |
The trail(s):
Trails are a mixture of forest, lake shore and grasslands. A variety of wildlife may be observed throughout the park.
You can snowshoe anywhere in Minnesota's state parks and recreation areas, except on trails that are specifically groomed for another activity, such as skiing or snowmobiling. ** Park snowmobile trails are connected to the Steele County Grant-In-Aid trail system, and are groomed by Steele County Trail Association. ** All other trails are multi-use, ungroomed trails, and are open to cross country skiing, hiking, and snowshoeing. There are approximately 3 miles of multi-use trails.
Facilities:
- A warming house is located in the boat launch area.
- Ski passes are not required because the trails are not groomed for cross country skiing.
- There is no winter camping at Rice Lake. Campgrounds are closed for the season and will reopen in the spring.
Last updated on January 23, 2020. Local snow depth is 11".
Getting there
8485 Rose St.
Owatonna, MN 55060
From Interstate 35, take exit 42A onto Hoffman Drive. At 4th stoplight, turn left onto Rose St. Follow Rose St. approximately 8.5 miles to park entrance.
Parking is available in the boat launch area.
Contact
Phone: (507) 414-6191
Email: [email protected]
Contact station hours vary. Please phone park office.