With 66 state parks and 9 state recreational areas located within its borders, Minnesota is a haven for those who love to explore nature.
Blessed with a landscape rich in scenic beauty, the state famously contains over 10,000 lakes. In addition, it also features sprawling, verdant forests, jagged bluffs, flowing rivers and gorgeous meadows.
For those who live near Detroit Lakes the opportunities for outdoor adventures are limitless. Ranging from kayaking and canoeing along the largest of the Great Lakes, to hiking or biking along picturesque paved trails, they are a great place to visit in the summer.
While the winter also brings exciting opportunities to climb frozen waterfalls or explore over 22,000 miles of snowmobile trails.
Now that lockdown has finished, if you fancy partaking in some al fresco recreational activities, below is a list of 5 state parks near Detroit Lakes which are great places to do it at.
Map of State Parks Near Detroit Lakes, MN
Here is a map of the state parks in Minnesota covered by this post:
List of State Parks Near Detroit Lakes
All of the five state parks near Detroit Lakes outlined below can be reached within a 2.5 hour drive from the city. So they can easily be visited as a day trip.
If you would like to stay for longer at any of them however, they all offer a range of overnight camping facilities to suit all budgets and preferences too.
1. Maplewood State Park
Distance from Detroit Lakes: about 20 miles south of Detroit Lakes (straight-line).
Maplewood State Park covers 8,127 acres in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
Highlights associated with Maplewood State Park include waterfall scenery, beach access, and lake recreation.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include hiking trails and a visitor center.
See our full Maplewood State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
2. Buffalo River State Park
Distance from Detroit Lakes: about 29 miles west of Detroit Lakes (straight-line).
Buffalo River State Park is a state park of Minnesota, United States, conserving a prairie bisected by the wooded banks of the Buffalo River.
Highlights associated with Buffalo River State Park include lake recreation, river access, and seasonal wildflowers.
See our full Buffalo River State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
3. Glendalough State Park
Distance from Detroit Lakes: about 34 miles south of Detroit Lakes (straight-line).
Location: 25287 Whitetail Ln, Battle Lake, MN 56515
Situated just a 45 minute drive south from Detroit Lakes, the Glendalough State Park offers a true rest from the pace of everyday life.
Named after the Gleann Da Loch in Ireland, which means ‘Valley of Two Lakes’, the park boasts one of the largest undeveloped lakeshore in western Minnesota. Covering some 9.2 miles, it is a haven for canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding and boating.
Fishing on the 335-acre Annie Battle Lake is a popular past time here too, whilst the gentle, rolling patchwork of intertwining wooden countryside and prairies is perfect for hiking, biking and photography.
In the summer, picnicking and swimming is also available around two sandy lakes, while the historic and recently restored Glendalough lodge details the park’s interesting past.
Onsite the park features 22 camping sites, as well as a group camp that can accommodate up to 40 people. It also has 4 cabins as well showers, flush toilets and vault toilets too.
Glendalough State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, in Otter Tail County near Battle Lake close to Minnesota State Highway 78.
Highlights associated with Glendalough State Park include waterfall scenery, beach access, and lake recreation.
See our full Glendalough State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
4. Little Elbow Lake State Park
Distance from Detroit Lakes: about 36 miles south of Detroit Lakes (straight-line).
Location: County Road 16, Everts Township, Minnesota 56515
Little Elbow Lake State Park is a state park in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Established 1989.
Highlights associated with Little Elbow Lake State Park include lake recreation, wooded landscapes, and wetland habitat.
See our full Little Elbow Lake State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
5. Itasca State Park
Distance from Detroit Lakes: about 42 miles northeast of Detroit Lakes (straight-line).
Location: 36750 Main Park Drive, Park Rapids, MN 56470
Official Guide: Itasca State Park — Established in 1891, it is Minnesota’s oldest state park and home to the Mississippi River headwaters.
Highlights associated with Itasca State Park include beach access, lake recreation, and river access.
See our full Itasca State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
