Incorporating a total of 65 designated state parks along with a number of recreational areas, Minnesota is a wonderful place to explore some of Mother Nature’s best work.
Famously possessing over 10,000 lakes, its a mecca for those who love outdoor recreational pursuits like kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing and boating.
It also boasts hundreds of miles of trails through dense woodlands, rugged cliffs, picturesque meadows and scenic rivers, which are perfect for hiking, biking and horseback riding in the summer, and snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in the winter.
For residents of the city of Nisswa, which lies within the Crow Wing County of Minnesota, the state provides plenty of opportunity to explore the great outdoors.
If you fancy making the most of it, outlined below is a selection of 6 state parks near Nisswa which we highly recommend you check out.
Map of State Parks Near Nisswa MN
Here is a map of the Minnesota state parks covered in this post:
List of State Parks Near Nisswa
The 6 state parks near Nisswa showcased below can be reached within a 3.5 hour drive from the city.
This makes them great destinations for a day trip, and as they all have camping facilities, you will be able to stay for a few nights at any of them as well.
1. Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area
Distance from Nisswa: about 15 miles east of Nisswa (straight-line).
Location: Crosby, MN
Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area (CCSRA) is a state park unit of Minnesota, USA, being developed to rehabilitate a portion of the Cuyuna Range where mining pits and piles of waste rock were left behind after decades of open-pit mining for iron ore.
See our full Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
2. Crow Wing State Park
Distance from Nisswa: about 17 miles south of Nisswa (straight-line).
Crow Wing State Park is a state park of Minnesota, United States, at the confluence of the Mississippi and Crow Wing Rivers.
See our full Crow Wing State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
3. Father Hennepin State Park
Distance from Nisswa: about 34 miles southeast of Nisswa (straight-line).
Location: Isle, MN
Father Hennepin State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, located on the southeast corner of Mille Lacs Lake.
See our full Father Hennepin State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
4. Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
Distance from Nisswa: about 38 miles southeast of Nisswa (straight-line).
Location: 15066 Kathio State Park Rd, Onamia, MN 56359
Just an hour’s drive south east of Nisswa you will find the Mille Lacs Kathio State Park.
A stunning National Historic Landmark that boasts over 9,000 years of archaeological and human history, there is plenty to explore here.
One of the main highlights of the park is the 100 foot tall observation and fire tower that showcases magnificent views of the surrounding landscape. There is also a fabulous swimming beach here as well as canoeing, or row boating, down the Rum River, or a couple of picturesque lakes.
Bird lovers will also enjoy the opportunity to spot the likes of bald eagles, osprey, waterfowl, coyotes, beaver, loons and deer. While hikers can check out miles of forested trails.
The campground here has 70 drive in sites which include rustic, semi-modern, electric and walk-in sites, as well as 4 backpack sites, a group camp and horse camp too.
Mille Lacs Kathio State Park covers 9,786 acres in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota. Established 1957.
See our full Mille Lacs Kathio State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
5. Rum River State Forest
Distance from Nisswa: about 54 miles southeast of Nisswa (straight-line).
Location: Kathio Township, Minnesota
Rum River State Forest is a state forest in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, established in 1943. It is not a state park: the Minnesota DNR manages it as a state forest.
See our full Rum River State Forest guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
6. Charles A. Lindbergh State Park
Distance from Nisswa: about 45 miles south of Nisswa (straight-line).
Location: 1615 Lindbergh Dr S, Little Falls, MN 56345
A lot closer to home, just a 50 minute drive south from Nisswa lies the Charles A. Lindbergh State Park.
Situated on the fringes of the town of Little Falls, this 569-acre Minnesota state park once belonged to the famous aviator Charles Lindbergh.
It features a fascinating restored 1906 house, as well as a brace of other buildings, including a museum, that is well worth checking out.
Nestled on the Mississippi River, the park has plenty of lovely picnic spots to enjoy. It also is a popular destination for hiking and skiing through scenic woodlands of grandiose white and red pine, oak and aspen, as well as prairie.
The park is also popular with anglers, while canoeing or kayaking through the Pike Creek is enjoyed by many too.
The campsite here has 38 sites with showers, flush toilets, vault toilets and a dump station. There is also a group camp that can accommodate up to 30 people.
Charles A. Lindbergh State Park covers 417 acres in Morrison County, Minnesota.
See our full Charles A. Lindbergh State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
