Famously containing more than 10,000 lakes, the Midwestern state of Minnesota is a haven for those who love water based recreational activities.
Boasting no less than 75 state parks (as well as 6 national parks), it offers plenty of opportunities for fishing, swimming, boating, kayaking, paddle boarding and camping.
They also offer a spectacular landscape of dense forests, meadows with pretty wildflowers, rolling hills and rocky outcrops too. Which can be explored through endless miles of rugged hiking trails.
For residents of the city of Winona, these state park provide an excellent escape from the pressures of daily life.
Most are within easy driving distance as well, that can be completed in a day. Though they also have campground facilities for those who want to stay a bit longer.
Outlined below is a selection of some of the more notable of them.
Map of State Parks Near Winona MN
Here is a map of the Minnesota state parks covered in this post:
List of State Parks Near Winona
Spread throughout the state, these 8 fabulous state parks near Winona are all fantastic places to visit. If you are looking to reconnect with nature, we highly recommend a visit to all of them.
1. Garvin Heights State Park
Distance from Winona: about 2 miles southwest of Winona (straight-line).
Location: 1399 Summit Drive, Winona, Minnesota 55987
Garvin Heights State Park is a state park in Winona County, Minnesota. Established 1961.
Highlights associated with Garvin Heights State Park include lake recreation, river access, and wooded landscapes.
See our full Garvin Heights State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
2. Perrot State Park
Distance from Winona: about 9 miles east of Winona (straight-line).
Location: Trempealeau, Wisconsin
Perrot State Park is a state park in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area at the confluence of the Trempealeau and Mississippi rivers.
Highlights associated with Perrot State Park include beach access, lake recreation, and river access.
See our full Perrot State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
3. Merrick State Park
Distance from Winona: about 9 miles northwest of Winona (straight-line).
Location: S2965 WI-35, Fountain City, WI 54629
Merrick State Park is a 322-acre (130 ha) Wisconsin state park on the Mississippi River north of Fountain City.
Highlights associated with Merrick State Park include beach access, river access, and island scenery.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include a campground and hiking trails.
See our full Merrick State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
4. John A. Latsch State Park
Distance from Winona: about 12 miles northwest of Winona (straight-line).
Location: Mount Vernon Township, Minnesota
John A. Latsch State Park covers 1,654 acres in Winona County, Minnesota. Established 1925.
Highlights associated with John A. Latsch 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 John A. Latsch State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
5. Great River Bluffs State Park
Distance from Winona: about 14 miles southeast of Winona (straight-line).
Location: Winona, Minnesota
Great River Bluffs State Park is a state park of Minnesota, United States, on the Mississippi River southeast of Winona.
Highlights associated with Great River Bluffs State Park include waterfall scenery, lake recreation, and river access.
See our full Great River Bluffs State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
6. Whitewater State Park
Distance from Winona: about 20 miles west of Winona (straight-line).
Location: 19041 MN-74, Altura, MN 55910
Having recently celebrated its 100th anniversary the Whitewater State Park is one of the closest state parks to Winona.
Located just a 30 minute drive from the city, in the southeastern blufflands, the 2,700 acre park features a stunning landscape of rocky limestone bluffs and deep ravines that surround the stunning Whitewater River.
Known for its six fabulous overlooks, as well as its terrific opportunities for trout fishing, one of the big attractions of this park is the virtual lack of mosquitoes!
The park also features 10 miles of hiking trails, which are great for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter, as well as a beach which is open from the beginning of May all through to Labor Day. The lake affords all the most popular water based recreational activities too.
The campsite here has 110 drive-in sites that are nestled in a variety of landscape areas which range from open grassland, to secluded woodland.
Whitewater State Park is a state park of Minnesota, United States, preserving a stretch of the Whitewater River surrounded by rocky bluffs.
Highlights associated with Whitewater State Park include river access, wooded landscapes, and seasonal wildflowers.
See our full Whitewater State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
7. Beaver Creek Valley State Park
Distance from Winona: about 28 miles south of Winona (straight-line).
Beaver Creek Valley State Park is a state park of Minnesota, United States, featuring a steep, narrow valley carved by East Beaver Creek.
Highlights associated with Beaver Creek Valley State Park include waterfall scenery, beach access, and lake recreation.
See our full Beaver Creek Valley State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
8. Forestville / Mystery Cave State Park
Distance from Winona: about 41 miles southwest of Winona (straight-line).
Location: Preston, Minnesota
Forestville Mystery Cave State Park is a state park in Minnesota.
Highlights associated with Forestville / Mystery Cave State Park include waterfall scenery, beach access, and lake recreation.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include a campground, hiking trails, picnic areas, and a visitor center.
See our full Forestville / Mystery Cave State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
