One of the closest state parks to the Twin Cities, William O’Brien State Park in Marine of St. Croix is a perfect day trip from Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN. Hike under 100-year-old pine trees, next to the St. Croix River and wetlands, through prairies, oak savanna, and hardwood forests. Other highlights include a huge beaver lodge and a small lake with a sandy beach and fishing pier.
A local’s guide to the fourth-oldest state park in rural Minnesota: Fort Ridgley State Park. The top things to do at this former military fort on the frontier include hiking and horse trails, trout fishing, camping, and more.
Fort Snelling State Park in St. Paul offers easy, scenic hiking trails, and is located within the Twin Cities, MN metro area. Here you can hike to the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers. And it’s one of the best state parks for history buffs – with the area dating back 10,000 years.
