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Hike Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park

Nerstrand, Minnesota

3.3/5
based on 7 reviews

Details

Distance

11 miles

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Robin Pfeifer

Hike through remnant Big Woods taking in a variety of over 50 types of wildflowers and a limestone waterfall 1/2 mile from trailhead.

Curious about what Minnesota looked like in pre-settlement times?

Then spend the day hiking through Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park, a botanical reserve for the temperate hardwood forest that once covered much of central Minnesota. Located 45 miles south of Minneapolis, the park offers the opportunity to hike along 11 miles of trails running through one of the last remnants of Big Woods vegetation left in the state.

For an easy 5-mile loop that highlights some of the park’s best features, start at the visitor center located near the main entrance along County Highway 29. Purchase a vehicle pass ($5 daily, $25 annual) and park in the main lot. Cut through the picnic area and pick up the Hidden Falls Trail. Walk a half-mile north to the trail’s namesake attraction. Hidden Falls gives you a rare glimpse of the Platteville Limestone that forms the foundation of the park. Elsewhere, it’s covered by a thick layer of glacier drift.

Leave the crowd at the falls and follow the Fawn Trail, which loops through 1.5 miles of Big Woods. You’ll see over 50 varieties of wildflowers in the spring, including a remnant population of the Dwarf Trout Lily, an endangered plant found only in the park. Head southwest on Beaver Trail for 1 mile until you reach the Oak Bridge. Cross the bridge and trudge up the fairly sizable hill which leads directly into the smaller of the park’s two campgrounds. There are 4 beautiful walk-in sites, 3 spacious group sites and 2 convenient pit toilets. Wave to the friendly campers and continue east on White Oak Trail to return to your car at the park’s main entrance. It will take roughly two hours to complete this route, depending on how often you stop to admire the scenery and how many new friends you make passing through the campground.

The main campground, located on the park’s eastern side near Hidden Falls, has 51 drive-in sites, some with electrical hook-ups. For additional information regarding camping and reservations, check out the park's website.

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Features

Camping
Photography
Running
Hiking
Bathrooms
Dog Friendly
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Forest
Picnic Area
Scenic
Waterfall
Wildflowers

Hike Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park Reviews

We took the dog here for a bit of a walk on a day trip. Easy little hike to the falls on a well maintained & posted trail. The falls themselves were pretty. The chance to play in the lazy water below them on a hot day was nice & our dog loved it.

I LOVED this waterfall. There is sand under the waterfall so you can walk in it freely without having to worry about rough rocks. Lots of dogs and good people. Hike was really quick, too!

Went with a friend and this was a nice little hike. Not very grueling. Most of it was on a boardwalk. The falls were pretty to look at but not super exciting. If you're looking for a quick easy day hike this is a good one, if you're looking for a little more of a challenge, bypass this one.

Beautiful scenery but muddy trails. If you're looking for a nice leisurely hike through the woods this is the right place! My boyfriend and I hiked about 6 miles in 2 hours. Would recommend this for anyone looking for a beginner level hike with some uphill climbs. We did the suggested 5 mile loop and added in Hope Trail, connected later with Basswood Trail and then took Fox Trail back to the visitors center.

I took my dog on the suggested 5 mile loop on a beautiful, winter day in February. Hidden Falls was completely frozen over but still cool to see. The trails were quiet and I enjoyed the serenity of the walk through the woods. I can only imagine how beautiful the trails are in the summer when there are leaves and flowers. The majority of the trail overlooks the water.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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