Reviews of Nerstrand Big Woods State Park. (Sports Complex) in Minneapolis (Minnesota).

Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

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393 Comments

Sports Complex

State park

9700 170th St E, Nerstrand, MN 55053, United States

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Information of Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, Sports Complex in Minneapolis (Minnesota)

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Reviews of Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

Allyson Westfield

Did the hike to Hidden Falls. It was downhill either way which in turn meant uphill on the way back. You can go straight on the path instead of turning through the campground. That is just to make it a loop. If you go through the campground it is downhill on dirt and some rocks and if you take the dirt path straight down you will hit a boardwalk with steps for part of the downhill. It was not too steep and there were educational posts you could stop and read. There were some maps along the trail as well in case you wanted to hop on another trail. Good signage and easy to follow

Terina Carter

Great campground. Lots of trees even though the campsites are close to each other. No camp store. Nature center was only open Friday-Sunday but it was end of the season. Firewood is $6 for a nice bundle and honor system for paying. Playground was nice and an easy walk from campsites. Not a big park but quiet and close to Northfield.

Brandon Finster

A beautiful hidden gem here in Minnesota. We took the kids here for a hike and the trails are well kept and visually appealing. 😌 The water was a bit low but still a marvelous feat by nature. One of my favorite local places to visit. …

Chelsea Kaminski

We did the hike to the hidden falls. Very cute park altogether. We loved the play equipment so cute and creative! The walk to the waterfall wasn't terrible and it was beautiful!

Michele Pappagallo

Pretty State Park with nice level private sites. We were in Site 44 which is right across the road from a very modern, clean restroom and bathhouse. Shower was very handicap friendly. Abundant big trees and foliage surrounded our campsite. Our site was advertised as electric only, but when we arrived, we realized it had a water connection also which was a nice bonus. Would definitely camp here again.

Peggy Johnson

Trails are nicely maintained. The waterfall and creek is crystal clear and very shallow. Lots of different routes you can take and loop back around. Bathrooms were clean and park was nice. Will visit again!

Lou Lou

Beautiful and plenty of trails! There are multiple loops to take so it's a great park if you are wanting options for length of hike. Also, nice birding - Saw a red tailed hawk among other birds 👍 …

Kim Burke

Nerstrand Big Woods park has something for everyone! Great playground, the camping looks very nice (with a nice big screen to take in movies under the stars!), lots of grills and picnic tables, hiking trails for all activity levels, snowshoeing and snowmobiling in the winter. The park is dog friendly. We were there for the hiking and the paths were great. Well maintained and signage was great. Most of the trails are in the c woods so bring bug spray. The foliage was very lovely and even saw some wildlife!

Steven Mosborg

Hard to beat Nerstrand Big Woods State Park in any season. A wonderful southern Minnesota state park with great staff, campground, picnic area, interpretive hiking trails and a visitor center. Hidden Falls is not to be missed. A cozy MN treasure. Check it out!

PK Lee

Beautiful park with lots of trails. Easy trials, perfect for little ones. Hike to the hidden falls super nicely shaded. Too bad there wasn’t that much water during this time, the fall was small but still worth the hike. It’s not too far from the parking lot. Restrooms were closed but they had easily accessible portable potty’s.

Aakriti’s fun studio !!

This place is a hidden gem for a quick weekend getaway ! The drive to this falls is very pleasant n beautiful surrounded by corn fields for about 2 miles. It’s a short hike to falls just about 10 mins . Definitely makes a relaxing spot for a family picnic !

Chang-Tsan Lu

The hiking trails in this state park are the best! The trails are very well maintained and are shaded by trees all the way! They are also mostly flat such that even little kids can easily hike on them. This offers a very relaxing environment for a family day trip. The water of the Hidden Falls was regrettably dry which I believe was due to the statewide drought. Hopefully we will be able to see the waterfalls in the normal condition again soon. ☺ The park has two downsides for which I am not giving 5 stars: 1. Although the trails are easy to hike, they are not strollers/wheelchairs friendly. 2. The parking lot here is relatively small (approximately for 100 vehicles or less than that). So you may need to come in earlier if a higher number of visitors is expected.

Wyatt W. Penke

Park has a real nice campground, and fun hiking trails in good shape. The big woods are cool as well. Picnic area with playground is better than average. The waterfall was a little underwhelming, I guess overhyped. Visitor center was closed as usuall in MN and not much else for park amenities.

Jason Munson

Very nice park with a very easy walk. We didn't do the full trail, but the parts we did we pretty easy. One slope down and one hill back up but not bad. Most of it was pretty level. 2021 is a drought year so the waterfall was a trickle but was still nice.

brooke noll

This place is super cool! This was our first time trying it out & we were very impressed. There was a ravine behind our campsite that the kids (& grownups too) loved to explore and at dusk, the WHOLE area lit up with hundreds & hundreds of fireflies! It was truly magical! The campsite itself was private & roomy with a more than ample tent pad (probably enough space for 4- 2 person tents (on pea rock)) The falls were gorgeous & overall kid friendly (shallow water to wade in prior to, as well as behind the falls), but were a little crowded mid- day. We went in the early morning however & had them all to ourselves. Very clean bathrooms with modern amenities (hot water & showers) & any staff/ rangers we encountered were very helpful & friendly. There were also plenty of hiking trails to choose from. We did the hidden falls trail from our campground & it was only about a 10-15 minute walk (the shorter path is a bit steep though, but still manageable). Beaver trail was wooded & lovely, & although there were some persistent gnats, the forest scenery was absolutely breathtaking & totally worth that minor annoyance! We will be back!

David Kloss

Mid week ! The non electric sites are great! Spaced out. Can’t see your neighbors! Had our pick of the sites. Great bath house and showers. Great hiking trails with a “hidden “ water falls. Great hikes fir kids.

Katrina T

It's a gorgeous day out today. It's definitely worth the beautiful drive to get there. One of my favorite parks and trails. And in warmer weather, we do enjoy the waterfall!

S M

Camped here. Small and quiet. Really nice clean bathrooms. Our site had a big log for a bench by the campfire. Campsite were close to a path that takes you out to the "waterfall" and hiking paths.

Ishara Waduge

It's beautiful. The hidden fall area can be quite crowdy. The hikes are not stroller friendly mostly but can be a good work out with the inclines. Not much bugs.

-Jason-

Beautiful scenery and an easy walk for my kids to handle. The waterfall was gorgeous but a little dry due to our current drought. Lots of wildlife and a perfect spot to get outdoors. I will definitely be back to do more exploring.

Chris Matz

We walked the Hiking Club trail on Labor Day weekend. The trail up to Hidden Falls, and the falls itself, was pretty busy. The rest of the trail was not. It was a nice walk, with enough elevation gain to tire us out. The Falls was very low, but very picturesque. Hopefully we can visit again when it's higher.

M. S.

Wonderful fall colors and easy hiking trails with a central 2.3 mile loop being the primary route. Hidden Falls is just a short walk from the picnic area. It's not as impressive in the fall when the water levels are low, but it's easy to imagine that spring runoff will make these falls even more dramatic. The parking lot is small, so do show up early. Self-pay is available for a permit ($7/day or $35/yr) and port-a-potties are available behind the check in station. Very welcoming to dogs on leash.

Esmeralda Ramos

My fiance and I came here to do some hiking and we had a fabulous time. There was many hiking trails and some were harder than others so it's a very versatile place! We walked for hours and it was such a beautiful place. If you love the outdoors and a beautiful place to hike we definitely recommend Nerstrand.

Dick Johnson

Very nice super clean campground. All sites have tables and wood cooking pits. Bathrooms and showers kept up daily. Would definately recommend Big Woods State Park for camping

Amber Cook

I love this Park. The waterfall is beautiful and so are the trails! There is something about being in nature that refreshes the soul.

Morgan Lunders

Had such a great time here. It’s beautiful, the trails are clear. There’s no trash to be seen. There’s a playground that is unique and fun. Can’t wait to come back.

sarah em

Camped here during 4th of July weekend. Thing that stand out the most: Has private showers in the campground! It was fun exploring different trails everyday! Dogs like to run around the river after a long walk! Lots of bugs tho..

Haley N

One of my favorite places to hike in Minnesota, especially in the fall. The woods are so serene. Love this place!

Bruce Meyer

What a nice little park. Spent 3 great nights there this week. Campground and trails were well maintained and clean. The scenery was fantastic this week.

Ryan Rampersad

Nerstrand is a lovely park for fall colors viewing. There's also the "hidden falls" waterfall. 2021 water levels are low so it's running at low volume right now.

Joy R

Nice trails with a couple of areas of steeper but doable hikes.

Isaiah54117

Nice bathrooms and showers. The lots were too small and too close together. No fault of the park but there was also no water going over the falls. It was an all around disappointing trip for us.

Jenn Bigelow

It was drier when we went but still enjoyed our hike and walking up the creek! Loved that we could do longer loops around if we wanted to hike more :)

Lindsay S

We have been going to a different state park every other weekend this year and this is one we will come back to. It was amazing. The park was clean and well spaced for our needs! The walk to the falls was great and we had fun exploring! Our kids had a blast. And it rained a lot of the time we were here and we still loved it and will come back!!!

Anthony Fuller

Great park with maintained trails and good scenery. You will loose phone signal. Haven't camped it yet though.

Kendall Oakason

This is a nice, well kept park. The walking paths are in good shape and some really good picnic areas. The waterfall has very little water moving right now but that might be due to lack of raine. The kids play area is also really good, they used branches and logs to create the play area.

Frank Fang

Pleasant walk in the woods. The hiking trails are well marked and tended. Hidden Falls is cool but gnat laden in mid September and there's not much water, especially this year (2021). The campground is ok. Many of the sites are pretty open with not a lot of privacy I normally look for in state park dnr campgrounds. My site (5e) was by the one way road and completely open to it. My fire pit was right by the road. The back of the campsite was also open to the back of other sites with no brush or trees between them. The folks in the park office are nice and helpful.

Dillon Schaeffer

What a beautiful hike this was. I loved this park. I've done over 50 trails now, this hits my top list. Amazing scenery. My pictures were outstanding even with a low grade camera. I had a great time. Would be a great place to camp.

Torie Holden

Hiking trails are well maintained, shower house was very nice and clean. VERY family friendly and not a lot of privacy when you're backed up to another lot. Park Rangers were very nice and helpful in resolving a reservation glitch that caused our site to be double booked.

Loulou Vang (Yuki)

Beautiful, sadly didn't get to go swim due to many bacteria in the water.

Paul Johnson

Great Hiking with lots of trails. The main loop was just long enough to be a good hike with small kids in tow. And as usual with Minnesota Parks, super clean and well maintained. Only reason for 4 stars was no paper park maps available here. Seems nitpicky I know but having to have your cell phone out constantly to see the map really kills the mood. Hoping they consider handing out maybe one per group from the park office in the future.

Molly M

Beautiful park with wonderful campsites. The bathrooms were very clean! All the trails where clear and easy to access, we had such a good time!

Deborah Russell

So many fun things to do and visit with kids! The falls are such a cool place to cool off in the summertime and we love playing on the natural playground area!

Tiffany Rupp

This place was awesome! My 6 yr old and 3 yr old had so much fun. We got muddy but it was still great. The waterfall is beautiful. They enjoyed the hike on the Beaver trail. 2020 $7 day or $35 for year. Well worth it to keep the park in good shape. You can pay ahead of time online. Just be sure to do so before coming as there is no connectivity.

Anu Drolia

Beautiful trail with a beautiful fall. Has good elevation changes and mostly thru the woods. Very peaceful and probably not great if it’s raining.

April H

This is a nice state park there is a small playground here and the walk to hidden falls is not too far in. There are endangered wild l lilies in the area so its important to stay on the path. As of May 5th 2021 the bathrooms are locked but there are port- a - pottys available.

Dustin Ranem

Lots of options for fun trails to hike, really nice quality trails also. The kids always love natural playgrounds so that was a great way to start our hike!

Jeri Rasmussen

Beautiful and spacious park. We hiked over 9 miles and barely ran into anyone the entire time, except for at the waterfall for obvious reasons. It's nice and shady so it doesn't get too hot along the way. Would definitely recommend this for people of all ages! Mushroom hunting was my favourite!

Arun Batchu

A nice getaway from the madding cities. We took the longer loop that went through walkable pathways that crossed streams and and a small waterfall. The waterfall turned out to be a great stop for the family. It was easy to maintain social distancing. We continued on the Beaver trail after that, saw some unique birds along the way, joining their chirps with our own chatter and laughter. We spent a couple of hours doing all this and returned to the Twin cities within an hour ride that helped us savor in the joys of the state park. Remember that you need a pass ( we have an yearly pass) for the day. I carried my drone, hoping I would get a clearing where I can fly it without disturbing the quiet...the waterfall turned out to be perfect.

Dorian Warner

What a beautiful park. My wife and I were only able to hike a small section due to the time of year and the snow on the ground. What we did see was great. Our favorite part was the waterfall. My wife and I have been to many of Minnesota’s waterfall’s and must say that although this is not the largest waterfall it is very picturesque. We will definitely be returning in the summer and maybe put our toes in.

Becca Dabe

Love this place! The trail down to the falls was closed so we had to walk through the camp to get to the trail- totally missed the trail the first time around. This place is amazing for you can walk in the water at the top of the falls and also at the bottom. Was not prepared for the extremely steep hill down or the hike back up though. Lots of loose rocks to trip over on way down. Beautiful.

caitlin blanton

Such a great park! I was here in the Spring, so many of the southern trails were closed due to flooding, but the northern trails were fabulous. It's a short walk from the parking/camping area to the waterfall, then on to the other trails. I like the variety of choices you can make. The hiking club trail is 2.3 miles long, but there are 2 more loops that you can extend your hike with. It was very muddy, but in the Spring that is to be expected. I highly recommend this park!

Celeste Fisher-Dale

Beautiful park for any occasion. Miles of scenic, maintained walking trails, an abundance of plant and wildlife, and gorgeous walk-in sites that offer privacy from neighboring campers. Be sure to check out Hidden Falls, it is gorgeous, even when water levels are low. There's a neat rustic playground built primarily out of tree stumps for the kids to bounce around and a picnic area for family gatherings.

Grace Gilbert

We visited on May 13-14th, perfect timing, in my opinion. This is a very family friendly place to stay. The campsites are large and the tent pads are framed in. There is a picnic table and fire pit at each site (we stayed at one that was electric hookup). bathrooms and showers are clean. While there we walked all the trails except one (not enough time) and they were muddy at the time because there was a big storm the two days before but the trees had been cleared from the paths. The falls were clear and so beautiful. Great, clean place to play if you're bringing kids along.

Nick Rau

Amazing place! The hidden falls were wonderful, perfect for our kids to run around all day. We brought no toys and they didn't get bored. There's playgrounds right up front, and the walk to the falls is like 0.4 miles. Totally doable even with our 2-year old. Don't bring a stroller, too many stairs to be worth it!

Virginia VanKeulen

A pretty state park in the woods. Limited parking. Pretty waterfall, nice playground and decent wide paths that were somewhat muddy in early spring. Lots of people there for a Friday morning.

Sadat

Trails are well marked and easy to follow. Difficulty level is 1/5. Picnic area could be better but overall was relaxing atmosphere at the park. Didn’t see any trash bins in park

Sheryl D

Nice park! I took the hike to the falls and then on to Beaver Trail and then cut off on Fawn Trail. Hidden Falls was quiet and not a lot of water so you could basically walk up and touch. The walk to Fawn Trail was a little strenuous but nice, you could hear the birds talking to each other and just enjoy the quiet. Bugs were a little bad but nothing a little extra bug spray couldn't handle. Definitely worth the trip from the twin cities.

Jennifer Littlejohn

Trails are well-marked and maintained. The trails we hiked were hilly in places, but not too rigorous. The waterfall was definitely the highlight.

Elaine Fiegel

My kids loved the hidden falls. Smooth easy hike to get there is a plus. Plenty of space for people to roam around. Will definitely be visiting again soon.

Sarah Carsello

Easy access to the waterfalls! You can walk across the top and bottom of the falls. Best time of year to go is Spring when the flowers are in bloom - so much purple and white everywhere! It was quite muddy on the longer hiking trails today but easy enough and allowed to go off the trail to stay dry. Wear water shoes to walk in the low waters. Parent pro-tip: there's an awesome playground for the kids near the parking lot!!

Bouathong Thepsombath (Bou)

Trails were rigorous in my opinion.. lots of ups and down.. The hidden waterfall was great and kids loved it! There were people swimming in the lil pool area beneath the fall. you can stand on top of the fall as the stream was shallow. There is also a small play area and picnic area to wind down after hiking.

Sarah Houle

Beautiful big woods, lots of hiking trails, a waterfall, wildflowers, wildlife and an abundance of plants and fungi make this state park a must see. Deep into the woods, all that can sometimes be heard is the breeze...and it is amazing!

Sarah Croteau

Beautiful forest. Lots of loops and connecting trails to choose from. In the winter, snowshoes are a must! Was pretty difficult to trudge through the deep wet snow in just our boots. Learn from my mistakes :)

Michael Berg

Nerstrand Big Woods is a park you don't really expect to find in Minnesota. Many state parks have some prairie area and a lake or stream, maybe some woods. I didn't expect to find rolling forested hills, deep, beautiful valleys, and hidden streams and burbling waterfalls. And that was only half of the park. Getting there is a bit tricky, just follow Google maps, and parking is easy, the trails are appropriate for little kids, even the so-called challenging trail. This park is a treasure.

Ashley W.

Trails are well kept, plenty of maps alone the trails. The waterfall fluctuates. Sometimes it's a lot of water and sometimes it's just a little bit dribbling over the edge. The lagoon area at the waterfall is my favorite.

Hannah H

Love this state park! I live in the south metro so this is a quick drive on a weekday, and it's never busy on weekdays, so my dogs and I basically get the place to ourselves. Love the waterfall and walking along the little creek, and there are some lovely trails as well!

Joe Gabrielsen

Good hiking trails, pretty waterfalls, wildflowers, many interesting bird species to be found in park

Adrian Lundeen-Hornung

Beautiful park with a large trail system. Spacious picnic area but we couldn't find a place to get water and the bathrooms weren't as well kept as other state parks. The park was very busy, especially at the falls but the outer trails were much less crowded.

Ashley Smith

Nerstrand is so beautiful it's actually the place where my fiance proposed to me! When we went June 24th 2018 the waterfall was overflowing it was just so lovely, the hiking trails are amazing there's guides to show you which way to go and the campground is just so clean and quiet and peaceful. The second time we went was the weekend of August 12th for my fiance's birthday and it was just the two of us, it was just so perfect ..the showers and bathrooms are so clean and there is an outlet up by the showers in case you need to blow up your mattress or Brew your coffee pot if your tenting it. Just overall a beautiful Park there's grills everywhere, a Park, trails.. I mean everything it's just beautiful. This will be our forever spot!!!

Anita Weber

First time camping, had a blast, can't wait to go again! Some trails were harder than others but definitely worth it!

kyle evans

We probably wouldn’t have ever made it to Nerstrand if it weren’t for the hiking club but we were so glad we made the trip. The waterfall was really flowing when we were there from the spring runoff.

Lauren Cook

The park was enjoyable enough. We went on a Tuesday during the off season (fall) and brought our dog. Fun was had by all but after the falls at the beginning of the hike, there were no additional wow factors. However, we enjoyed our time in the woods.

Christi Neaton

Lots of nice trails and they were very well marked. The bathrooms were closed but they had porta potties that were clean.

James Parks

Cool place to visit. We love how quiet it gets ! Bring your winter boots for winter walks !

Its.just.k

I got there mid morning, there weren't too many people around which made for some nice, quiet hiking. The trails I hiked were all BEAUTIFUL, I got a little turned around and didn't mind one bit. The name Big Woods is very fitting, the waterfalls are beautiful, but I really enjoyed the rest of my hike.

Nikki D

Awesome state park 🏞️ Enjoyed two nights of camping. Waterfall is beautiful ❤️ Close to Northfield to explore the town. …

Bayli Baker

So peaceful and beautiful.. we love taking our kids on this short hike to water falls and playing in the creek.

Derrick Wyman

I took my family here for two nights. It was awesome! The bathrooms are very clean the showers are roomy and clean as well. And the waterfall is about a seven or eight minute hike from the campground.

Patsy Stuva

Beautiful private campsites. Excellent hiking trails without hills are available but the hike to Hidden Falls is worth the climb

Mik Sz

Need to get back here to hike again beautiful state park..had 20 mins to hike thanks to bad weather in area. Made it to hidden falls...bet it looks great with alot more water flowing

Michael Brown

I've lived near here for years and never really visited it until today. I hiked to the hidden falls. It is do-able for the mildly handicap if you can do a few stairs and inclines and Declines. About a half mile hike down into a valley to get to the falls. The water was low but flowing. it's past peak viewing for fall colors but a lot of leaves still up. Still camping 🏕 and people at the campground. About 10-20 kids at the playground. Worth the $7 state park day pass. $35 for the year. Port-a-potties and a few clean nicer vault toilets. Lots of Dogs 🐕 ❤. Great family adventure. playground has swings, wood playground with flexible bridge and wooden locomotive 🚂. Good for about up to age 5.

Mickey Muza

Nerstrand Big Woods has been my go to place for hiking for the past 5 years. It has multiple trails that take you through the remaining Big Woods forest that covered much of southern MN while incorporating a beautiful prairie trail as well.

sudu

Its a beautiful state park and a short walk from the parking area is this beautiful waterfall. Its hardly an hour’s drive from the twin cities and a good place to walk around & explore.

Rudy Miksanek

One of the best state parks in Minnesota. The trails are serene, especially getting past the falls because most visitors don’t go much father. Last week I saw a barred owl!

Raghunath Ramadasan

The park is beautiful and a great place for a picnic or generally .. there is a hidden falls that must be more full of water at other times of the year.. in Aug 2022 it barely had any water and the falls were just a trickle

Nicole Nee

Beautiful day. About 1 mile downhill to falls. Not a lot of water, but fun break. Uphill on the way back. Overflow parking just past the main entrance.

Raquel Jarabek

Went 4/18 during MN stay home and parking lot was full. A nearby house was charging $15 to park and walk a half mile. We did that. Once we were in the park people tried to stay distant. The trail was one way and was very helpful. A DNR person stood with gloves and mask at the trail entrance. People stayed spaced out and there was plenty of room. The only places with a small crowd were at the entrance and at the waterfall area but you could stay distant from others if you wanted. Only a few people had masks and there were portable toilets. There are other trails than Hidden Falls and fewer people were on those.

Liam D

The hiking club trail was a great trail to hike. The section for the children's play area kept our students engaged and active as we explored. Will definitely return.

Benjamin Hartin

I love this place with all my heart. It’s so beautiful, is kept very clean, and they seem to always be adding something here or there that makes the place better. The latest thing I saw was a new couple of installations for children’s play equipment… They were very earth friendly, and aesthetically beautiful. There are miles and miles of walking trails, at all sorts of different difficulty ranges. They even have a trail for snowshoeing in the winter! They have a day rate, or you can actually just buy a pass inside the building during business hours. If you are there after hours, you can just put your money in an envelope outside the door of the building, and slide it in the slot. The envelopes have little tear off tabs you can put in your windshield so you can park there without being ticketed by the Ranger that drives around every now and again. By the way, I think the building that is open during business hours also sells some T-shirts and sweatshirts and other memorabilia. The river is gorgeous, and the falls are everything! I love the autumn here, but I have to say pretty much any season at Big Woods will take your breath away. I am including a picture of the falls from fall 2017, and one of the walking path I took around May 2018.

Barry Orso

I just like the grass walkways. Always peaceful

Kimber Lina

$7 daily pass. Very peaceful park, lots of parking available. Multiple hiking trails. Benches on paths for those who need to rest.

Brandon Hobbs

Beautiful place to go and explore has a lot of trails to go on and hike.

Christopher Brooks

Nice park with a small falls. A few very well maintained and signed trails give you options to make a loop instead of an out and back. Pretty small park overall, but very nice.

Brenda Blair

Love the woods trail, the variety of flowering plants. The children's outdoor play space is awesome.

David Berggren

We love this state park. Great trails no matter the season, and the kiddos love the play area.

Becky Shaheen

Lovely state park! Campground was clean and a nice amount of space between tent campsites. Walk in sites also have a lot of privacy. Nice trails that are fairly level with some hills with a gentle grade with lots of distance options.

Briana Donaldson

Good trails. Long or short choices. Beautiful. Love the fact signs along the way. All kinds of opportunities to so things here. One of my favorite places to go!

Susan Kocher

Great place to hike an older forest, tall trees not so much undergrowth. Maples are beautiful in the fall.

Arthur Rodriguez

So close to home and still has its natural element. We had a nice winter walk through parks of it and felt very safe and was surprised how clean it was

Steve Mikula

Great place away from the crowds for a quiet hike or trail run. Most visitors congregate around the falls. Plenty of solitude to be found elsewhere throughout the park.

Jessica Madsen (sicamad07)

Really nice trails and beautiful scenery.

Beth Anderson

Best camping sites in a MN state park I have experienced so far. We were in site 18 which is next to the Hidden Falls trail, thus the camp site on the other side is further away. The site backs up to the big woods, gorgeous! All the sites seem to be angled in such a way that gives privacy and solitude. It was quiet even though it was packed.

Nora Smith

Very nice park , great walking trails only 45 minutes from Burnsville not crowded, has picnic area , well maintained restroom . waterfalls is like half a mile walk not asphalt but we'll maintained paved trail

DeDe Hinrichs

Great park. Very clean bathrooms/showers. Wooded/shady campsites. Well groomed trails.

Kathie Hall

Nice park- you could see the path only because it was worn down snow, although it looks like it would be easy to follow in the summer with the trail marked quite well for directions. Always nice to see a waterfall- and in the winter this one is completely frozen, along with the stream, which we were able to walk across. Only gave 4 stars cause stairs down to waterfall were packed ice.

John Meyers

It was April 21, 2022, sunny day finally!!! But still chilly. Hey, it's a Minnesota "Spring", expected avg. temp? We took the walk to Hidden Falls. Except for a few wet spots the trail was in pretty good shape. This was our first of many more State Parks this year.

Jacob S. & Charles too.

This is an absolutely great place to go for long walks. It's a place where you don't have to stay on the trails. Well, okay, in some spots, they ask that you stay on the trail. You can bring the family and dogs. There is something for just about every outdoors person. There is camping, parks, fishing and of course walking/ hiking.

Jeff Erickson

Loved it! Get there EARLY since parking is limited. Stop by Nerstrand Meats on the way AND/OR after and stock up - bring a big cooler!😎 …

Amy Mullenmeister

I enjoy camping here. Plenty of amenities and the sites are nice. I like exploring the trails, and of course you can't miss the waterfall.

Brittni Dye

Great place to camp and the short hike down to the falls is very nice. I've only been there in the fall and the changing leaves always makes for gorgeous views.

Bonnie Wilcox

Another gem of the Minnesota State Parks! Well-marked trails and in the spring, carpets of wood flowers among hard wood trees that have not yet leafed-out. And the waterfall is lovely.

Master Giff

Awesome little waterfall here. Very peaceful and quiet. Would recommend going in the morning though. Trails are quite tight in spots and I dont like bumping shoulders with strangers. Traffic picks up in the afternoon.

Jason Cross

This is a beautiful state park. The falls was a very refreshing spot to take a swim on a hot summer day.

Nathan Dull

A well kept little gem of a park. Went after the 1st snow in the area, and found it to be a beautiful crisp fall day with a little dusting. My 3 girls loved the little hike to the waterfall for pictures. Great places for pictures

Platy Pie (Raj)

Beautiful rolling hills and woods. The frozen waterfall is a neat experience.

Secondchance

Really nicely maintained trails. Beautiful and peaceful walking.

Dan V.

Nice park, easy walk down to the waterfall.

John Walker

This is a nice park. There are some hills in the hiking trails and nice summer shade.

H

Beautiful and peaceful! Good paths and waterfalls. Picnic tables, shelter and bathroom.

Jason Johnson

1st time being there and although it was slushy and mushy it's a nice place to do a hike. And don't forget to check out the gift shop and get the chocolate covered raisins.😉😅 …

Justin Jamieson

Went to the mall of America for the weekend. Stopped here on our way home to Iowa. Was a pretty cool place to visit.

Tran Family

Wow! So amazed by the cleanliness of the camp ground bathrooms and showers! Ive been to plenty of campground sites and out of states but none was compared to when we stayed here! Just want to thank and appreciate the rangers/park keepers for all their hard work by cleaning up and making it a wonderful experience staying at the cam site. The rangers who passed by was friendly. Overall, this is a beautiful park, with nice walking trails and it was not that far of a drive from the cities which is nice for the city dwellers who want a little taste of the outdoors. My little family enjoyed it here and we will surely recommend this place to people and will definitely be coming back.

David Arnold

It looks like second growth forest to me but it does have an extensive trail network and a pretty pleasant falls. It's embedded in an agricultural desert so you're going to hit the edges on all sides but it's worth seeing. Good place to grab a picnic.

Courbple

Wonderful park and an excellent example of the unique Driftless region of Southeast Minnesota. Quiet old growth oaks and elms stand stately around quiet paths. A small, pretty stream winds through the park, with a picturesque waterfall at the heart of the park's trail system. It's by far the busiest part of the park.

Stephen Smith

Well maintained park. The hanging falls are great!

Ashley F.

We always enjoy coming here. There is a short, easy hike with minimal stairs to see the Hidden Falls.

Mike Mulvihill

Calm rolling hills, fairly long hiking trails . . . I want to say I did a 7-9 mile loop last fall. Enjoyed this place a lot more than I was anticipating. The cool little water fall was nice as well.

Glenda Landsteiner

I love our Minnesota State Parks!! And this one was not disappointing....forest, plants, good trails, and staff to answer questions.

Kimberley Thompson

Great quick escape from the cities. Popular with campers and RVers. The falls were still iced over but saw enough of them to get a bit of a zen moment. Note...the walk down is a bit steep and can be muddy...wear boots that support your ankles!

Kendra Dawn

Oh how I love Nerstrand for hiking. This day we took the super snowy trails for a lovely walk.

Matthew Harper

Lots of fun, great trails. Water at hidden falls is dirty, you can't swim, and there were lots of signs with warnings of ecoli, and fecal matter.

Darrin Rogers

The falls are fantastic! The campsites are close together and small but they look pretty good.

Matthew Merrell

Wonderful hikes through the woods and a waterfall along the way.

Jake Conklin

Really nice park. Great to visit in the fall with the beautiful mature forest in the middle of farming land. Shows the impact of how farming has shaped Minnesota to have these preserved areas. Good to hike beyond the waterfall where the trail gets less busy

William Wight

Overall this is a great state park that I highly recommend checking out! There were plenty of places to explore, beautiful views, and a nice little waterfall. Can be a hilly hike, but it is well worth it! That being said, it does get busy, so try to get there early! We didn't really run into that many people until you got to the waterfall, so it really wasn't that bad. The trouble comes when trying to find a place to park. The main lot was full, so we had to park in the rustic campsite for the overflow. The main office was also open, so anyone trying to get their state park passport would be able to get it there! If the lots happen to be full at Nerstrand when you arrive, DON'T WORRY! There is a nice county park about 3 miles down the road you can venture to in the mean time and then come back after chdcking it out! It is called Caron Park and it is another park I'd recommend checking out either before or after Nerstrand!

Jessie Sweet

Went in July of 2021 during a drought so the hidden falls were more like a drip. Nice walking paths. Beautiful scenery. Nice play equipment and plenty of picnic tables. Trails were labeled nicely. Strollers and wheelchairs would be very difficult if not impossible to get down to the falls which is why the review got one less star.

Evan Vranian

Great trails for hiking, good spot for colour watching in the fall.

Lance Petersen

Great looking place, and a moderately challenging hike at times. Can't wait till the trees have leaves and this will be a really nice place to come back to!

Krista Finch

Spent a lovely day hiking the trails here. It was a quiet day, with barely any visitors due to rain, so really got to enjoy seeing how nature recovers from setbacks and injury.

Tarun Shetty

Very nice drive from Richfield to reach the state park. We went for the beaver trail which was quite nice. The park has a waterfall however the directions for the waterfall was misleading but we finally figured out after checking out with some visitors. Later we took the beaver trail & the directions were marked precisely. Overall a nice experience to spend a peaceful evening.

Cassandra Brandon

Absolutely beautiful ❤️ perfect place to go with kids and animals and perfect for pictures has great trails and beautiful waterfall

Luke Gorski

As of right now all the trails south of the road are closed because they are waterlogged. Still a great park though, the falls is the main feature, with lots of cool forested hills north of the road.

Debra Roberts

The facilities are clean, the trails are very well marked, you can get a fairly private campsite if you don't mind a short walk with your gear, and the Rangers checked on my welfare when a storm started rolling through (without being at all bothersome). The perfect kind of camping situation. Thank you.

lisa nihart

Very pretty and a short walk. With the drought the falls are very little.

Lucas Westrich

Love talking my dog out here to get walks in. Great path choices with a beautiful stream and waterfall. Highly recommend this wonderful nature preserve.

Patrick Sullivan

Camping was good, the restrooms and showers are modern and clean. Trails are great. Some facilities need work, and the kids playground is in disrepair.

dieboy

Ample parking. Trails are well maintained. Hiking club trail is fun. Good elevation changes. Restrooms were clean. Hidden falls was very nice!

Kelly Atwood

Snowy but still nice:) wish the trails were cleared a bit more but made do.

Lacey Pegram-Olson

Love this place! Parking can be difficult so plan on going in circles sometimes for about 20 minutes until a spot opens. The parking lot is small. The trails are gorgeous, dog and kid friendly and bring water shoes to walk through the water falls!

Dan Fiebiger

Never heard of it. But looking through parks we haven't been to we went. It's great, not super busy. Good trails and the waterfall is cool.

MRS. KRISTA G.

Camp sites are huge stayed in an Electric site with a water spigot can't get over how big our site was and every other site is big to!! Did the hidden falls hike but ended up taking a wrong turn so ended up hiking a mile in a huge circle just to start at the main entrance for the hidden falls trail!! Other than that absolutely love this place definitely will be back!

Karen Walter

My favorite place to be. If I lived closer I'd be there every day. The hike to the waterfall is not that far, but there are plenty of other trails walk on.

Eric B

Nice park, neat hikes. It has some sort of endangered lily growing all over. Only place in the world. So that's neat. I don't know if people just really want to see the lily but it was super busy all day long. Day visitors and campers. Also a lot of the campers had no idea the rules of camping at the state park, so if you're there expect noise and drinking.

NB Photo

This was a cute park to visit. The waterfall was running light but was still worth hiking to see. There are some steps leading down to the falls, trail goes from easy to moderate with a decent. Dogs are welcome.

Bonnie Lewis

It was so beautiful. If it's rained at all in the time of going wear shoes /boots u can get muddy!! The waterfall is.amazing and a nice little hike to get there . Very kid friendly. And there's people liking around but u don't run into that many so we let our dog of the leash most of the time

Igor Dudchenko

A very beautiful park offering various types of trails and a waterfall. Bear in mind it's very popular in weekends and parking may be full at noon, so come earlier.

linda arnesen

Fabulous hiking trails in these big tree. Great campsites with potable water spikets close by and new showers and flushable toilets. It just became my favorite state park campsite this season. Just need better signage to enter park. Trail signage was great.

Melissa Miller

Cool playground for kids. All the toilets were locked though so that was a bummer

Richard

Gorgeous state park within a hour drive of the Twin Cities. Hiking trails are excellent and diverse. The trails in the southern portion of the park are relatively flat and display a wide variety of different trees, these are especially great in the fall or spring. Also on display is some expansive rolling prairies. The northern trails are much more popular and travelled with the hidden falls being the primary attraction. The hidden falls is very scenic and should be included in any visit to the park, but continuing north on the Fawn, Hope and Beaver trails provides fine display of hillier trails with excellent views of the deeper forest. No matter which trails you pick you can't go wrong. The park 5 stars no matter where you go and well worth the drive.

Jonathan Lake

Super pretty and cool. Only thing to improve; near the waterfall, there should be a super deep area at the bottom, so that we can jump off the waterfall and into the river. My cousin David jumped into the current 2' tall river and broke his legs. (That last part is a joke. No legs were broken in the making of this post. Don't close the beautiful waterfall).

JF H

Beautiful park, specially in the Fall. Great for hiking and walking.

DemonOfD20

Incredible area!! If you love nature parks, visit it, its such a nice place

Travis Barton (TravelingAnvil)

Really beautiful park with with miles of walking trails, skiing trails, snowmobile trails and a small park. Hidden falls is a beautiful small waterfall there. Definitely worth the trip from the twin cities if you are looking for a comfortable hike through a charming landscape. In the winter it is amazingly silent. Even with other people in the park it can be a wonderful solo hike.

Katie Rotvold

Great trails! Get up close and personal with the waterfall.

Alekhya Donepudi

Great hiking trails for beginners. There are multiple trials to choose from. Loved it. Will be back for sure🤩 …

Emily Walker

Beautiful park! Nice and clean. There are several different loop trails you can take, and the falls are beautiful. The falls are shallow enough to walk across the top, and there is a small area below that is safe to swim. A little bit further down the stream there was a smaller waterfalls feeding into the stream as well.

Kurtis Amundson

Beautiful! We had a portrait session here and the fall colors were amazing, so bright and vibrant! The weather was a bit chilly but the sunlight reached the path most of the time. We hiked to the waterfall and has a great time. The trek was not too long and the elevation change was super easy to navigate.

David Powers

Fun park for some hiking. The waterfall is cool but was very busy on a Saturday. Takes away from the ambience quite a bit. The trails are nice and the woods are very serene. I wish there was more than one parking lot to go to the hiking trails like most state parks have though. Not really worth the hour drive from the metro but it’s worth a trip if you’ve been to most state parks within an hour of the metro like in my case.

Megan Gaffey

The park is wonderful. Cute little playground for the kiddos. A shaded walk through the woods to Hidden Falls. The walk is steep, so if you have knee or walking issues, it's a little challenging. Otherwise it's just a good, rousing hike. I took one star off for the parking situation. Here's how it goes: You drive up and slow to turn in and you see a Lot Full sign (apparently it's this way every weekend). As you're pausing there, an employee rushes over to you, waving their arms, yelling that you can't stop on a county road but you can keep driving by and if someone leaves, maybe you can come in. Only problem is, there's no good place to turn around, and even if you see someone leaving, there's a steady stream of folks closer to the entrance and they get in before you. Frustrating! So we drove back the way we came and there's some private property that's offering parking for $15 and a hike. So we did it. Luckily, they take cards. Anyway, definitely worth a visit, but wish I'd known about the parking situation going in.

Matthew H.

This is such a wonderful State Park and it's an easy drive from the cities. There's great hiking as well as room for picnics and families to hang out. My dog and I hiked clear to the back of the park and had a great day. Remember that you'll need a State Park permit, or at least a daily entry fee to get in.

Rais Kanwar

Pictures of fall are quite deceiving. Fall is more of poodle. Park is decent. We drove 40 mins and were quite disappointed. Restrooms were clean. Walking trails were decent. It was quite busy and parking was hard to find. If someone lives close by it might be good option not worth driving if coming from 40 miles away.

JP Nagan

Easy walk down to the falls. Great for kids.

George Waring

Very nice camp sites. Great trails and the hidden waterfall

Lindsay Salo

This was a beautiful park with easy trails. We enjoyed our walk through the woods and near the waterfall. The stone bridge going over the water at the top of the falls was great. I haven't seen one quite like that before. The fall colors had just started when we were there last weekend. I wish we could take another walk through these woods in the coming weeks. Those who do will be in for a treat!

2nd Chance George

Wonderful park and great place to hike. Easy going and pleasant

Tara H

Date of Visit: 10/25/2021 - Great location for a day trip. Currently, restrooms are closed, but they have porta-potties on site to use if needed. Well marked/groomed trails.

Dave B

A smaller than normal state park, but well worth the drive. The trails are well maintained, there's plenty of picnic tables and shaded area to have lunch, clean bathrooms, and a small but nice campgrounds. The hike to Hidden Falls is very easy and enjoyable when the water is flowing.

Kate Stone

We love this park! Granted we've only done the short hike to Hidden Falls, but that alone is wonderful. Kids love the natural playground. Lots of shade and places to picnic. Really great park.

S L Moss

Hidden Falls is gOrgeous. Trails can be very muddy, but passable with good footwear.

Carolyn Sanders

Very pretty, lots of variety on the trails. Nice and easy trails. While the maps are fairly easy to read, it would be more helpful if they showed which trails were for which colored sign posts. More than once on the southern trail we ended up on the wrong trail because the sign posts only contained snowmobile indications. Bring a compass if you're planning on taking multiple trails. Other than that, there's lots of helpful and informative signs throughout the park.

Jesse Loose

I really liked this state park. They have a good amount of walking trails. I went with snow still on the ground and the hidden falls was still frozen. You can still get around the trail system. I couldn't really see the campground area because of the snow. I will definitely go back in the summer to see the falls while it's flowing and to check out the campground.

Cody Thorson

Busy lots of people swimming in the falls didnt get many quiet nature pictures still a beautiful place to go.

lAL L

This is a beautiful par for this area. You won't find much in farm country so for that it gets 5 stars. Be warned it is muddy when it rains and in the Spring through early summer on some of the trails. The park is protecting their wildflower species so you have to stay on the trail. In the spring guides volunteer to tell you about flora/fauna. There is also Rice Lake SP (30 miles South) if you want a quieter and more secluded experience but the facilities are not as nice. The stream that makes the falls is impassable at times so if you want to hike across the stream call first. The natural park is tons of fun for the kids and this is a little Gem in the middle of nowhere. The camprgounds are well kept and have bathrooms/showers. The camprgound is seasonal only. I will say the clearance in the campground is iffy so if you have a large 5th wheel or bus it may not be passable around the loop. Its a very busy park, the campground is smoky in the summers as the sites are close to each other but it's still natural and pretty. There are sites with tree cover and sites with only a few trees. There is a dump and fresh water (not sure if it is potable or not). There is not a lot to do in this area so a 1 to 2 night stay would be sufficient. In the late Summer/Fall the water falls are pretty dry and there is nowhere to swim for the little ones. This is not a swimming place for adults. Its fun to walk the stream and explore though. You can go pretty far. A weekday would be prefered for a stay as sometimes it gets crowded on weekends.

Andrew James Riemer

This is a wonderful destination for a day hike any time, but if you love fall colors, plan to spend some time here when they are near or at their peak. There are plenty of trails that interconnect, so you can hike as little or as much as you may like. I especially enjoy the rolling hills nested in the woods, and the way the afternoon sun filters through the trees. There were numerous times where I simply had to stop in the trail to take in the view--even under the canopy!

Eliza Sandra

Lots of trails, well marked to be able to choose how long or short you want to hike. The falls were very beautiful and there's lots of unique plants blooming. Feels very well preserved.

John Besse

I would've given it 5 stars, but the bathrooms were closed and instead there had Porta-potties about 30 feet away. It was a nice hike, but get ready for a couple steep hills.

Kristen Macke

This park is a hidden gem. It's great for kids and an easy, beautiful home through the woods. Hiking trails are shaded and wide. You'll see a ton of dogs on the trail. The waterfall is less than a quarter mile from the entrance, so you don't have to walk far if that's all you come to see, but I'd encourage you to walk the trails and other loops. My daughter had a leech on her after playing in the water.

Juli

Very nice park with a gorgeous waterfall! It's only about a mile round trip to see it, mostly uphill on the way back. Limited parking; we had to drive around for awhile to find a spot. Definitely a nice park! Very muddy, but it looks like they're in the process of adding rock to the trails.

Anna Joleen

This park is beautiful, not too crowded and easy to find your way, even with the snow!

jitendra singh Bhati

Very well maintained state park. Waterfall is nice and very much accessible. Water fall trail is not stroller friendly though. I had seen many people including us were not able to find the fall in the first attempt because there is no proper marking😊 …

Shana King

Beautiful park! Hiking is fairly easy, not many mosquitos mid September. The waterfall is beautiful! Only 4 stars because the camping sites are pretty small. Site 21e barely fit our pop up and minivan. Bathrooms were very clean though!

Travis Highfill

Bring your rain boots... most of the trails have been muddy this year. My kids love the natural playground where you can build a teepee and explore other crafting, the bathrooms are okay, the campsites are mediocre. The dump station is nice. There isn't much more to do but hike to the falls and play at the park but if you had some rubber boots I think you could make a really enjoyable trip. Much like Rice Lake state park, its great to have out in this vast farmland and prairie.

Paul Peterson

Our stay was Sunday through Tuesday. Quietest state park we have been too so far. Hiking trails are excellent. Sites are a little too close together however. Very clean facilities.

Sandra Perron

Camping, waterfalls and amazing hiking trails ... this is an amazing location and a well kept secret. Camping area has showers, ranger station has firewood. The tent camp sites have raised and level areas ready to go. All fire rings have food grates.

Bhavani Ananthan

Good place. Nice little water falls... Trials are good..But buggy.. have bug spray handy before you go

Emma Underground

Fairly busy on a Sunday afternoon but it's a nice big park so it's was very easy to social distance while enjoying the woods. Waterfalls are BEAUTIFUL and the trails are well maintained.

Dariusz Ulanowski

Quiet and very clean, non-electric sites $30.00, call and make a reservation!

R M.

Beautiful park and beautiful waterfall. Very nice park rangers too help you figure out the map.

Pete Boisclair

Gorgeous trails, loved climbing just above and around the falls and taking nature photography. Highly recommend you add this state park to your list of places to explore! I went in the summer and the whole state park is just beautiful! Support your state parks by getting the annual state parks vehicle permit too!

Holly Wood

Nice sites, when tenting best if you use a air mattress

Ashley Corbett

Beautiful! And something for everyone. It's a short walk to see the waterfall, or there are miles of trail ranging form easy to difficult. A good mix of terrain, and decently hilly on the difficult trails (well, as hilly as we get in MN). Gets nice and muddy in the spring and after a good rain. =)

Kari King

Loved it here!! We took our dog (who doesn't like going for walks) and she LOVED it here. The trails were clean, big enough for us and our dog and there were plenty of maps posted. Would recommend it for dog owners!

Ashley Whiting

Great park. This has been one of the only parks where the hosts actually introduced themselves to us. It was really nice! The waterfalls here are pretty cool. There way a wedding happening right on top of it, in the water the weekend we were there. It was gorgeous and a really cool idea.

Geoff Bartenhagen

Great if you are tenting... The best and most private sites don't have hookups. The hookups are confined to the inner loop sites and so are less private. The sites with hookups include water which was a pleasant surprise. Also has new bathrooms and showers. Good hiking trails.

Sarah Knorn-Rivard

The drive for me was 45 min. It's a small park, the trails are not labeled at all. But thankfully it's a small park, which will limit how lost you get. The waterfalls area was decent. Don't go early spring as its downright swampy and muddy.

Heather Gunderson

Always a nice place to go with the family, a friend, or solo. Nice campground area, quiet. Visitors center is nice. Decent picnic area. Facilities are a little dirty and rustic but that's to be expected outdoors. Paths are well taken care for. Small play area for kids being built this year by volunteers of the park.

mairi doerr

Hidden Falls is beautiful after a good rainfall and just as geologically interesting during drier times. 11mile excellent trail system for varied hiking levels, bird life abounds in the forest including Red-Headed Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, many songbirds. Also, 100 acre Restored Prairie just gets more beautiful and diverse every year. Join Friends of the Big Woods State Park to get involved in interesting volunteer activities. Intimate feel to this State Park and yet a lot to interest all ages. Naturalists programs are great! Candlelight Ski and Snowshoe Event every early Feb is MAGICAL!

Paul Griffin

Great state park and within decent drive time of the Twin Cities. Trails were well groomed and covered with shade in most areas. Nearly hiked most of the trails in about 3 hours. It is definitely a great place for a quick day hike to get out of the city.

Josh Montenegro

Awesome place. Super fun. Short hike to the falls. Today was a little rough because they posted that the water was dirty after rains from city runoff. Ecoli and fecal matter. Common occurrence with waterways close to agriculture or the city. Happens.

Lou McCoy

Ok, the waterfall is not huge, just a 20 foot drop, but it is still picturesque. And with all the maples changing color, the walk along the trails was beyond gorgeous. Being in the Big Woods means the turning a corner, still leaves you in the middle of the forest. The walk throgh the campground on the tail end of the Hidden Falls trail, led us through a very well maintained campground with a newer shower building. Guess we need to come back and camp. Spring should let us see the Dwarf Trout Lily, which only grows in 3 counties in the whole United States, this being one of them

Meribor Chance

I wish they had nature programs more than once a month, especially in the summer. the employees at The visitor center were incredibly kind and helpful. The bathrooms were nice and clean all the time. All of the campers here we're really friendly, we got the idea that they were regulars. I like the idea of being able to buy wood from the host site rather than go to the visitor center all the time. The campsites don't have very much privacy.

Caitlin Metzel

If you like all of the annoyances of being in the city without any of the conveninces of being in the city, this is the place for you. The campground was so loud with barking dogs, screaming kids, cars honking, music playing, etc. The sites were very close together with very little vegetation as a buffer so you could hear and see everything your neighbors did and know that they could hear and see you as well. The trails and the waterfall are beautiful and the facilities were very clean though so this would be a great day trip spot.

Dale Heinrich

Took my boys hiking here last fall and made it back for a camping weekend this past weekend! Nice and quiet park. Has a great interpretive exhibit in the visitor center. Plenty of hiking for all abilities. The Hidden Falls are a must see. Especially after a good rain. One of few Minnesota State Parks that have water hookup for some of their sites. Hope to make it back in the fall again to check out the colors!

ELC Wolf

Very nice place although you may want to be careful what time you go because there can be a lot of mud

Sue W

Very muddy paths made walking a great challenge. Would have appreciated warning signs posted. Main path to waterfalls was closed, perhaps due to conditions or maybe repairs. Row of porta-potties provided due to covid -19 building closures, but these were filthy and out of toilet paper. We love our State Parks, but this visit was disappointing.

glj1004

Mini little fall, nothing compared to Minehaha falls but still nice. It has plenty of tables, grills, and fire Pitts for burning wood. You must buy wood from the park. Nice place for family and dog friendly. The nature and foliage is also great!

Samantha Craft

Great park for the kids, have not camped there yet, just visited the park. Have since camped and it's GREAT for camping, we will be going back! ❤️

Tracy Johnson

Beautiful park, well maintained, perfect place to enjoy nature.

Kari Johnson

Despite 100 degree temperatures, the hiking was still great mid-morning. The trails are very shaded and not busy at all and it was great to dip my feet into the water at the end of a hike by the falls!

Chrissi Prom

This was a great place to camp!! It was our first time here and we camped for two nights. Clean park and facilities. Downside is there isn’t a WHOLE lot to do for kids to keep them busy for two days (my kids are 2&4), so we will be coming for a day trip next time since we don’t live too far away. The hidden falls were pretty and a fun place to explore, and the play ground was “creative.”

Allison Walton

Staff have always been super friendly! The trail were muddy (because duh, it's been rainy), but still beautiful and well taken care of. Park staff told us which trails were muddier than others. Great park!!

Sarah Sadique

Great trails with a mix of easy and hard. It's not too far a walk to get to the waterfall. Very pretty in all seasons. Bring washable shoes because the trails are often muddy.

Alan Tilson

Great views of Pileated, Red Bellied & Red Headed woodpeckers.

Ed Kohler

Great trails. Well marked. Worth visiting the falls.

Gee “Gee Emm” Marsh.

A beautiful park with great facilities, plenty of parking, benches and picnic areas, bookable covered seating and wonderful hikes down to the falls. Keep a look out for Snapping Turtles hiding among the moist ground cover. By a state park annual pass and take advantage of the beautiful parks all over MN.

Scott Henry

Great place to hike and teach your children about nature and learn how to respect it. Has alot of information placed along the trails explaining nature and the history of the park. Awesome place to spend the day and have a picnic lunch.

Megan Charais

Beautiful, low volume campground with access to a short 1 mile hike to and from family friendly waterfalls. Small playground, too that fulfilled the kid's (7 and under) need for outdoor energy burn.

David Craig

If you need you forest fix, this is the place. The camp grounds look decent too!

David Ventura

Reserved campsite in route, easy breezy. Nice campsite, dump station closed till frostline drops.

Ken Buckley

Lots of trails that make for a great fall hike!

Jennifer Schmidt

Just about an hour drive from Minneapolis. Lots of picnic tables, swings and play area. I didn't see the entire park. But there is a nice waterfall. Wish i had taken more photos. They also have camp sites.

Stephen Anderson

Great trails, nice camp grounds, beautiful area!

Jason Christensen

Beautiful state park. Secluded, and lots to look at. The waterfall is really cool and you can walk right up to it. Summer or fall it's a great place. The park rangers are always very knowledgeable and helpful. Go check it out!

josiah olson

A great place to reconnect with our earth mother in whatever way you want, whether that is hiking, camping, or just relaxing by the stream. The waterfall is a majestic place, if you visit, make sure to pause there on your journey.

Kimber45

Pretty falls, make sure the snow is melting or that it's rained a lot so the falls is flowing well. If it's a dry time of year it won't be worth a long drive. Don't wear your best shoes if it's right after a rain, the paths are packed dirt and can get a little muddy.

Brian Carter

You should put out garbage cans, we picked up trash on the trails & when we returned couldn't find a trash can. Nice trails with hills, will go again. Nice camp and picnic grounds.

Hodge Files

I really liked spending time at the waterfall. Nice place to cool down when it's hot out. It was a bit busy and lots of dogs but great experience overall. Camp sites looked decent enough with amenities for campers. I'll be back.

Brandon Hensley

Can be very busy but great trails. Elevation changes are not super difficult but may challenge some. The falls were sadly low this year.

Philip R

The frozen falls are amazing to see this winter (1-2018)! Ice is thick. Watch your step at the very bottom of the stairs tho, go home in one piece. Just wish the trails were all down hill for our hiking. :)

Luigi Rosario

This is a short ride from the twin cities compared to "going up north". This park has a brand new bathroom/Shower area as of 7/2015. There is a short hike to a great natural hidden waterfall, even the little ones can maks this hike, break them in early! My 4 and 6 year old loved it!

Cody Peters

We always enjoy our stay. Great trails and friendly rangers

Monica Carlson

So beautiful! Well groomed trails, lots of picnic tables and spots to throw a frisbee. Love the swings. Bathrooms were as expected at a park like this (a little dirty/outdated). Super cool place at the waterfall to wade/play in the water.

Katie Vargo

Great clean park. Easy to find. Be wary of how busy it can be at noon time. The kids enjoyed the play ground and the walk to the falls was easy for two small children. Not very accesible for those who have difficulty with inclines.

Jimmie Johnson

This is a great park, one of the best my girlfriend and I have been too. It would be even better if the DNR removed the trees from the base of the waterfall. Our dog loved it too!

Xeng Thao

Park and hiking trails were nice. The falls were small but there was a sign by the park office that asks to stay out of the water due to possible fecal matter and E Coli in the water as of 09/06/2020.

Karen Casey

Gorgeous woodlands in the middle of farm country. The perfect place for an afternoon/after work hike.

Bill Olson

We stopped at the park for a picnic while passing through. Looked like we were one of many who enjoyed lunch, while we enjoyed watching many others partaking in varied park activities. Everyone we saw were active and thoroughly enjoying themselves. This visit brightened our day.

Seth B

Totally worth the drive. It is a simple little area but with a bunch of walking trails. The waterfall is pretty cool. I went when it was frozen over and it was completely worth it. Pretty cool place to be when you can walk up to a frozen waterfall.

Sean Gage

The park itself was fine and good trails, but parking was crazy busy so much so we had to park in a neighbor's front yard. The waterfall left a little to be desired as well just because it was so packed with other people.

Lawrence XtremCreamer

We are from out of state and try to go to outdoor and green space. We enjoyed the falls and the park ranger/representative was the best when giving direction. We will return again to explore more of the park. Mt. Man

Nicole Morgan

Mushroom hunters paradise! Found over 20 species on the trails and along the creek. Stayed at the rustic campground and found it perfect for getting a birthday suit moon tan 👌. lots of trees for hammocks. Firepits have swivel grates over them. I would come back, maybe when the falls have more water. …

Anne Mulvihill

Visited in October, beautiful fall colors! Trails are fairly easy, and there are a lot of trail options for short to very long walks. Lower part of the park can be muddy, but I preferred the upper part anyway.

Patrick Ritchie

Nice park with clean restrooms. Friendly staff.

Tim Johnson

Good hiking with nice waterfall on main trail. Down side is that the campground does not have that many sites for camp trailers. Seems that you have to reserve far in advance to get a spot.

Charlene Erickson-Knox

A remnant of the Big Woods, it's beautiful in any season. Our dog loves it too. Well kept trails and campground but also has wilderness feel. Really nice waterfall as well.

Jc Sanders

Beautiful, well kept, quiet. We are really enjoying our stay here.

Michael Stoner

Great nature trails and guided programs. Quiet campground. Lots of hiking nearby. Big Woods is in the middle of nowhere but that's a good thing. You probably won't get a mobile phone signal, I didn't, but I totally didn't miss it with all the nature surrounding me.

Monica Hlavac

The falls were beautiful. We really enjoyed the walking trails as well. The park rangers were very helpful in choosing an appropriate trail

Brad Schaeppi

Great day trip from Minneapolis/St. Paul (skip the camping if you are a tent camper). The hidden falls is a great short walk, and the other mature forest walks are a great sight to see--a few large mature trees in a large open forest without all the scrub trees. Hard to describe in words--but worth a visit to see--especially in fall or in spring with the wild flowers. Any day trip should stop in Northfield...and don't miss the Quality Bakery for donuts. Yum! Just bring cash--they don't take cards. If you are a tent camper and are thinking about the walk-in sites--DON'T--they are next to 4 group camp sites. I was there last weekend and there were about 50 people in 4 separate groups across from my site--just 100% not compatible with quiet tent camping expectations. I have no idea why the State has so many sites with these uses next to one another. If you want quiet solitude walk in sites--try Great River Bluffs--some of those are great and by themselves.

Amit Yatagiri

Great for small hiking, multiple walking trails. Has a real hidden falls. Well maintained overall.

Corey R

Gorgeous park in all seasons. Especially when the waterfall is full!

Will

This isn't a park I hear much about and it is a ways out there for Twin City residents looking to hop off the freeway for a break. However, it's a quiet park with a LOT to do. Waterfalls, play area, camping, picnicking, rare flowers.

Jason Hunt

Did the candlelight walk. Very fun, well organized, great trails.

John Sarzoza Jr.

Great Little State Park w/Plenty of Trails and...Close to Home for a Quick Trip at the End of the Day

Morris

Not for those looking for spectacular scenery but nice amenities - trails,picnic shelter, restrooms, children's playground. Best in springtime with water flowing over the falls and emerging wildflowers. "Big Woods" describes the park very well.

Anna Aurora

I visit a lot of parks being a landscape photographer. But for a local spot it's not bad.

विश्वजीt ପଣ୍ଡା

It's a neat little park in the middle of farmlands, with a fall. Unlike other state parks you really can't get lost in it, which is a good thing in my book. Really old growth trees, which I love, grill pits, play area, walking paths, it has it.

Shawn Doherty

Very scenic hiking area. Waterfall and Creek is super cool with interesting rock formations. Lots of wildlife as well, but absolutely no squirrels.

RICK LEWIS

It's a beautiful state Park , especially in the fall when all the leaves are changing. Lots of places to camp and/or picnic. Great place to just kick back and relax.

Yaoyao Chen

Nerstrand Big Woods SP has the best fall color!

Tiffani

One if my favorite state parks. Absolutely beautiful here.

Kevin Leder

It was a very cool place to walk, the waterfall was breathtaking despite the decrease in water flow, I plan on visiting again and staying overnight in a tent

Nicole Steil

Come in Spring, before the trees fill in and the bugs are born. Enjoy the Spring ephemerals which cover the ground and pack a picnic to enjoy at the waterfall. Truly a wonderful park and close enough to the Twin Cities for a day trip.

Farhan Siddiqui

Not too good for waterfall sight seeing or for picnic.

Rea O

Great group campsites. Enough space for everyone. 3 campsites fits 24 people.

Robert Healy

$7 to get in for the day. Cool little park that has well maintained trails with good signage. Hidden falls is very scenic and overall the park is worth a trip if you're in the area.

Linda Sorensen

A small yet great Minnesota State Park with many hiking trails, campground, picnic area and small waterfall, very suitable for children's play. Entry fee for the day or annual pass required.

Justin P

Great state park that is an easy drove from the cities. Waterfall is worth the small walk and kids can play in the water. Unique playground too!

cmonnowsmile66

I visited the park on a Monday in October, so it was very quiet, which I like. I liked the falls, but was hoping to see or hear the owls and didn't. The park ranger was friendly and helpful.

Shawn Smith

Excellent trails! Easy to get parking pass. Beautiful scenery. Nice and simple play area for kids to play on.

Kelly Huff

Great state park right in my backyard! Enjoy the solitude. The draught is really taking a toll on the creek and falls. So sad.

Elizabeth Eddy

My mother and I went here for a nice hike and the waterfall, it was nice. Also great to cool off at. The scenery is splendid, makes me wish I had a house here.

Eric Rausch

Great park. Very clean. Only downside are the electric sites are packed in tight. Most do not have much/any privacy.

Bob Klein

Nice place, private campsites. Out in the woods. Not at work.

Wayne Hedlund

Great, quiet campground with wonderful hosts! Highly recommended.

Johny HottuB

Lots of hiking trails. Creek is farmland fed and stream is minimal. Winter on a snowmobile is great.

Michelle Walburn

Hidden Falls is beautiful. Campground is mostly shaded. Some sites have tent pads, some do not. Bathrooms are clean and look to recently updated.

Nathan Frank

Very clean. Great area for a picnic! Kids had a blast. Would visit again to hike. Great experience over all.

Jillian Steinke

Beautiful waterfall. Fairly easy hiking paths. Lots of room for picnics and grilling even if you're only going for the day.

Stuart Yurczyk

I live near Nerstrand, and I always buy a state parks pass for my car because I love visiting Nerstrand so much. It's really pretty, and there are plenty of trails (short and long).

Wendy Hammer

Beautifully taken care park.

Christian Neal-Herman

This park has great hiking and snowmobiling trails about an hour from the Twin Cities. It's interesting to see what Minnesota would look like without agricultural development. Big Woods is an accurate name.

Chris Demko

Great State Park with a beautiful waterfall.

Penny Ward

Beautiful views, day and night! Great experience for families. Relaxing. Great hiking trails and beautiful waterfalls. I would return next year.

Ryan Just

Good hiking experience. The falls are cool to see. Campsites are nice. Overall well maintained. Great place to camp and hike

Joey Wollenburg

Awesome park with some great trails. Staff was nice, area was clean, all trails were clear and hikable. I'd recommend anyone to check this park out.

Jay Ilene

Very little traffic even on the weekend. Sping time is muddy, but otherwise the trails are well-benched and surrounded/insulated by very pleasant scenery.

Ryan.M Harlow

Excellent overall. Some of the trails can be slightly flooded after heavy precipitation. Nothing negative to say. Four stars for the lake of signage notifying about wet trails.

Kaci Benefield

So many mushrooms/fungi on the trees, it made everything so interesting! We were there when it was raining and the thick woods kept us covered. There was a ton of paths to choose from, very private!

Daniel Ralston

Either way there's a slope to the falls but it's well deserved in the end and be ready to spend some time relaxing once you get there. Enjoy!!

Kasey Graight

Beautiful park and wonderfully maintained! The trails are very nice

Louis

Great hiking and beautiful scenery!

Matthew DeBoer

Great hiking trails, beautiful waterfall, nice bathrooms and showers. Sites are smaller, more crowded than other state parks and don't offer any privacy.

Paul Yerhot

Enjoyable walking trails. Not very strenuous.

Penny Perau

Well worth the trip! Picnic area, playground, campsites, hiking trails & a beautiful waterfall!

Light Love

There's a lot of uphill and not many trail markers but it's beautiful

Jeff Berndt

Beautiful state park with hidden falls. A great place to bake hikes through woods so peaceful walking. Cool place

Andrea Johnson

No better place to enjoy fall.

Elise K

It was beautiful! We had a great time even though we had to leave early because of rain. Who doesn't love a state park?

Charles Chernack

Really can't evaluate the park just pulled in to spend the night but my verizon cell phone and hotspot work really well in the campground. Tempted to spend another night. The restroom/shower building seems brand new and spiffy.

vanna quach

Decent size park with beautiful not very tall waterfall

Kyle Nordstrom

Pretty nice oasis with in an hour of the cities.

Eric C

Wonderful walking trails! Kids enjoy the waterfall. Beautiful leaves in the fall. 🍁🍂🍃 …

Julie Pryor

Nice path to the falls (could be a little better marked at the start - near the playground). Plenty of picnic tables, and some grills. Mix of shade and sunny grassy areas.

Annette Duncan

Clean park, kept up. Beautiful waterfall.

Carolyn Racette

Lovely Park with amazing fall colors, refreshing trails and beautiful scenery. We will definitely be back next year when we have one of our fall colors weekends!

Eric Peter

A fantastic state park to hike for hours! Nice sights, brings me back to when I was a child. Awesome little waterfall.

Jonathan Posthuma

Lovely state park known for spring ephemeral flowers. Trails were well maintained.

Rich Halvorsen

The loop is a perfect, easy hike

Rebecca Matlon

We have done group camping here and day trips. It's a great place to hike, explore, and camp!

Joyce Jacobsen

Nice state park, quiet with nice campsites and great bathhouse.

Jean Gallagher

I love this State Park. It has plenty of beautiful well kept trails for walking.

Gretchen Gosnell

Awesome trails, many wildflowers in the spring. The falls are cool.

Phillip Davis

I loved the way they have kept up with this place, the trails have been groomed, boards have been placed at places where the water would run over the trails great place for families, lovely falls

Jacob Salo

Was a beautiful woodsy park with an amazing little waterfall. It was a loud park, lots of people hooting, hollering and just making a lot of noise. Great place though

Jesse John

Great place to spend some time enjoying nature

Cheryl Foster

First trip was frustrating because of the ice. The path to the waterfall was treacherous so I had to turn before I got to it. I hope to visit again in the summer and have a better experience.

Paul nelson

Nice park! A little too busy in the main area. Go across the road if you want a quiet hike.

gene svihovec

Great facility! Went on Black Friday so was not busy. Enjoyed walk down to Hidden Falls and will return in summer. Well maintained and exciting. Recommend it

stan k

Everyone here is very friendly! Their campsites offer good privacy. Bathrooms were clean and i liked that a forest preserve officer was visible

Ryan Anderson

Great park to check out. Nice hiking trails and an awesome waterfall that you can get right up to

Kristin Lang

Beautiful and very easy to get to the falls! Thank you MN DNR for keeping us safe and comfortable during COVID19.

Jay Moldenhauer

Very nice park. Lots of great trails. The electric camp sites are close together.

Jason St. G

Cute little waterfall, no restrooms, instead only porta potty's. In what world is porta potties cleaned every 4 days cleaner than a restroom with running water?

Mandi

Nice state park with a short walk to a little waterfall.

Aaron Spiegle

Great place to hike. Many trail loops to make your hike as long or short as you like.

Henry Shih

The park has a beautiful river and waterfall. The trail is mainly flat. Easy hike overall.

Shannon Gibson

Fairly short walk/hike to falls where one can wade in the water above the falls and wade deeper near the bottom of the falls. Beautiful!

Terry Hagen

Beautiful park. Nice hiking trails. Nice size RV sites. Clean, private showers.

Bill Harz

Nice Park with well groomed trails. I've even run into a big turtle at the falls. Would definitely recommend.

Al Feustel

Nice waterfalls even though the water is low now. Easy to walk from the parking lot.

cade gornick

Not a very big waterfall but still a pretty park and you can stand and wade in the water.

Rachit K

Wonderful small trail and a nice little waterfall. Best suited for kids or a small break!

Michael Roberts

Nice park. They have showers on premises. Lots of trails. Lots of fire rings and camping areas.

Traveling Experience

About 1 hours from Saint paul,MN. Awesome park, clean areas and many of hiking trails ! I have loved this natural world!

Eric Berhow

Gorgeous state park. Great hiking trails, and very nice campsites

Ken Dorman

Nice hiking trails and a waterfall

luke spartz

So close to home for me! I love exploring nature here and watching the deer. If You're driving by it though, drive slow because the deer like to cross the road!

Jersey Devil43

Excellent trails, except people are not picking up after themselves.

Greg Bueno

Beautiful waterfall and trails in a boardwalk style when the environment requires it. It’s one of our favorites from the state.

Josh Caldwell

Small camp spots, unlevel, close together.

Wendy Priolo

Wonderful park! Nice play area, picnic tables and the waterfall was amazing!! :)

Barry Durkee

This is a great little park! Nice wooded hiking trails,

Eric Brooks

Nice enough place, easy to get to, close to home, great quick get away to nice, old woods trails.seemed to be family Friendly, good, clean facilities.

Cierra Maras

Great hiking trails for all levels. Beautiful hidden falls!

Geneva W

Good walk. I found a mini snickers that wasn’t even opened! Don’t litter though.

Susan Christianson

Nice state park good rates. Trails were good not to hard of hike and waterfall was really nice

Matt Jones

Great state park not far from the cities but just far enough that you feel like you're somewhere distant...in a good way. Hidden Falls is a gem.

Justin Carlson

A bit plain outside of the gorgeous hidden falls, but a phenomenal location if you simply want a long nature walk in the woods.

katana Havlik

Love this, my children love the waterfall!

Kim McBride

Signage was terrible!!!! The one sign we found sent us to the campground where we wondered for awhile before almost coming back around to find a map that showed we missed the short walk and were stuck on the long way.

Henry J

Absolutely spectacular sights. Walking along the river trails at sunset is incredible, walking in the river at sunset is more so.

Kandy Kleinow

Always clean, friendly host couple who keep the facilities very clean. Lots of great hiking trails, beautiful waterfall.

Jullinne Mickley

Staff had been extremely helpful! Grounds are neat and clean so are the showers and restrooms.

Pavel Zubkov

Great trails! Never crowded and awesome place to go any time of the year.

Samantha Chavez

Great little park! Would love to stay here overnight. Love the creek and waterfall area.

Mike Lehman

Nice place to visit. Nice walk to the hidden falls as well

Mike Hartfield

Good camp sites, excellent restrooms/showers, and nice trails.

Presley Martin

Great place for a hike.

Salika Pao

Camping was so much fun. The trails were for experts but it was great and perfect work out.

Hannah McMillin

Gorgeous place in the middle of nowhere. There could be better signage, the falls really were hidden a bit, but overall it was absolutely lovely

Michael W

pretty trails. Big waterfall. Campsites are nice but the middle ones are very close together.

Steve Mouchet

Great place for hiking and wildlife. Plus a beautiful waterfall... Snowshoeing is popular also.

Shelly Ellingson

It was a nice campground. Restrooms are nice. About half a mile hike to the waterfalls. Really pretty.

Tom Mortensen

Maple and Oak trees. Beautiful fall colors. The big trees shade out the underbrush so you can see deep into the woods.

Ben Olson (theGiddyNorse)

A great place to visit, I prefer it in the dead of winter

Roderic Olson

Beautiful woodland and many great hiking trails

Bailey Ament

Beautiful state park! Great place to enjoy a picnic, take professional photos or just hike!

Abby Kettler

Beautiful hiking trails, well maintained and the hidden falls are beautiful here!

Benjamin Husted

Good energy here .. encouraging to see others out and about to pay respects and draw close to spring wildflowers and the emergence of so much new growth !

Molly Kapping

Beautiful park, beautiful trail, we've been in summer and winter. Great place

richard girard

Always the best jogging trails. Hills, smooth level ground, I've been jogging here for years. Bring bug spray

Aidan Bartnicki

Great hiking and views, although they could use more parking space.

Jacob Henke

The trails could use a bit of grading to improve drainage and fix washout, but a beautiful walk in the woods.

Matthias Eichten

Great hiking and birds! Too bad the ranger on duty sold me green firewood and was a jerk when I complained it didn't burn. Otherwise a great place

Peter M. Lauer

Nice walk near the twin cities. You can park on the street and avoid the $7 parking fee.

Joshua Brand

Great winter trails in a small park! Be sure to bring your ice traction equipment this year.

Scott

We went the this park for the first time. It is so beautiful. It was our first time there. So quiet and relaxing. We will go back.

Jennifer Radke

Great hiking and camping. Beautiful waterfall. Was surprised there wasn't more parking.

C Deyoe-Snyder

Fantastic place with wonderful trails and history. Perfect for a relaxing day out. I highly recommend.

Randall Kapaun

A little out of the way and can be crowded. However, a must visit, to fully enjoy the fall majesty of MN forests!

Lauraly Stiles

We had a wonderful day for hike. Family was excited to play in water

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