Banning State Park

 

 

About

Ownership

Minnesota DNR logo

 

Links

Minnesota DNR

 

Overview

 

 

History

 

 

Management

 

 

Comments

 

Location

Size

6,237 acres

 

Driving Directions

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  Area and County
    County   Pine County
    Region   Central Minnesota

Parking

N46 10.410, W92 50.976

 

Hours

Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.

 

Fees

Daily park permit: $7

Annual park permit: $35

 

Maps

All Season Map

Activities

Hiking, biking, nature photography, birdwatching

 

Hiking Trails

17 miles
1.8 miles interpretive
0.1 miles handicapped accessible

A 1 mile paved bike trail connects the park to The Willard Munger State Trail.

 

Hunting

The park may hold one or more managed hunts in the fall.

Ecology

Ecological Classification

  Ecological Classification
Ecological Province Ecological Province  

Laurentian Mixed Forest Province

 
Ecological Section Ecological Section  

Western Superior Uplands

 
Ecological Subsection Ecological Subsection  

Mille Lacs Uplands

 
Land Type Association    

Finlayson Till Plain

Willow River Sand Plain

 
         

Native Plant Communities*

 

Aspen - Birch Forest

Basswood - Black Ash Forest

Black Ash - Silver Maple Terrace Forest

Central Mesic Hardwood Forest (Eastern)

Central Wet-Mesic Hardwood Forest

Northern Poor Fen

Northern Rich Alder Swamp

Northern Wet Ash Swamp

Northern Wet Meadow/Carr

Oak - Aspen - Red Maple Forest

Red Pine - White Pine Woodland (Eastcentral Bedrock)

Willow - Dogwood Shrub Swamp

 
* Source: The Minnesota Biological Survey, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological Resources    
     

Natural Features

   

 

 

 

 

 

Visitor Photos
 

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Kirk Nelson

Cut-Off Trail

  Skunk Cabbage Trail
Banning State Park   Banning State Park
     

Kettle River

  Snowshoeing
Banning State Park   Banning State Park

Wayne Rasmussen

Fall 2017

  Spring Hiking
Banning State Park   Banning State Park
     

Kettle River

Banning State Park
     
Banning State Park   Banning State Park

Martha Decker

Kettle River

Banning State Park    
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos

Park Entrance

Banning State Park    
     

Kettle River

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Trails

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Banning State Park   Banning State Park
     

Forests

Banning State Park   Banning State Park

 

Camera

Slideshows

Banning State Park
Sharon Somero

Banning State Park

Banning State Park
Ken Wolter

Banning State Park

Banning State Park
Richard Sanders

Banning State Park
About

Banning State Park, MN

Banning State Park, Minnesota
campsitephotosdotcom

About

Published on Oct 25, 2013

Favorite Sites: 2, 5, 9, 10, 13, 18, 24, 33, 34

 

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Other Videos

Banning state park
jackdonkey22's channel

About

Published on May 16, 2014

Quarry Loop trail and Hells gate trail.

Banning State Park 8 8 15
Timothy Kowalik

About

Published on Aug 11, 2015

The Kettle River in Banning State Park, Sandstone, MN.

October camping/hiking trip up at Banning state park
Andy DeLassus

About

Published on Oct 7, 2015

October camping and hiking up at banning state park

Wolf Creek Falls, Banning State Park, MN
Nate Lindstrom

About

Published on Jan 6, 2015

Active MN Outdoors - Banning State Park
Mike Schoen

About

Published on Aug 9, 2012

MN State Park in Sandstone. Great hiking and beautiful scenery!

 

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Visitor Sightings
 

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Ramona Abrego

Birds

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)   Common Yellowthroat

Kirk Nelson

Birds

Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)    
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings

Visits

5/25/2011

6/13/2012

Amphibians

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Amphibians and Reptiles List

wood frog (Rana sylvatica)   wood frog

Birds

Three bird species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:

Endangered

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)

Special Concern

Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla)

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Birds List

Minnesota DNR Bird Checklist

eBird Field Checklist (Banning SP)

eBird Field Checklist (Banning State Park)

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons)

 

American Robin

Black-capped Chickadee

Brown-headed Cowbird

Pileated Woodpecker

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Fishes

Three fish species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:

Special Concern

gilt darter (Percina evides)

lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)

northern brook lamprey (Ichthyomyzon fossor)

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Fishes List

     

Fungi and Lichens

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Fungus List

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Lichen List

Artist’s Conk (Ganoderma applanatum)

Black Knot (Apiosporina morbosa)

Crown Rust (Puccinia coronata)

Hoof Fungus (Fomes fomentarius)

Smoky Polypore (Bjerkandera adusta)

  Black Knot

Insects and Arachnids

Canadian tiger swallowtail (Papilio canadensis)

common whitetail (Plathemis lydia)

eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)

ebony jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata)

fifteen-spotted lady beetle (Anatis labiculata)

forest tent caterpillar moth (Malacosoma disstria)

four-spotted skimmer (Libellula quadrimaculata)

gall midge (Harmandiola cavernosa)

goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis)

goldenrod spindle-gall moth (Gnorimoschema gallaesolidaginis)

green-faced clubtail (Hylogomphus viridifrons)

Hobomok skipper (Lon hobomok)

Illinois river cruiser (Macromia illinoiensis illinoiensis)

linden wart gall midge (Contarinia verrucicola)

little wood satyr (Megisto cymela)

multicolored Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis)

northern pearly eye (Lethe anthedon)

orange sulphur (Colias eurytheme)

racket-tailed emerald (Dorocordulia libera)

river jewelwing (Calopteryx aequabilis)

ruby meadowhawk (Sympetrum rubicundulum)

spring fishfly (Chauliodes rastricornis)

white admiral (Limenitis arthemis arthemis)

white-striped black (Trichodezia albovittata)

 

common whitetail

forest tent caterpillar moth

goldenrod gall fly

little wood satyr

orange sulphur

spring fishfly

Mammals

American black bear (Ursus americanus)

whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

  American black bear

Plants

Nine plant species with conservation status in Minnesota are found here:

Endangered

butternut (Juglans cinerea)

Threatened

black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata)

blunt-lobed grapefern (Botrychium oneidense)

bog bluegrass (Poa paludigena)

largebract ticktrefoil (Desmodium cuspidatum var. longifolium)

Special Concern

American marsh pennywort (Hydrocotyle americana)

creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis)

intermediate sedge (Carex media)

necklace sedge (Carex ormostachya)

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey Vegetation Releves Plant List

Plants frequently found in:

Aspen - Birch Forest FDn43b

Basswood - Black Ash Forest MHc47a

Black Ash - Silver Maple Terrace Forest FFn57a

Central Mesic Hardwood Forest (Eastern) MHc36

Central Wet-Mesic Hardwood Forest MHc47

Northern Poor Fen APn91

Northern Rich Alder Swamp FPn73

Northern Wet Ash Swamp WFn55

Northern Wet Meadow/Carr WMn82

Oak - Aspen - Red Maple Forest MHc26a

Red Pine - White Pine Woodland (Eastcentral Bedrock) FDn22d

Willow - Dogwood Shrub Swamp WMn82a

 

Allegheny blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis)

American basswood (Tilia americana var. americana)

American black currant (Ribes americanum)

American hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana var. virginiana)

American red raspberry (Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus)

American stinging nettle (Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis)

American vetch (Vicia americana ssp. americana)

balsam fir (Abies balsamea var. balsamea)

balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera)

beaked hazelnut (Corylus cornuta var. cornuta)

bigtooth aspen (Populus grandidentata)

bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis)

black cherry (Prunus serotina var. serotina)

black-seeded plantain (Plantago rugelii var. rugelii)

bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)

bluebead lily (Clintonia borealis)

bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)

bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa)

butternut (Juglans cinerea)

Canada anemone (Anemonastrum canadense)

Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)

Canadian honewort (Cryptotaenia canadensis)

Canadian wild ginger (Asarum canadense)

Canadian woodnettle (Laportea canadensis)

cleavers (Galium aparine)

climbing false buckwheat (Fallopia scandens)

common agrimony (Agrimonia gryposepala)

common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)

common burdock (Arctium minus)

common cinquefoil (Potentilla simplex)

common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale)

common false Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum racemosum var. racemosum)

common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

common mullein (Verbascum thapsus ssp. thapsus)

common polypody (Polypodium virginianum)

common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

common strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

common winterberry (Ilex verticillata)

common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

cream pea (Lathyrus ochroleucus)

dotted hawthorn (Crataegus punctata)

downy Parlin’s pussytoes (Antennaria parlinii ssp. fallax)

downy serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)

early figwort (Scrophularia lanceolata)

early horse gentian (Triosteum aurantiacum var. aurantiacum)

early meadow-rue (Thalictrum dioicum)

eastern prickly gooseberry (Ribes cynosbati)

eastern white pine (Pinus strobus)

falsegold groundsel (Packera pseudaurea var. semicordata)

field horsetail (Equisetum arvense)

giant chickweed (Myosoton aquaticum)

golden alexanders (Zizia aurea)

gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa)

green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)

green carpetweed (Mollugo verticillata)

hairy honeysuckle (Lonicera hirsuta)

hairy-stem gooseberry (Ribes hirtellum)

hog peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata var. bracteata)

interrupted fern (Claytosmunda claytoniana)

jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)

kidney-leaved buttercup (Ranunculus abortivus)

large-flowered bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora)

large-flowered trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)

large-thorned hawthorn (Crataegus macracantha)

late goldenrod (Solidago altissima)

Maryland black snakeroot (Sanicula marilandica)

Morrow’s honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii)

narrow-leaved cattail (Typha angustifolia)

nodding chickweed (Cerastium nutans)

northern bedstraw (Galium boreale)

northern blue flag (Iris versicolor)

northern bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera)

northern lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina var. angustum)

northern red oak (Quercus rubra)

northern starflower (Lysimachia borealis)

orange hawkweed (Pilosella aurantiaca)

ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris var. pensylvanica)

oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)

pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)

paper birch (Betula papyrifera var. papyrifera)

Philadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus var. philadelphicus)

pointed-leaved tick-trefoil (Hylodesmum glutinosum)

prairie blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium campestre)

prairie rose (Rosa arkansana)

purple meadow-rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)

quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)

red baneberry (Actaea rubra ssp. rubra)

red clover (Trifolium pratense)

red maple (Acer rubrum var. rubrum)

red pine (Pinus resinosa)

reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)

round-leaved dogwood (Cornus rugosa)

round-lobed hepatica (Anemone americana)

sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis)

silky dogwood (Cornus obliqua)

silver maple (Acer saccharinum)

skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus)

small-flowered forget-me-not (Myosotis laxa)

speckled alder (Alnus incana ssp. rugosa)

spotted touch-me-not (Impatiens capensis)

spotted water hemlock (Cicuta maculata)

spreading dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium)

starry false Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum stellatum)

sugar maple (Acer saccharum ssp. saccharum)

tall buttercup (Ranunculus acris var. acris)

upright carrionflower (Smilax ecirrhata)

Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum var. virginianum)

water horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile)

western bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum)

western poison ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii)

white ash (Fraxinus americana)

white avens (Geum canadense)

white clover (Trifolium repens ssp. repens)

white rattlesnake root (Nabalus albus)

white spruce (Picea glauca)

wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)

wild leek (Allium tricoccum)

wild oats (Uvularia sessilifolia)

wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis)

wild yam (Dioscorea villosa)

woodbine (Parthenocissus vitacea)

woodland horsetail (Equisetum sylvaticum)

woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca ssp. americana)

yellow wood sorrel (Oxalis stricta)

 

Abies balsamea var. balsamea (balsam fir)

Acer rubrum var. rubrum (red maple)

Acer saccharinum (silver maple)

Acer saccharum ssp. saccharum (sugar maple)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow)

Actaea rubra ssp. rubra (red baneberry)

Agrimonia gryposepala (common agrimony)

Allium tricoccum (wild leek)

Alnus incana ssp. rugosa (speckled alder)

Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed)

Amelanchier arborea (downy serviceberry)

Amphicarpaea bracteata var. bracteata (hog peanut)

Anemone americana (round-lobed hepatica)

Anemonastrum canadense (Canada anemone)

Antennaria parlinii ssp. fallax (downy Parlin’s pussytoes)

Apocynum androsaemifolium (spreading dogbane)

Aquilegia canadensis (wild columbine)

Aralia nudicaulis (wild sarsaparilla)

Arctium minus (common burdock)

Arisaema triphyllum (jack-in-the-pulpit)

Asarum canadense (Canadian wild ginger)

Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed)

Athyrium filix-femina var. angustum (northern lady fern)

Betula papyrifera var. papyrifera (paper birch)

Carya cordiformis (bitternut hickory)

Caulophyllum thalictroides (blue cohosh)

Cerastium nutans (nodding chickweed)

Cicuta maculata (spotted water hemlock)

Clintonia borealis (bluebead lily)

Cornus alternifolia (pagoda dogwood)

Cornus obliqua (silky dogwood)

Cornus canadensis (bunchberry)

Cornus racemosa (gray dogwood)

Cornus rugosa (round-leaved dogwood)

Corylus cornuta var. cornuta (beaked hazelnut)

Crataegus macracantha (large-thorned hawthorn)

Crataegus punctata (dotted hawthorn)

Cryptotaenia canadensis (Canadian honewort)

Diervilla lonicera (northern bush honeysuckle)

Dioscorea villosa (wild yam)

Equisetum arvense (field horsetail)

Equisetum fluviatile (water horsetail)

Equisetum sylvaticum (woodland horsetail)

Erigeron philadelphicus var. philadelphicus (Philadelphia fleabane)

Fallopia scandens (climbing false buckwheat)

Fragaria vesca ssp. americana (woodland strawberry)

Fragaria virginiana (common strawberry)

Fraxinus americana (white ash)

Fraxinus pennsylvanica (green ash)

Galium aparine (cleavers)

Galium boreale (northern bedstraw)

Geranium maculatum (wild geranium)

Geum canadense (white avens)

Hydrophyllum virginianum var. virginianum (Virginia waterleaf)

Hylodesmum glutinosum (pointed-leaved tick-trefoil)

Ilex verticillata (common winterberry)

Impatiens capensis (spotted touch-me-not)

Iris versicolor (northern blue flag)

Juglans cinerea (butternut)

Laportea canadensis (Canadian woodnettle)

Lathyrus ochroleucus (cream pea)

Leucanthemum vulgare (oxeye daisy)

Lonicera hirsuta (hairy honeysuckle)

Lonicera morrowii (Morrow’s honeysuckle)

Lysimachia borealis (northern starflower)

Maianthemum canadense (Canada mayflower)

Maianthemum racemosum var. racemosum (common false Solomon’s seal)

Maianthemum stellatum (starry false Solomon’s seal)

Matteuccia struthiopteris var. pensylvanica (ostrich fern)

Mollugo verticillata (green carpetweed)

Myosotis laxa (small-flowered forget-me-not)

Myosoton aquaticum (giant chickweed)

Nabalus albus (white rattlesnake root)

Onoclea sensibilis (sensitive fern)

Claytosmunda claytoniana (interrupted fern)

Ostrya virginiana var. virginiana (American hophornbeam)

Oxalis stricta (yellow wood sorrel)

Packera pseudaurea var. semicordata (falsegold groundsel)

Parthenocissus vitacea (woodbine)

Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass)

Picea glauca (white spruce)

Pilosella aurantiaca (orange hawkweed)

Pinus resinosa (red pine)

Pinus strobus (eastern white pine)

Plantago rugelii var. rugelii (black-seeded plantain)

Polypodium virginianum (common polypody)

Populus balsamifera (balsam poplar)

Populus grandidentata (bigtooth aspen)

Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen)

Potentilla simplex (common cinquefoil)

Prunus serotina var. serotina (black cherry)

Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum (western bracken fern)

Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa (bur oak)

Quercus rubra (northern red oak)

Ranunculus abortivus (kidney-leaved buttercup)

Ranunculus acris var. acris (tall buttercup)

Ranunculus acris var. acris (tall buttercup)

Rhamnus cathartica (common buckthorn)

Ribes americanum (American black currant)

Ribes cynosbati (eastern prickly gooseberry)

Ribes hirtellum (hairy-stem gooseberry)

Rosa arkansana (prairie rose)

Rubus allegheniensis (Allegheny blackberry)

Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus (American red raspberry)

Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot)

Sanicula marilandica (Maryland black snakeroot)

Scrophularia lanceolata (early figwort)

Sisyrinchium campestre (prairie blue-eyed grass)

Smilax ecirrhata (upright carrionflower)

Solidago altissima (late goldenrod)

Symplocarpus foetidus (skunk cabbage)

Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale (common dandelion)

Thalictrum dasycarpum (purple meadow-rue)

Thalictrum dioicum (early meadow-rue)

Tilia americana (American basswood)

Toxicodendron rydbergii (western poison ivy)

Trifolium pratense (red clover)

Trifolium repens ssp. repens (white clover)

Trillium grandiflorum (large-flowered trillium)

Triosteum aurantiacum var. aurantiacum (early horse gentian)

Typha angustifolia (narrow-leaved cattail)

Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis (American stinging nettle)

Uvularia grandiflora (large-flowered bellwort)

Uvularia sessilifolia (wild oats)

Verbascum thapsus ssp. thapsus (common mullein)

Vicia americana ssp. americana (American vetch)

Zizia aurea (golden alexanders)

 

American black currant

American hog peanut (var. bracteata)

American vetch (var. americana)

black cherry

bloodroot

blue cohosh

bur oak

Canada anemone

Canada mayflower

common false Solomon’s seal

common mullein

common yarrow

early meadow-rue

eastern prickly gooseberry

golden alexanders

large-flowered bellwort

large-flowered trillium

Morrow’s honeysuckle

northern bedstraw

northern starflower

orange hawkweed

oxeye daisy

prairie rose

red baneberry

red clover

silky dogwood

spotted touch-me-not

spotted water hemlock

spreading dogbane

Virginia waterleaf

white clover

wild columbine

wild geranium

woodland strawberry

yellow wood sorrel

Reptiles

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Amphibians and Reptiles List

     

 

 

Binoculars

 

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