Glacial Lakes State Park

Overview
Photos
Slideshows
Videos
Sightings


	About

	Ownership


	Links
	Minnesota DNR

	Overview
	Several state parks in western Minnesota preserve parts of the state’s once vast tallgrass prairie. The best of these by far is Glacial Lakes State Park. It is located in the Leaf Hills, a 10 to 19 mile wide region of glacial hills stretching from Detroit Lakes to Willmar. Hiking trails on treeless, wide open prairie lead over rolling hills, eskers, kettles, and moraines. One section of the prairie loop trail follows ridge line with spectacular views of the prairie below. Another trail leads through bur oak forest. In all, there are 16 miles of natural surface hiking trails. If you visit, come early and plan to spend the whole day.

	History


	Management


	Comments


	Location

	Maps
	all season map

	Printable Map(s) with GPS coordinates


	Size
	2,466 acres statutory, 1,872 owned

	Parking
	25022 County Road 41 Starbuck, MN 56381 N45 32.479, W95 31.887

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

	Fees
	Daily park permit: $7 Annual park permit: $35


	Driving Directions
	Get driving directions from Google Maps to this destination from any address, and send those directions to your phone. Your Address (street address and either city and state or ZIP code)

					Pope County
					Northwest Minnesota


	Activities

	Hiking Trails
	16 miles ½ mile interpretive trail

	Hunting
	No hunting


	Ecology

	Ecological Classification
	Ecological Province			Prairie Parkland Province
	Ecological Section			North Central Glaciated Plains
	Ecological Subsection			Minnesota River Prairie
	Land Type Association			Gilchrist Moraine

	Native Plant Communities*
	Basswood - Bur Oak - (Green Ash) Forest Dry Sand - Gravel Oak Savanna (Southern) Dry Sand - Gravel Prairie (Southern) Mesic Prairie (Southern)
	* Source: The Minnesota Biological Survey, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological Resources

	Natural Features

Glossary

Esker

A long, narrow, usually winding ridge of gravel, sand, and other sediment left by a retreating glacier.


	Visitor Photos

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	MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos

	Park entrance


	Basswood - Bur Oak - (Green Ash) Forest


	Dry Sand - Gravel Prairie (Southern)




	Wet prairie


	Cattail Marsh


	Kettle


	Esker


	Kettle Lake




	Shallow lake


	Trails


	Spring burn, April 2016


	Wildflower plantation, 2004 (for prairie restoration?)

Camera


	Slideshows


	Glacial Lakes State Park Richard Sanders

	About Glacial Lakes State Park, MN

slideshow


	Visitor Videos

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	Other Videos


	Great Minnesota Parks: Glacial Lakes State Park pioneerpublic

	About Published on May 29, 2014 Glacial Lakes State Park is featured. Connect with us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pioneerpublictv For more information about Pioneer Public TV, including how you can become a member, go to http://www.pioneer.org. Additional Pioneer productions can also be viewed online at http://video.pioneer.org.



	Weasels at Glacial Lakes State Park Sandy Hackenmueller

	About Published on Aug 18, 2013 No description available.



	Glacial Lakes State Park panorama at Baby Bella Lake Brad Pazian

	About Uploaded on Oct 7, 2011 This is a brief video showing some of the rolling prairie scenery on a beautiful fall day in Glacial Lakes State Park



	Kayaking Minnesota - Glacial Lake State Park friskypants74

	About Published on Jul 12, 2013 Brief description of Glacial Lakes State Park and Glacial Lake itself.

Camcorder

Visitor Sightings

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings


Visits
7/25/1999	8/28/2004	8/25/2014

Amphibians

northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens)

wood frog (Rana sylvatica)

Birds


Nine bird species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:
Endangered	Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)
Special Concern	American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea) Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri) Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) Purple Martin (Progne subis) Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Birds List

Minnesota DNR Bird checklist

Minnesota River Birding Trail

eBird Field Checklist

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

Eastern Wood-peewee (Contopus virens)

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)

Fishes

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Fishes List

Fungi and Lichens

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Fungi List

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Lichens List

Black Knot (Apiosporina morbosa)

Fried Chicken Mushroom (Lyophyllum decastes)

Lobster Mushroom (Hypomyces lactifluorum)

Insects and Arachnids


Four insect and arachnid species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:
Endangered	Dakota skipper (Hesperia dacotae) Poweshiek skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek)
Special Concern	Iowa skipper (Atrytone arogos iowa) Leonard’s skipper (Hesperia leonardus)