Glacial Lakes State Park
About • Location • Activities • Ecology
About |
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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 |
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Location |
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Size |
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2,466 acres statutory, 1,872 owned |
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Driving Directions |
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Parking |
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25022 County Road 41 N45 32.479, W95 31.887 |
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Hours |
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Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. |
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Fees |
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Daily park permit: $7 Annual park permit: $35 |
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Maps |
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Printable Map(s) with GPS coordinates |
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Activities |
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Hiking Biking Mountain biking Horseback riding Picnicking Camping Backpacking Rock climbing and bouldering Swimming Boating Canoeing Birding Nature photography Geocaching Cross country skiing Skate-skiing Winter hiking Snowshoeing Snowmobiling |
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Trails |
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Hunting and Fishing |
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No hunting. The park may hold one or more managed hunts in the fall. In most cases, Minnesota residents do not need a permit to fish in Minnesota State Parks. |
Ecology |
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Ecological Classification |
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| Ecological Province |  |
Prairie Parkland Province |
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North Central Glaciated Plains |
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Minnesota River Prairie |
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| Land Type Association | Gilchrist Moraine |
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Native Plant Communities* |
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Basswood - Bur Oak - (Green Ash) Forest Dry Sand - Gravel Oak Savanna (Southern) Dry Sand - Gravel Prairie (Southern) Mesic Prairie (Southern) |
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| * Source: The Minnesota Biological Survey, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological Resources | |||||
Natural Features |
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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 |
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Park entrance |
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Basswood - Bur Oak - (Green Ash) Forest |
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Dry Sand - Gravel Prairie (Southern) |
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Dry Sand - Gravel Prairie (Southern) |
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Wet prairie |
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Cattail Marsh |
Shallow lake | |
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Kettle |
Esker | |
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Kettle Lake |
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Kettle Lake |
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Trails |
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Spring prescribed burn, April 2016 |
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Native wildflower plantation, 2004 (used for prairie restoration?) |
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Slideshows |
Glacial Lakes State Park |
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About
Glacial Lakes State Park, MN |
Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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Great Minnesota Parks: Glacial Lakes State Park |
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 |
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Published on Aug 18, 2013 No description available. |
Glacial Lakes State Park panorama at Baby Bella Lake |
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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 |
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Published on Jul 12, 2013 Brief description of Glacial Lakes State Park and Glacial Lake itself. |
Visitor Sightings |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
Visits |
7/25/1999 8/28/2004 8/25/2014 |
Amphibians |
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Birds |
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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) |
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Fishes |
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Fungi and Lichens |
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Black Knot (Apiosporina morbosa) |
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Insects and Arachnids |
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ash bead gall mite (Aceria fraxini) Carolina grasshopper (Dissosteira carolina) clouded sulphur (Colias philodice) common green darner (Anax junius) goldenrod bunch gall midge (Rhopalomyia solidaginis) goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis) goldenrod soldier beetle (Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus) grape leaf miner moth (Phyllocnistis vitifoliella) Halloween pennant (Celithemis eponina) Isabella tiger moth (Pyrrharctia isabella) orange sulphur (Colias eurytheme) plum finger gall mite (Eriophyes emarginatae) sumac gall aphid (Melaphis rhois) |
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Mammals |
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Reptiles |
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| painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) |  |
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Created: Last Updated: © MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved. |