10 State Parks That Prove Minnesota Is the Most Beautiful State in the US

Minnesota is blessed with so much natural beauty

Listen, you might think you know state parks, but unless you’ve been to Minnesota, you haven’t seen nothing yet. Here are 10 of the most beautiful places in the state.

Gooseberry Falls State Park

You haven’t lived until you’ve watched the sunset paint the five-tiered waterfalls in golden light while Lake Superior crashes against ancient volcanic rock below. The middle falls drop 27 feet over smooth basalt, creating perfect natural waterslides during summer months.

Tettegouche State Park

This isn’t just any lakeside park – we’re talking about 600-foot cliffs dropping straight into Superior’s depths. Shovel Point’s billion-year-old volcanic rock formations create perfect nesting spots for peregrine falcons, and the High Falls of the Baptism River plunge 60 feet over pink rhyolite.

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park

That iconic lighthouse perched 130 feet above Superior isn’t even the best part. The park’s hidden gem is the pebble beach below, where you can find thomsonite – rare pink and green stones found nowhere else in the world.

Time your visit for November gales when 20-foot waves crash against the cliff base, creating thunderous echoes.

Voyageurs National Park

Welcome to Minnesota’s only water-based park, where you’ll navigate 84,000 acres of interconnected waterways. The Ellsworth Rock Gardens, built by Jack Ellsworth, feature 62 terraced flower beds on bedrock outcrops.

During winter, the park transforms into nature’s best ice road, letting you drive right to ice fishing spots on Rainy Lake.

Itasca State Park

Here’s where the Mighty Mississippi starts – literally. Wade across the humble headwaters, just 18 feet wide and ankle-deep. The park houses Minnesota’s oldest red pine stands, with 250-year-old giants stretching 120 feet high. Look for the Aiton Heights Fire Tower and climb its 100 steps for views across 19 lakes.

Temperance River State Park

The river carved out some of the deepest gorges you’ll find in Minnesota, with potholes that’ll make your head spin. The Hidden Falls trail reveals a secret cascade that few visitors find, tucked behind a natural rock arch. During spring runoff, the river’s so powerful it never freezes, creating steam devils in subzero temperatures.

Blue Mounds State Park

This prairie paradise hosts Minnesota’s only herd of wild bison, grazing among prickly pear cactus. Who knew flatlands can look so breathtaking?

Bear Head Lake State Park

Think Boundary Waters without the long drive. The park’s pristine lakes are so clear you can watch walleye swim 15 feet below your canoe. Eagle’s Nest vista point offers the perfect spot to watch moose wade through morning mist, and the park’s remote location means zero light pollution for stellar stargazing.

Grand Portage State Park

Home to Minnesota’s highest waterfall, where the Pigeon River drops 120 feet with such force that the spray creates permanent rainbows. The half-mile trail to High Falls crosses three nations – you’re walking between the U.S., Canada, and Ojibwe territory. Winter brings ice columns bigger than grain silos.

Jay Cooke State Park

The swinging bridge over the St. Louis River isn’t just Instagram famous – it’s suspended 75 feet above slate rock formations twisted into impossible angles. River watchers spot otters playing in the rapids, and the Carlton Trail reveals rare lady’s slipper orchids growing wild among 1.1-billion-year-old rock formations.