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This summer I have been envious of those who consider vacation as excuse to get back to nature. Camping, fishing, hiking; sometimes without any of the niceties of modern life. Hiking and nature are awesome; but at the end of the day on vacation I want a modern hotel room, electricity, a shower and a nice dinner. But those vacations and COVID just don’t go together.
But we can visit Minneopa State Park; which boosts an expanding bison herd, walking trail and gorgeous waterfall.
Bison herd:
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Let’s start with the big draw in the spring; baby bison! So freaking cute.
Bison calves are born in the spring; late May to early June. Each spring has brought about 8-10 new babies.
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Seeing the bison herd has become a huge draw for the park. It certainly encourages us to get a year pass. The crowds have seemed even bigger this year with most people staying closer to home and needing outdoor activities.
Hiking path:
Hiking paths circle around the bison enclosure and provides opportunities to see them in spots that aren’t visible on the driving path.
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We have done part of the hike a couple times. Early spring brings an insane amount of mosquitos and gnats. We had to cut our hike short and climb up to nearby road a few years ago as the bugs became too much to handle. Have I mentioned I am not a camper??!!
Waterfall:
On the other side of the park from the bison enclosure is the waterfall.
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From the walking path the waterfall is can be seen from several angles.
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The falls area gets so pretty in the fall when the leaves are turning.
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Even in the cold, snowy winter the falls is quite pretty.
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Flandeau State Park has a nice recreational area and lots of hiking trails. We took in the sights one day this summer.
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So grateful we bought a pass this year and have been able to visit often. Cancelling vacations and trips has been tough but I do appreciate the fun we have close to home.
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