Hanson Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Hanson Park is a natural park located in the town of Ramsey, Minnesota.


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Summary

The park covers an area of over 320 acres and offers a wide range of outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy. Some of the main reasons to visit Hanson Park include its beautiful natural scenery, diverse wildlife, and opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, and birdwatching.

One of the main points of interest in the park is the Mississippi River, which runs through the area and provides a variety of opportunities for water-based activities like fishing, canoeing, and kayaking. Visitors can also explore the park's many hiking trails, which wind through the park's forests and wetlands and offer stunning views of the surrounding landscape.

Other interesting features of Hanson Park include its numerous wildlife species, which include bald eagles, ospreys, and river otters, as well as its historic ruins, which date back to the early 1900s when the park was used as a quarry.

The best time of year to visit Hanson Park depends on personal preferences and interests. Spring and summer are popular times to visit for outdoor activities like hiking and fishing, while fall is a great time to see the park's stunning autumn foliage. Winter offers its own unique attractions, including snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and ice fishing.

Overall, Hanson Park is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience the natural beauty and diverse wildlife of Minnesota.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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