Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Nerstrand Big Woods State Park is a beautiful natural area located in the state of Minnesota.


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Summary

The park is known for its dense forests, stunning waterfalls, and diverse wildlife, making it a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and photographers.

One of the primary reasons to visit Nerstrand Big Woods State Park is to explore its many hiking trails. The park has over 12 miles of trails, ranging from easy to challenging, that wind through the woods and along the picturesque Cannon River. There are also several picnic areas and campsites for visitors who want to spend more time in the park.

Some of the most popular points of interest in the park include the Hidden Falls, which is a 30-foot waterfall that cascades down a rocky cliff, and the Prairie Creek Trail, which offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape and wildlife. Visitors can also explore the park's historic buildings, including the restored 19th-century grist mill and the beautiful Nerstrand-Big Woods Lutheran Church.

Interesting facts about the area include that the park is home to a variety of rare and endangered species, including the timber wolf, the red-shouldered hawk, and the eastern massasauga rattlesnake. The park's dense forest is also one of the last remaining old-growth forests in the state of Minnesota.

The best time of year to visit Nerstrand Big Woods State Park is during the spring and fall months when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its most colorful. However, the park is open year-round and offers a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy in every season.

       

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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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