Carley State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carley State Park |
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Carley State Park entrance
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 Carley State Park
Location in Minnesota
Carley State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Wabasha, Minnesota, United States |
| Area | 209 acres (85 ha) |
| Elevation | 1,037 ft (316 m) |
| Established | 1949 |
| Governing body | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources |
Carley State Park is a fun state park in Minnesota, United States. It's about 15 kilometers (9 miles) northeast of Rochester. You can find it in Wabasha County.
This park is a great place for picnics, camping, and hiking. Many people visit to enjoy the outdoors. It's especially famous for its beautiful bluebell flowers. These flowers bloom all over the park every spring.
Carley State Park is part of a special area called the Driftless Area. This means it was not covered by glaciers during the last ice age. Because of this, the land here looks very different from other parts of Minnesota.
Contents
What Makes the Land Special?
How Was the Park Formed?
About 450 million years ago, a shallow sea covered much of North America. This included the area where Carley State Park is today. Over millions of years, layers of sand and mud settled on the seabed. These layers slowly turned into the hard rock we call limestone. You can still see this rock in the park today.
Even though glaciers didn't cover this park, they still changed the land. When glaciers moved, they ground up rocks into fine powder. After the glaciers melted, strong winds blew this powder. It settled over southeastern Minnesota as a thick layer of soil. This special soil is called loess (say "luss"). It makes the farmland around the park very rich and good for growing crops.
Animals and Nature
Who Lives in Carley State Park?
Carley State Park has a mix of thick forests and nearby farms. This makes it a perfect home for many animals. You might spot white-tailed deer walking through the trees. There are also two types of foxes living here. Look for beavers near the water. You might even hear coyotes howling at night.
Many different birds also live in the park. Keep an eye out for large pileated woodpeckers. You might also see great horned owls sitting high in the trees. The park is also a stop for many migratory songbirds. They visit during their long journeys.
Park History
Who Lived Here Before?
Long ago, Dakota Native Americans lived in this area. They hunted, farmed, and gathered wild foods near the Whitewater River. They called the river "Whitewater" because it would turn a cloudy white color in spring. This happened when high water washed light-colored clay from the valley floor.
In 1851, the United States government and the Dakota tribe signed a treaty. This agreement opened up most of southern Minnesota for European settlers. The town closest to the park, Plainview, got its name from the wide, flat fields of prairie grass around the river valley.
How the Park Was Created
The land for Carley State Park was given to Minnesota in 1948. It was a gift from State Senator James A. Carley and the Ernestina Bolt family. They wanted to protect a beautiful group of native white pine trees.
In 1957, a very bad hailstorm hit the park. It damaged many of the trees. Today, you can still see the tall white pines. They stand in the steep valley of the Whitewater River, across from the picnic area. There's even a special platform on a trail where you can get a great view of them.
