Lake Maria State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Maria State Park |
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Lake Maria State Park in autumn
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 Lake Maria State Park
Location in Minnesota
Lake Maria State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Wright County, Minnesota, United States |
| Area | 1,475 acres (5.97 km2) |
| Elevation | 981 ft (299 m) |
| Established | 1963 |
| Governing body | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources |
Lake Maria State Park ( mə-RY-ə) is a special state park in Minnesota, United States. It was created so people living near Minneapolis–Saint Paul could easily visit a wild, natural area.
The park is designed mainly for people who love to hike, backpack, or ride horses. Because of this, it's usually not as crowded as other state parks close to the big city. It protects a part of what's known as the "Big Woods." This area has many hills, lakes, and wetlands, all shaped by ancient glaciers. The park officially opened in 1971, west of the city of Monticello.
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How the Park's Land Was Formed
The St. Croix Moraine runs right through Lake Maria State Park. This is a hilly and uneven landform. It was created by the Wisconsin glaciation, a huge ice age, and two earlier ice ages.
Imagine giant blocks of ice melting slowly. As they melted, they left behind big holes in the ground called kettles. These kettles are surrounded by irregular hills and ridges, which are called kames.
Plants and Animals of Lake Maria
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The park is covered by a type of forest called "Big Woods." This forest includes trees like maple, basswood, and elm. You can also find very old oak trees here.
Many wetlands, ponds, and small lakes are scattered throughout the park. Lake Maria State Park is located near the northern edge of where the Big Woods grow.
Wildlife You Might See
The edges of the forest and the wet areas are home to many different animals. You might spot white-tailed deer, red fox, or even a fisher. Smaller animals like moles, gophers, mink, and beavers also live here. You might also see woodchucks and muskrats.
Over 200 different kinds of birds have been seen in the park. Lake Maria State Park is especially known for its population of Blanding's turtles. This type of turtle is considered endangered or threatened in many U.S. states and Canada.
How Lake Maria State Park Was Created
The idea for this park first came up in 1947. The plan was for the U.S. Forest Service to buy the land. Then, they would trade it to the state of Minnesota for other land. However, this deal didn't happen. The U.S. Forest Service couldn't buy all the land from the different owners.
Lake Maria State Park was approved again in 1963. This bill allowed for the creation of fourteen state parks. The state then began to buy the land, and the park officially opened in 1971.
The main goal for this park was to protect nature, not just to offer lots of activities. That's why the campsites were made for hikers, not for cars. In 1980, the park grew bigger to include the entire shoreline of Maria Lake. Interestingly, the lake originally called Maria Lake was later renamed Bjorkland Lake by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The name "Maria Lake" now refers to an arm of Silver Lake, which is mostly outside the park.
Fun Things to Do at Lake Maria State Park
Lake Maria State Park is a bit different because it doesn't have a traditional campground where you can drive your car right up to your tent.
Camping and Picnics
Instead, there are 17 backpacking sites and three camper cabins spread throughout the park. You can only reach these by hiking between .5 to 1 mile (0.80 to 1.61 km). There are also two basic group camps that you can drive to. Each of these can hold up to 50 people.
A nice picnic area is located along the shore of Maria Lake. It has fire rings, grills, and drinking water.
Boating and Fishing
Maria Lake has a public boat ramp, and you can rent canoes there. Only outboard motors under 20 hp (15 kW) are allowed on Maria Lake. Bjorkland Lake also has a canoe launch, but you have to carry your boat to it.
There's a fishing pier on Maria Lake near the picnic area. You can catch many types of game fish in Maria and Bjorkland lakes. These include crappie, bass, bluegill, northern pike, bullhead, and perch.
Trails and Hiking
The park has 14 miles (23 km) of trails. About 6 miles (9.7 km) of these trails are open for horseback riding. The 1-mile (1.6 km) Zumbrunnen and Forest Shadow Trails have special signs that teach you about the park.
The park's trail center has interesting displays, modern restrooms, and indoor picnic tables. It's open all year, and in the winter, it serves as a warm place to rest.
Winter Activities
Lake Maria State Park is also a great place to visit in the winter. About 14 miles (23 km) of trails are specially prepared, or groomed, for cross-country skiing. 2 miles (3.2 km) of these are groomed for skate skiing.
Another 3 miles (4.8 km) of trails are packed down for hiking or snowshoeing. If you're snowshoeing, you can go anywhere in the park as long as you stay off the groomed ski trails. There's even a pond near the trail center that becomes an ice rink with outdoor lights!
