Blue Mound State Park

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MN DNR: Blue Mound State Park

Quarry | Blue Mound State Park, MN | View enlarged image

Catch a glimpse of what Minnesota looked like before cell phones and high rises. Miles of restored and remnant tallgrass prairie are crossed by little but a paved cycling path that skirts the red granite cliffs and a few rugged hiking paths. With Deer, Coyote, Grouse, and numerous raptors, including Broad-winged Hawks and Turkey Vulture, as well as Prickly Pear (Minnesota's only native cactus) and Minnesota's only wild buffalo population are a few of the things you might spot at Blue Mounds State Park.

The park is named for the cliffs that slirt its eastern boundary which first appeared to be a "blue mound" to settlers. The cliffs are made of Sioux quartzite deposited over a million years ago. A line of rocks over 1,000 feet long is aligned on the Mound's southern end. It is not known who created this monumnet, but it has been discovered that on the first day of spring and fall, sunrise and sunset line up on the rocks.

You'll want to bring plenty of suntain lotion and something to drink if you're planning to hike or cycle (there's not much cover in a prairie), but on the upside, humidity and mosquitos are not a problem in Blue Mounds throughout most of the year.

Directions:

Location: Luverne, MN

Take Interstate 35 South from the cities for about 108 miles. Just past Clark's Grove, take Interstate 90 West towards Albert Lea for approximately 138 miles. Take US 75 North through Luvern. About 4 miles after Luvern, take a right on County Road 20.

Distance from St. Paul, MN: Approximately 246 Miles

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Get Map of Park

For questions, wildlife sightings, and campground reservations, call: (507) 283-1307

Regulations:

A State Park sticker is required to enter the park. No alchohol. Dogs on leash only. Park open to day visitors sunrise to sunset. It may be noted that the Buffalo are in a fenced enclosure.

Multimedia:


Monarch Butterfly \| Blue Mound State Park, MN	Turkey Vulture \| Blue Mound State Park, MN	Turkey Vulture Flock \| Blue Mound State Park, MN

Bison Herd \| Blue Mound State Park, MN	Purple Prairie Clover \| Blue Mound State Park, MN	Prickly Pear \| Blue Mound State Park, MN

Queen Anne's Lace \| Blue Mound State Park, MN

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