Updated June 26, 2023
Southeastern Minnesota is FULL of beautiful state parks and hiking trails. When my family wants to hit a local state park, we love taking a trip to Carley State Park near Plainview, MN.
With almost 6 miles of packed dirt trails, you are sure to find some beautiful sights. From the bluebells and other various wildflowers in May to the gorgeous views of the north branch of the Whitewater River.
When my kids are asked about Carley State Park, they ALWAYS mention the concrete block river crossings. The river was pretty low this past spring, so we could easily walk across without feeling the pressure of a rushing river or wet concrete blocks. But be careful, they can get pretty slippery!
We usually spot someone fishing along the river on our hikes as well. If you like to fish, be sure you get your license and trout stamp, and then try your luck at a little fishing! The river is a good habitat for brown and rainbow trout!
Sometimes when we visit the park, the river is rushing by pretty quickly and the little kids need a little assistance to cross the concrete blocks!
I usually use the Seek by iNaturalist app to identify plants and animals while we’re hiking, but bringing along field guides gives this guy a lot of great practice researching.
When the kids finish eating, they usually run around the field or climb the big boulder placed in the field. In the past, there have been swings hung up on the swing set. They were taken down for a while during 2020/2021, but hopefully they’re up again now!