Go take a hike: The best state parks in Minnesota and Iowa
It seems like many of us are more ready than ever to explore and travel this summer.
But where to?
While many plan costly trips to National Parks across the country, there are hidden treasures at many State Parks in Minnesota and Iowa.
Travel + Leisure has a list of the 50 best state parks in the United States.
As for the best-in-show…
Itasca State Park earned the mention for Minnesota:
As you might expect from a Minnesota state park, Itasca has over 100 lakes within its boundaries. But what really makes this park special is the fact that it contains the headwaters of the Mississippi River.
Explore.
Dream.
Discover.Itasca State Park is a famous natural and cultural landmark in North America, with more than 32,000 acres, 100 lakes. It’s where Mississippi River starts its winding 2,552 mile journey to the Gulf of Mexico.#Minnesota The North Star State#travelUSA🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/igONEJIPpv
— 🌸 Sophie 🌼 (@lacsd) May 29, 2020
In Iowa, the prize goes to Backbone State Park:
From caves and trout fishing to climbing and biking, Backbone State Park has it all. You can spend the morning on the 21-mile trail system before hiding out in the shade of Backbone Cave.
On this day in 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt founded the Civilian Conservation Corps, which worked in more than 80 Iowa state parks! 💪 🔨
8 historical CCC state parks to visit: https://t.co/wpCFM3t9sQ#IowaStateParks #IowaHistory
Pictured: Backbone State Park pic.twitter.com/eXnhX7okRr— Iowa DNR (@iowadnr) March 31, 2021
You can find more information about local State Parks here: