Blue Mounds State Park

Enjoy the rugged natural beauty of Minnesota with your furry BFF at Blue Mounds State Park! Tucked in the southwest corner of the state, this scenic site draws myriad outdoor enthusiasts with its magnificent Sioux quartzite cliff, expansive prairie and grassland, and various flora and fauna, which include a resident bison herd. Adventurous pups will definitely appreciate tagging along to this pawsome park, so pack up your doggo and get ready for an unfurgettable outdoor adventure!

Thirteen miles of easy to moderate hiking trails let you and your canine pal explore one of the largest prairie parks in Minnesota. Most of the prairie can be found atop the Sioux quartzite, and many of the trails run along the cliff, which provides an unobstructed vista of the surrounding countryside. You'll also spot patches of prickly pear cactus growing in shallow soils as you and Fido hike along the outcrop. In late summer, hundreds of different wildflowers bloom and grasses grow, making the prairie even more beautiful.

Blue Mounds is also pawpular among rock climbers and offers five areas to scale the quartzite cliff. But before you put climbing chalk on your hands, stop by the park office first to get your climbing permit, which is free and good for one year. Also, make sure someone from your pawty stays with Fido while you're up on the rocks, as doggos may not be left unattended at any time.

If you'd like to spend a couple of days at the park, make yourselves at home in the campground, which has more than 70 drive-in sites. More than half of the sites are equipped with electricity and all three campground loops are situated near the wildlife viewing pond. Whether you stay for a day or a weekend, always keep your pupper on a 6-foot leash and clean up after them.

For a furrific time in southwest Minnesota, look no further than Blue Mounds State Park!