Banning State Park

Facts checked against official sources on November 11, 2026

Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

At a glance

Status: Mostly closed from Nov. 9, 2026; planned reopening October 2027
Campground: Closed through the 2027 season; expected to reopen May 2028
Still open: Eldon climbing area, state snowmobile trails, two water accesses
Nearby camping: Willow River state forest campground, I-35 Exit 205, May 1 to Oct. 31
Location: Off I-35 at Exit 195, near Sandstone
Vehicle permit: $7 a day or $35 a year (once the park reopens)

In this guide

The construction closure
Where to camp instead
Trails and things to do (when the park reopens)
Camping and lodging (from May 2028)
Fees and permits
Getting there
Before you go

Short answer: Banning State Park, off I-35 at Exit 195 near Sandstone, is mostly closed to the public from November 9, 2026, until a planned reopening in October 2027 while the DNR rebuilds its day-use area and campground. The campground is not expected back until May 2028. During the closure you can still use the Eldon climbing area, the state snowmobile trails, two public water accesses, and the park-managed Willow River state forest campground (36 drive-in sites, first come, first served, May 1 to October 31).

This guide is for anyone who searched for Banning and needs to know what is open right now, and for people planning a 2027 or 2028 trip around the Kettle River rapids, the old sandstone quarry and the camping. It covers the closure, the nearby alternatives, the park's trails and campsites as the DNR describes them, and what it costs. Facts come from the Minnesota DNR park page, the DNR's Banning construction page and the 2026 park map unless noted.

The construction closure

The DNR says visitation at Banning "has tripled since 2020" and the park's infrastructure is outdated. The project doubles the main parking lot, adds a parking lot at a trail crossing, and adds accessible picnic areas, vault toilets and water spigots. In the campground, it adds a new shower building with accessible single-occupancy showers, family-assist restrooms, an adult changing station and dishwashing stations, and upgrades several campsites for accessibility.

Closed during construction	Open during construction
Campground	Eldon climbing area (park at Robinson Quarry Park)
All parking areas	State snowmobile trails that pass through the park
All trails within the park	Public water access at Highway 23
Picnic area and ranger station	Public water access at Robinson Quarry Park
Teacher's Overlook climbing area	Willow River state forest campground (May 1 to Oct. 31)
Camper cabin, watercraft campsites, in-park water access, RV dump station

The DNR's schedule: the park closed November 9, 2026; the park and new day-use area are to reopen in October 2027; the campground is to reopen in May 2028. As of November 2026, the DNR park page lists the office as "Closed during construction." Check the construction page before any trip, since the dates are estimates.

Where to camp instead

Banning's staff also manage the Willow River Campground on Zalesky Lake, at I-35 Exit 205 in General C.C. Andrews State Forest. The DNR lists:

	Detail
Season	May 1 to October 31
Sites	36 drive-in and 2 hike-in
Booking	First come, first served
Facilities	Vault toilets and a hand pump for drinking water
Group camp	Tent-only Willow River Group Camp for up to 50 people, reservable
Fee	DNR general state forest rates: drive-in sites $17 a night, group sites $50 a night, tax included

For other state park campgrounds in the region, see the Moose Lake State Park, St. Croix State Park and Jay Cooke State Park guides.

A trail beside a mossy sandstone ledge under pines and hardwoods in Banning State Park, Minnesota — Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Trails and things to do (when the park reopens)

The DNR record lists 17 miles of hiking trail, a 1.8-mile self-guided trail starting at the picnic area lot, a 0.1-mile accessible trail and 1 mile of paved bike trail. The Willard Munger State Trail is a five-mile drive away, or six miles by the bike lane on Highway 61, which the DNR calls busy. In winter, 6 miles of snowmobile trail connect to the Munger trail, and skiing and snowshoeing are allowed on any trail except groomed snowmobile trails.

The park map names these routes:

Trail	Distance	Terrain (DNR map)	What you see
Quarry Loop Trail	1.8-mile loop	Mostly flat, packed dirt, rock	Ruins of the sandstone quarry, river views, Hell's Gate Rapids
Wolf Creek Falls Loop	4-mile loop	Steep, grass, rock	Upland forest to a 20-foot waterfall in the woods
Upper and Lower Skunk Cabbage trails	1.5 and 0.6 miles, one way	Some steep, mowed grass	Wildflowers and birds along the river; can be very wet in spring
Big Spring Falls Trail	0.4 miles one way	Mostly flat, packed dirt	Waterfall views in the park's southern unit, reached by driving through Sandstone

The Kettle River and the quarry

The DNR calls the Kettle River "a favorite of whitewater paddlers," with five sets of rapids rated Class III to V. In spring, the DNR says, paddlers run Blueberry Slide, Mother's Delight, Dragon's Tooth and Hell's Gate. The DNR describes the valley narrowing to a gorge worn 100 feet deep into Precambrian sandstone, and at Hell's Gate the river runs between sheer cliffs that rise 40 feet above the water. The map warns the river "has powerful currents and is not recommended for swimming."

The park is named for the Banning sandstone quarry and town site inside it, both named for William L. Banning, a former president of the St. Paul and Duluth railroad. The map describes the quarry as 130 years old, with a quarry wall that "still bears the marks of steam-powered drills" and the remains of the rock crusher and power house.

Climbing

The DNR says sandstone cliffs rise 40 feet above the river for rock climbing and bouldering, and a free climbing permit is required. The Eldon climbing area stays open during construction, with parking at Robinson Quarry Park. Teacher's Overlook is closed.

Camping and lodging (from May 2028)

When the campground reopens, the DNR record describes:

Site type	Count (DNR)	Notes
Drive-in	33, wooded, one campground	Long pads, tight turning radius to back in
Electric	11	20 and 30 amp
Canoe-in	5, along the Kettle River	Closed fall 2026 through fall 2027
Camper cabin	1, accessible	Sleeps five; no electricity or heat; April to mid-November; no pets
RV length limit	50 feet	Front of tow vehicle to rear of trailer

Showers and the dump station are also expected back for the 2028 season. Campsites at Minnesota state parks need a reservation, made up to 120 days ahead through ReserveMN; on the first day a date opens, online booking starts at 8 a.m. Central, per the DNR reservation FAQ. Our Minnesota state park reservation guide explains the process.

Fees and permits

From the DNR vehicle permit page and fee schedule, before tax:

Item	Price
One-day vehicle permit	$7 (overnight permit same price, valid to 4 p.m. next day)
Year-round vehicle permit	$35
Drive-in campsite	$20 to $35 a night
Electric hookup	add $10 a night
Camper cabin	$80 to $90 a night
State forest drive-in site (DNR general rate, applies at Willow River)	$17 a night, tax included
Reservation fee	$8 online, $10 by phone; none for same-day

The year-round permit covers every Minnesota state park for a year from the month of purchase, so it can be used at other state parks while Banning is closed. For multi-night stays, ask the park which permit covers your whole stay; the year-round permit covers every visit for a year.

Getting there

The DNR directions: leave I-35 at Exit 195 and follow the signs. Sandstone is the nearest town, and the park is in Pine County. Willow River Campground is at Exit 205. Browse the rest of the Duluth and I-35 region for parks along the same drive.

Before you go

Check the construction page for updated dates; most of the park is closed until October 2027.
Climbers: park at Robinson Quarry Park for the Eldon area and carry a free climbing permit.
For camping before May 2028, plan on Willow River (first come, first served) or another state park.
Paddlers: the DNR advises calling the park for Kettle River conditions; the rapids are Class III to V.
Snowmobilers can still ride the state trails through the park.