Bluffs above the Mississippi at Great River Bluffs State Park

Bluff Country

Southeast Minnesota's river bluffs, trout streams and caves along the Mississippi and its tributaries.

Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain

Planning guides

Clear Beaver Creek flowing around beds of green aquatic plants between bare wooded slopes in Beaver Creek Valley State Park

Beaver Creek Valley State Park

Beaver Creek Valley State Park planning guide: 42 drive-in and 9 cart-in campsites, trout fishing rules, Big Spring and the bluff trails, fees and season dates.

Concrete stepping blocks crossing the North Branch Whitewater River to a trail on the far bank at Carley State Park

Carley State Park

Carley State Park planning guide: the May bluebells on the Wildflower Trail, 20 rustic campsites (closed for 2026), trout fishing, winter access and permits.

A banded flowstone formation called cave bacon hanging from a rock ledge inside Mystery Cave in southeastern Minnesota

Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park

Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park guide: Mystery Cave tour prices and season, 73 campsites, camper cabins, horse camp, trout streams and Historic Forestville.

Lake Pepin seen from a limestone bluff top at Frontenac State Park, with bare trees and the far shore in warm low light

Frontenac State Park

Frontenac State Park planning guide: 58 bluff-top campsites, the In Yan Teopa rock and Lake Pepin trails, birding season, winter skiing, fees and closures.

The Mississippi River and its wooded floodplain seen through leafy branches from a bluff in Great River Bluffs State Park

Great River Bluffs State Park

Great River Bluffs State Park planning guide: the King's Bluff and overlook trails, 31 reservable non-electric campsites, fall color, winter skiing and permits.

View from the bluff at John A. Latsch State Park over Highway 61 and the wide Mississippi River below wooded bluffs

John A. Latsch State Park

John A. Latsch State Park guide: the half-mile Riverview Trail stairs up Charity Bluff, the permit-free lot on Highway 61, and where to camp nearby.

Silhouetted trees and a picnic table on the shore of Lake Louise at sunset, Lake Louise State Park

Lake Louise State Park

Lake Louise State Park near LeRoy: 20 drive-in campsites, a six-site horse camp, the swimming beach, Shooting Star bike trail access and current fees.

Albert Lea Lake framed by bare tree branches, with a wooded shoreline beyond, at Myre-Big Island State Park

Myre-Big Island State Park

Myre-Big Island State Park near Albert Lea: 93 drive-in sites, the camper cabin, year-round camping, Big Island and esker trails, rentals and fees.

Hidden Falls spilling over a wide limestone ledge into a shallow pool in the forest at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

Nerstrand Big Woods State Park guide: the half-mile walk to Hidden Falls, 51 drive-in and 10 walk-in or cart-in sites, wildflower season, parking and permits.

Rice Lake in fall seen past a tree and tall golden marsh grass at Rice Lake State Park near Owatonna

Rice Lake State Park

Rice Lake State Park near Owatonna: 40 drive-in sites plus walk-in, cart-in and canoe-in camping, paddle rentals, migration birding, trails and fees.

The paved Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail running straight through green summer woods in Sakatah Lake State Park

Sakatah Lake State Park

Sakatah Lake State Park planning guide: 62 campsites and bike-in sites, the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail, lake fishing and paddling, fees and seasons.

View from a sandstone ledge on the Chimney Rock Trail over wooded bluffs and the Whitewater River in early spring

Whitewater State Park

Whitewater State Park planning guide: 110 campsites and winter camping, Chimney Rock and the bluff trails, trout fishing, fees and current road and hunt closures.

State parks in this region

12 state parks. Compare all 64 in the park finder.

ParkNearest townCampingDetails
Beaver Creek ValleyCaledonia42 drive-in, 16 electric, 9 cart-in; camper cabinsOur guide
DNR page
CarleyPlainview20 drive-inOur guide
DNR page
Forestville/Mystery CaveWykoff73 drive-in, 23 electric; camper cabinsOur guide
DNR page
FrontenacRed Wing58 drive-in, 19 electric, 6 cart-in, 2 backpackOur guide
DNR page
Great River BluffsWinona31 drive-in, 4 cart-inOur guide
DNR page
John A. LatschWinonaNo campingOur guide
DNR page
Lake LouiseLeRoydrive-inOur guide
DNR page
Myre-Big IslandAlbert Lea93 drive-in, 32 electric, 5 backpack; camper cabinsOur guide
DNR page
Nerstrand Big WoodsNerstrand51 drive-in, 27 electric, 6 cart-in, 4 walk-inOur guide
DNR page
Rice LakeOwatonnadrive-in, electric, cart-in, walk-in, canoe-inOur guide
DNR page
Sakatah LakeWaterville62 drive-in, 14 electric; camper cabinsOur guide
DNR page
WhitewaterSt. Charlesdrive-in, electric, cart-in; camper cabinsOur guide
DNR page

Source: Minnesota DNR park data, retrieved November 11, 2026. Check the DNR page before you go.