Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

The 2,882-acre park contains forests, meadows, and wetlands with a network of trails leading through hardwood groves and limestone formations.

The park, established in 1945, preserves a section of the Big Woods that covered southeast Minnesota before European settlers arrived in the 1840s.

The name Nerstrand derives from Nedstrand in Norway, reflecting the Norwegian settlement heritage of the surrounding region in Minnesota.

Visitors can access hiking trails, camping facilities, and educational programs throughout the year, with snowshoeing options during winter months.

The park protects a population of dwarf trout lilies, an endangered flower species that grows naturally only in three Minnesota counties.

Location: Rice County

Inception: 1945

Address: 9700 170th Street East, Nerstrand, MN 55053

Phone: +15073846140

Email: nerstrand.statepark@state.mn.us

Website: https://dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00241

GPS coordinates: 44.34702,-93.10379

Latest update: May 10, 2025 23:43