Frontenac State Park, State park in Goodhue County, Minnesota, United States.
Frontenac State Park is a Minnesota state park along the shore of Lake Pepin, a wide section of the Mississippi River in southeastern Minnesota. The park covers forested hillsides, limestone bluffs, and open meadows that slope down toward the river.
The park was established in 1957 by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to protect the forests and shorelines along Lake Pepin. Around that time, Minnesota began setting aside river valley land before development could reach it.
Frontenac State Park is well known among bird watchers because it sits along a major migration corridor, and the mix of river, forest, and open fields draws a wide range of species. Visitors who come in spring or fall can spot hundreds of songbirds and waterfowl resting along the Mississippi valley.
The park has trails for different fitness levels, from easy walks near the river to steeper paths along the bluffs. In winter, some routes are marked for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
The park's limestone bluffs were one of the first sites in Minnesota where peregrine falcons were reintroduced after their sharp decline in the 1970s. The birds now nest here regularly, and visitors can sometimes spot them in flight from the trails.
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