Carley State Park

Carley State Park is a 209-acre preserve with forests, wetlands, and open fields along the North Branch of the Whitewater River. The landscape sits at an elevation of about 1,037 feet.

The land was donated to Minnesota in 1948 by Senator James A. Carley and the Ernestina Bolt family to preserve a native white pine grove. The donation created a protected natural area for future generations.

The Dakota people lived in this valley before European settlement began in 1851 and used it for hunting, farming, and gathering food.

The park provides 20 drive-in campsites, 2 group camping areas, and about 5 miles of hiking trails open year-round. Picnic tables and water access are available throughout the grounds.

The park sits in the Driftless Area, a rare geological region that escaped glaciation during the last ice age. Instead, the region received deposits of fine particles that shaped its distinctive soil structure.

Location: Wabasha County

Inception: 1949

Website: https://dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00130

GPS coordinates: 44.11640,-92.17580

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:03