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Visitors who come to Lake Maria State Park will enjoy one of the few remaining stands of the Big Woods, a maple, oak and basswood forest that once covered part of southern Minnesota. The park is perfect for hikers, backpackers, horseback riders, and cross-country skiers who enjoy the challenge of the rolling terrain. Take a stroll on the boardwalk which winds through a marsh. Backpack sites, located on remote lakes and ponds throughout the park, are just two miles from the trailhead parking lot. Lake Maria State Park is home to the Blandings turtle, easily identified by bright yellow spots on its shell. It is one of Minnesota's threatened species.<br><br><b>Directions:</b> The park may be reached from the south via Highway 39 and Wright County Road 111, or from the north via Highway 8, 39 and County Road 111. |