Alexander Ramsey Park
The Alexander Ramsey Park, about 20 miles from Fairfax, is the largest city park in the state with its 219 acres. The city's website calls it the "Little Yellowstone of Minnesota," because of all its rock formations and waterfalls. The park holds Ramsey Falls, just one of many waterfalls in the area. The park has four miles of trails, a trout stream, a zoo and scenic overlooks.
The campground, operated by the Redwood Falls City Recreation Department, has 31 sites with 50-amp connections in addition to water and sewer hookups for RVs. There are restrooms and showers available. A limited supply of firewood is available without cost.
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Alexander Ramsey Park
333 South Washington Street
Redwood Falls, MN 56283
507-637-5755
ci.redwood-falls.mn.us
Fort Ridgely State Park
Wander around the ruins of a Civil War era fort, the park's namesake, which was significant in Minnesota's history and its battles with Native Americans in 1862. There is a nine-hole golf course built in 1927, hiking and horseback riding and in winter there is snowmobile riding. The park has an amphitheater and a 7.3-mile paved trail.
The park has 39 drive-in sites in creekside and rustic campgrounds. The sites have vegetative screening for privacy. These sites have no utilities. There are restrooms with cold water. There is one pull-through site with full hookups. The park also has 15 sites with electrical hookups. There are three sites 1,000 feet from the parking area that are remote and have primitive camping. Another 25 sites are set up for horses, and 15 of them have water and electricity. There is also one group camping area and cabins and chalets for rent.
Fort Ridgely State Park
72158 County Road 30
Fairfax, MN 55332
507-426-7840
dnr.state.mn.us
Flandrau State Park
Flandrau State Park is about 25 miles south of Fairfax and more flat and with fewer rocks and waterfalls. Still, the area has a lot of waterways. The park is near the Minnesota River and has a lot of hardwoods in the river bottom lands, as well as small lakes, marshes and grasslands. The park has a trails that are used in winter for cross country skiing and for hiking and biking in summer.
This park has 92 sites on three campgrounds. One campground is electric with water, while the other two have no utilities. There are pull-through sites that can handle a 66-foot RV, handicapped-accessible sites, walk-in sites and a group camping area. Two cabins are also available.
The campground has showers, a beach house, group center and public use areas as well as restrooms. The park has a sand bottom pool with chlorinated water.
Flandrau State Park
1300 Summit Avenue
New Ulm, MN 56073
507-233-9800
dnr.state.mn.us
Article Written By James Jordan
James Jordan has been a writer and photographer since 1980. He has worked for newspapers in Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina and Kansas, winning state press association awards for writing, photography and page design. In 1995 he received his master's in Christian education and completed two years of Ancient Greek at the graduate level. Jordan holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism.
