Minnesota's Great Outdoors

 

About

This site was made possible by the Legacy Amendment and shows all state and regional parks and trails that are eligible to receive Legacy funding. The Minnesota Constitution defines Legacy eligibility as “parks and trails of regional or statewide significance.” National and city parks and trails are not Legacy eligible and are not included in the site, nor are other outdoor recreation facilities that are not part of the state’s Parks and Trails system, such as standalone boat launches or wildlife management areas.

To obtain maps, full details and the most current information about any location, click through to its website.

The project is a partnership between:

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The DNR manages 75 Minnesota state parks and recreation areas with over 5,000 campsites statewide, as well as 35 state water trails, over 3,000 public boat launches, 360 fishing piers, and over 1,300 miles of state trails, including over 600 paved miles.

Metropolitan Council. With 54 parks and park reserves, almost 400 miles of interconnected trails, and 8 special recreation features, the system provides a wealth of opportunities for recreation, exercise, and just plain fun. This system is managed in partnership with the 10 regional park implementing agencies.

Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC). The GMRPTC manages grants and system planning for parks and trails of regional significance in counties and cities outside the seven-county metropolitan area.

The project partners contracted with Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) to develop and host the website. MNIT is the State of Minnesota’s IT organization, providing IT services to over 70 agencies, boards and commissions. MNIT’s Geospatial Information Office leverages the talents of the state's geospatial community to ensure that Minnesota maximizes its potential in using GIS to bring together disparate data to solve problems.