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Blue Mounds
Overview
Blue Mounds State Park offers a striking landscape that deviates from the typical woodland scenery of Minnesota. Located near Luverne, this park is famous for its dramatic pink Sioux Quartzite cliffs that rise up to 100 feet and its thriving resident bison herd. RV travelers will find a serene environment where the tallgrass prairie meets the sky, providing a unique backdrop for a quiet getaway focused on natural beauty and the historic geological formations that define the ancient history of this region.
Location & Surroundings
Situated in the southwestern corner of the state near the South Dakota border, the park sits atop a massive rampart of stone. The surroundings are characterized by vast tallgrass prairies that once covered much of North America. Conveniently located just off Interstate 90, the park is a short drive from the city of Luverne. This location provides easy access to local services while maintaining a feeling of remote wilderness overlooking the expansive Big Sioux River valley and the surrounding agricultural plains.
Amenities & Park Features
The campground accommodates RVers with numerous electric hookup sites designed to handle various rig sizes. The park provides several essential features for a comfortable and convenient stay:
- Seasonal modern restrooms and showers
- A sanitary dump station for RV waste management
- Spacious sites equipped with fire rings and picnic tables
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
The primary draw is observing the purebred bison herd through organized tours or from designated viewing platforms. For adventurous travelers, the quartzite cliffs provide some of the best rock climbing opportunities in the plains. You can also explore the paved Blue Mounds Trail, which connects the park directly to the city of Luverne for cycling or walking. Additionally, the historic home of author Frederick Manfred, which serves as an interpretive center, offers deep dives into local culture and regional history.
Who This Park Is Best For
This destination is ideal for nature enthusiasts and photographers who appreciate unique geological features and prairie wildlife. It is a fantastic choice for RVers looking for a peaceful, rustic experience rather than a high-activity commercial resort. Families who enjoy educational outdoor experiences and avid bird watchers seeking rare prairie species will find the quiet atmosphere of Blue Mounds State Park particularly rewarding, making it a perfect stop for those who value tranquility and the Great Plains landscape.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Bridger Davis
Blue Mounds state park is a great park in the middle of a seemingly unremarkable part of the state. One of the hikes across the prairie is hot and unshaded, so bring lots of water and dress lightly in the Summer months! The bur oak trail on the South side of the park is beautiful and there are even some giant boulders to climb on, too! There's relatively few trails/things to explore at this park, so savor the things you do here.
Sarah Martin
We were in Sioux Falls and made a side trip to do the Bison Tour. Don’t trust Google maps as the visitor center isn’t where the app says- not the parks fault though as it is so hard to get wrong locations adjusted. Don’t turn at the signs for the rocks- go up two more roads. The tour guide was friendly, knowledgeable, very nice. We were lucky to have the herd come very close to the open air tram. We got to see the youngest baby and the big bull both close up. Allows you to get a real appreciation for how massive they are. Reasonable price compared to other similar opportunities elsewhere and it helps support their conservation efforts. If you’re in the area and enjoy nature at all, I would recommend the Blue Mounds Bison Tour.
Craig Venske
The road through the park,picnic area and beach all closed on July 3rd ...the interpretive center is boarded up....the equinox rock alignment is overgrown, they don't even have a sign for it or a trail following it, the trail goes over it and you can hardly tell it's there with all the shrubs. I've been wanting to come here for years and I'm disappointed in the poor shape of the park. The hiking a rock cliff is amazing! Loved the buffalo/ prairie tour.
DLM-Distribution Campervans
We really enjoyed our stay at Blue Mounds State Park. It’s a well-kept park with nicely laid out campground. Hiking trails start just steps from the campsites, making it easy to explore the park on foot. Clean restrooms, peaceful atmosphere, and wide-open skies made it a relaxing getaway. Definitely worth the trip!
Dawn J
Blue Mounds is a lovely and quiet state park in the southwest corner of Minnesota. We stayed for two nights at their campground. The sites are well spaced and provided ample room for our truck and 25-foot trailer. Sites have electric hookups only, but water is available throughout the camp ground. There is also a dump station available. Our site was reasonably level and only required a little help. The campground has private shower stalls, which were clean and well maintained. The water was very hot, which was nice since the temps were in the 40s during our stay. The park has several miles of relatively flat and easy trails. We enjoyed hikes both days, even with the cooler weather. The park also has a 6-mile bike trail that riders can follow into town. We didn't get close views of the Bison, but we did see them in the distance. Overall, this was a lovely state park, and we will likely return when. The weather is a little nicer.