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Nerstrand Big Woods
Overview
Nerstrand Big Woods State Park offers a rare glimpse into the past, preserving one of the last remaining stretches of the original Big Woods forest in the region. This park is a lush escape characterized by an extensive maple-basswood canopy that provides deep shade and a vibrant ecosystem for local wildlife. For RVers, it offers a tranquil environment where the focus remains entirely on the natural world and the changing seasonal beauty of the Minnesota landscape.
Location & Surroundings
Located just outside the quiet community of Nerstrand, Minnesota, the park is nestled in the heart of Rice County. The journey to the park involves driving through scenic rural landscapes where open farmland eventually transitions into a dense, towering woodland. This unique geographical pocket feels isolated from the bustle of modern life, providing a peaceful backdrop for travelers exploring the southern reaches of the state while remaining easily accessible for a weekend getaway.
Amenities & Park Features
The campground is well-suited for those who appreciate a semi-modern camping experience. It features 27 electric RV sites that accommodate various rig sizes within a heavily wooded setting, ensuring privacy and a sense of immersion in nature. Visitors have access to essential facilities, including seasonal dump stations, modern showers, and flush toilets. The park also maintains well-groomed trails and designated picnic areas, ensuring that guests have a comfortable base of operations during their stay.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
The most famous landmark within the park is Hidden Falls, a beautiful waterfall that is easily reached via a scenic hiking trail and serves as a favorite spot for photography. Beyond the falls, the park is a premier destination for bird watching and botany, specifically to catch a glimpse of the endangered Minnesota dwarf trout lily during the spring bloom. With over 11 miles of hiking trails and dedicated space for winter snowmobiling, there is always a reason to explore the diverse terrain.
Who This Park Is Best For
This destination is perfect for nature photographers and hikers who want to immerse themselves in a unique deciduous forest environment. It is particularly well-suited for solitude seekers and RV owners who prefer a quiet, state-park atmosphere over the high-activity environment of a commercial resort. Families will also find it rewarding, as the manageable trails and educational opportunities make it a great spot for teaching children about the region's natural history.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
- Hunting Nearby (within 20 miles)
User Reviews
Jenn Jones
Great Park with some really nice trails. Park ranger Andy there super nice and very knowledgeable. Beautiful area with the hidden falls. Learned a lot about trees and rock formations that was super interesting. Also learned about a specific species of flowers that only grows in three counties in Minnesota and nowhere else in the world! Would be an absolutely fantastic field trip for a school or a group of homeschool kids.
Andrea Giddings
Our first time here and we highly recommend. Thursday afternoon was perfect, Hardly anyone here. Beautiful park with clearly marked and well maintained trails. Check the website for the rangers hours (limited right now), you may need to purchase day pass online. Our planned destination was hidden falls. Not a lot of water this time, but still a beautiful hike! Dog friendly.
Kathleen Fetterly
It’s a great gift to the area that this special place is set aside. A lot of nice hills and beautiful trees. Good heart workout and nice hiking club hike. There are areas of ropes which are intended to preserve an endangered species. One of the farther east trails absolutely stinks from a chicken farm nearby. Otherwise, it is a great place and I hope to go back soon.
Tim Schindler
Nerstrand Big Woods State Park is a surprising hidden gem among the prairie and farmland of southern Minnesota. It offers lots of well cared for hiking trails with moderate elevation changes. There are a number of interesting interpretive markers. Prairie Creek is very shallow, so the water flow of Hidden Falls varies greatly depending on recent rainfall. The photos and videos included in this review are after a couple days of rain.
DLM-Distribution Campervans
Nerstrand Big Woods State Park is a peaceful, wooded retreat that’s perfect for hiking and camping. The trails wind through a beautiful hardwood forest, with the most popular being the hike to Hidden Falls—a short and easy walk that’s worth every step. Hidden Falls is a charming limestone waterfall tucked into the woods, and on warm days, it’s a magnet for kids and adults alike. Many visitors enjoy splashing in the cool water or relaxing near the base of the falls. It’s a great spot to take a break, dip your feet, and enjoy nature up close. The campground is small and cozy, with sites nestled under the trees. While the sites are fairly close together, they’re well-maintained, and the setting is peaceful. This campground tends to fill quickly, especially on weekends, so reservations are highly recommended. Overall, it’s a great destination for an easy hike, a refreshing waterfall visit, and a quiet camping experience in southern Minnesota.
Kate Horejsi
Gorgeous state park filled with many mature maple trees with rolling hills to hike. The spring flowers at Nerstrand can't be missed but observing the changing seasons at the park is fun any time of the year. Staff at the park have always been friendly and helpful.
Joy Chepkirui
Very nice place with hidden falls. Love the nature though it was winter and most trails were closed.
London Garry
I live very close to this state park, and it is always a pleasure to visit. The trails are very well maintained, easy to follow, and have a range of difficulties. If you're looking for a nice outing with plenty to explore, this state park is perfect for you. I have visited in all seasons and it's just as beautiful. There are plenty of animals as well, as I have seen many birds, deer, squirrels, and chipmunks. If you want to see the falls in all its glory, go during waterfall season (Spring), otherwise it's slightly underwhelming in my opinion.
Trina Brunk
Oh, my heart. The waterfall here is just the best. And I love the community feeling— Many people can gather here and it doesn’t feel crowded, just very sweet Lots of beautiful trails, and I love meandering down the creek but for me, it all comes back to the waterfall. Have yet to go camping, but we would like to at some point, because from the looks of it, there are a lot of good campsite choices.
Jerome Liggett
Enjoyed a few hours of hiking on a Saturday. Plenty of parking with 2 areas both right next to the trails. The hike to the falls is not far and well worth it. Trails are well maintained but watch out for the roots. Plenty of hills for the exercise but not bad for the average hiker. Some may want to take a break but trails are wide enough that you can stop and not block others. Signs at all the trail intersections so finding your way around is simple enough. Camping area looked well maintained and is in walking distance to Ranger Station for firewood. We stayed on the Northern side trails but would definitely return to try the trails on the southern side.