Lake Maria State Park
| Lake Maria State Park | |
|---|---|
 Lake Maria State Park in autumn | |
  Location of Lake Maria State Park in Minnesota  Lake Maria State Park (the United States) | |
| Location | Wright County, Minnesota, United States |
| Coordinates | 45°18′49″N 93°57′25″W / 45.31361°N 93.95694°W |
| Area | 1,475 acres (5.97 km2) |
| Elevation | 981 ft (299 m)[1] |
| Established | 1963 |
| Governing body | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources |
Lake Maria State Park (
Natural history
The St. Croix
Flora and fauna
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The park's vegetation consists of Big Woods (
The forest edge and wetland habitats support mammalian species including
Cultural history
The park was first proposed in 1947 in a deal in which the U.S. Forest Service would acquire the land and trade it to the state for state-owned land within Superior National Forest. The deal fell through because the USFS would not use eminent domain to buy the land from the various current owners. Lake Maria State Park was re-authorized in a 1963 bill that authorized fourteen state parks. Land acquisition through eminent domain began and the park officially opened in 1971. The concept for the park emphasized conservation over recreation, and so hike-in campsites were made in lieu of a drive-in campground. The park was expanded to the north and west in 1980 to include the whole shoreline of Maria Lake. Incidentally the lake originally called Maria Lake was renamed Bjorkland Lake by the DNR, and "Maria Lake" became an arm of Silver Lake, which lies mostly outside the park's western boundary.[3]
Recreation
Lake Maria State Park does not have a traditional drive-in campground. Instead 17 backpacking sites and three camper cabins are scattered throughout the park, only accessible by a hike of .5 to 1 mile (0.80 to 1.61 km). Two primitive group camps are accessible by road, each accommodating groups of up to 50 people. A picnic area along the shore of Lake Maria features fire rings, grills, and drinking water.[4]
Maria Lake has a public boat ramp and some rental canoes. Only outboard motors under 20 hp (15 kW) are allowed on the lake. Bjorkland Lake has a canoe launch but watercraft must be portaged in. There is a fishing pier on Maria Lake near the picnic area. Game fish in Maria and Bjorkland include crappie, bass, bluegill, northern pike, bullhead, and perch.[2]
The park has 14 miles (23 km) of trails, 6 miles (9.7 km) of which are open to horseback riding. The 1-mile (1.6 km) Zumbrunnen and Forest Shadow Trails each boast interpretive signage. The park's trail center features interpretive displays, modern restrooms, and indoor picnic tables. It is open all year, serving as a warming hut in the winter.[4]
Lake Maria State Park accommodates a variety of winter activities. 14 miles (23 km) of trail are
References
- ^ "Lake Maria State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. March 25, 1999. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Lake Maria State Park" (PDF). Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. January 2005. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ ISBN 0-8735-1266-9.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Lake Maria State Park". Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
External links
