Waite Park, MN.
This winter season Heidi and I have decided to step things up when it comes to getting out and getting some much needed exercise. The weather in Minnesota this winter has been a mix of warmer than normal weather and abundant snow. We have been trying to find places that have or allow winter hiking. There are countless places that have cross country skiing but not many have true winter hiking or multi-use trails. This weekend we were able to find just such a place. We visited Quarry Park and Nature Reserve in Waite Park, MN. Quarry Park and Nature Reserve is a place we had hiked before but this time it would be in the winter.
Heidi and I have hiked Quarry Park a couple of times in the last year and a half but the other times were in the summer and fall. This was my first time to the park in the winter and the park looked like a set from a holiday Hallmark movie. The trees were covered with a thick layer of snow and the sky was a bright blue. The multi-use trails were very well marked and the trails were hard packed. We took our time and walked the majority of the multi-use trails. The trail leads you through the woods, prairie land, and around several of the quarries. The multi-use tails make a large loop and will bring you back to the parking area. The cross country trails are much longer than the multi-use trails and will take you to different parts of the park. The park was busy with snowshoers and cross country skiers and there were a few hikers on the trails. The park is a peaceful place full of nature's beauty and is part of central Minnesota’s history. Here is what we were able to find out about this wonderful park.
Quarry Park and Nature Reserve is located at 1802 County Road 137 Waite Park, MN. The park was formerly used for quarrying large volumes of granite. The park takes up a whopping 684 acres and includes 20 former granite mining quarries. The park has an interesting history and the granite from these quarries has been used in many well known projects. According to the Stearns County website, "Quarry Park and Nature Preserve", formerly known as "Hundred Acres Quarry", is a recent addition to the Stearns County Parks System. Though private ownership of the land by local quarry companies continued until 1992, quarrying operations in the present park area ceased in the mid-1950's. Companies operating quarries on the site during this period were Holes Bros., Delano Granite, Melrose Granite Co., Empire Quarry Co., and C. L. Atwood. Over the years, the land gradually reverted back to a more natural state. In 1992, Stearns County purchased the site from Cold Spring Granite Company and added the land to its County Park System. The park opened on January 1, 1998. By 2002, 323 additional acres had been acquired for the Scientific and Natural Area.”
The park includes many different activities for all ages and abilities. Here are a few of the activities and amenities Quarry park has to offer.
Hiking:
Hard-packed aggregate and natural surface trails for hiking, biking and dog walking.
Winter cross country ski trails that are easy enough for beginners and are lit between the hours of 4pm and 10pm.
Winter multi-use trails for winter hiking, snowshoeing and fat tire biking.
Swimming in the quarries:
Rock Climbing:
Rock Climbing is allowed in designated areas. There is a rock climbing area on the wall of Quarry 17 and a bouldering area by Quarry 20.
SCUBA Diving:
SCUBA Diving is allowed in designated quarries by certified divers or with instructors.
Trout Fishing:
In the Spring, the Minnesota DNR stocks designated quarries with stream trout and these quarries can be accessed in the winter for ice fishing.
Besides the activities mentioned above the park has several picnic areas with tables and grills throughout the park. There are picnic shelters by the parking lot, by Swim Quarry #2, and by Swim Quarry #11. The park is open daily from 8 am to one-half hour after sunset.
For more information about the park check out the park's visitor guide and drone fly over provided by Stearns county.
If you're looking for a place to winter hike, snowshoe, cross country ski, Quarry Park and Nature Reserve is an excellent place to visit. Heidi and I will continue to visit the park through the seasons and will continue to post about our experiences on Instagram and https://www.where2minnesota.com/.
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