Hike the Dakota Valley Trail at Camden State Park

The easy 2.4 mile hike follows the route of the Dakota Valley trail. Beginning at the swimming beach, located at the very bottom of the Redwood River Valley, the trail slowly climbs, winding its way through all of the different ecosystems the park has to offer. It summits at an overlook where you can see the river and much of the valley, a view best seen during peak fall color season.

For most of the hike, you'll be following the top edge of the steep river bluffs, weaving between forests and prairies. The trail eventually backtracks, cuts through the prairie and oak savannas at the top of the ridge, and then rapidly descends back to the hollow where you began. If its a hot day, cool off with swim in the lake at the trailhead, explore more of the park's trails, and then head the nearby town of Marshall for a brew and some rural Minnesota culture.

If you're looking to make this an overnight adventure, details for Camden's campground can be found here.