Minnesota DNR Issues Alert Urging Visitors To Check Website Before Heading To State Parks Right Now

The Minnesota DNR recently put out an alert to people looking to visit state parks this spring, urging potential visitors to check the park's website before visiting.

The message has been sparked by some unwanted surprises that might await visitors hoping to enjoy a day at one of Minnesota's many state parks or on one of the state's managed trails this spring.

What is the Minnesota DNR warning people about?

As the Minnesota DNR highlighted in a social media post a few days ago, this spring's "yo-yoing weather" has been creating unsafe conditions on trails across the state. These conditions can present not just a messy situation, but potentially unsafe conditions for visitors.

The ongoing freeze-thaw cycle this spring mixed in with bursts of snow like what was seen recently in Southern Minnesota or expected in Northern Minnesota is making for conditions you might not expect before visiting.

READ MORE: The best Minnesota state parks to avoid big crowds

Depending on what part of the state you're hoping to visit a park in, there are still trails in forested areas that are ice-covered or slushy and can lead to slippery conditions while out for a walk or hike.

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In other places, extreme levels of water and mud can present real challenges in getting around some of Minnesota's state park trails. As highlighted by the DNR, trails at parks like Nerstrand Big Woods State Park have water as deep as 8 inches on them in places, prompting some trail closures.

What should you do before planning a visit to a Minnesota State Park?

The best advice is to check the park's website and social media to see if there are any conditions updates or trail closures. While springtime's ever-changing conditions are a great example, this can be a good idea any time of year.

At the top of the homepage for each park is an area where any applicable alerts or notices can be found, just like the orange box in the image above.

These alerts can include things like trail conditions, facility or trail closures, and other important information visitors should know before visiting.

Checking this before heading to a park can make sure you don't get surprised by something like a closure that will impact your visit. You can access all of Minnesota's state parks and managed trails from this list.