09-29-2007, 03:10 AM
Recent flooding has closed Whitewater State Park, Minnesota's second busiest state park campground. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) hopes to fill the void by suggesting alternative locations to visitors looking for recreation and camping opportunities this fall at nearby state parks.
"Although we hope to be able to reopen Whitewater for day visits sometime later this fall, the campgrounds in the park will not be available for use until next spring," said Courtland Nelson, DNR director of Parks and Recreation
The DNR is encouraging visitors who regularly camped at Whitewater to consider seeing what other state parks have to offer.
"Campgrounds at nearby Forestville/Mystery Cave, Great River Bluffs, Rice Lake, Beaver Creek Valley and Carley state parks all are available for camping this fall," Nelson said. "Visitors who love Whitewater for its bluffs and river streams will find a similar landscape in Beaver Creek Valley State Park."
Nelson said that Forestville, Rice Lake and Beaver Creek Valley have electric sites and can accommodate RVs or camping units with a length limit of 50 feet from the front of the tow vehicle to the rear of the vehicle being towed. Great River Bluffs does not have electric sites but can accommodate RV/Camping units up to 60 feet in length.
"A change for state parks this year is that the campground in Carley State Park in southeastern Minnesota will remain open through Oct. 21, weather permitting," Nelson said. "Carley is a beautiful little park where camping is more rustic since there is no modern sanitation building. It can accommodate RVs and campers with a maximum length limit of 30 feet."
All of the parks have hiking trails, fishing opportunities and picnic areas and all except Great River Bluffs have handicapped accessible picnic shelters. Parks with showers and modern restroom facilities will be kept open until a hard or continued frost occurs. Then water lines will be drained and these facilities will close for the season. At that time, camping rates will be reduced to reflect the rustic conditions. For information on the availability of facilities, visitors should check the "Seasonal Update" information on each state park home page at www.mnstateparks.info.
The distance from Whitewater State Park to each of the alternative park locations is as follows:
Carley-10 miles northwest in Plainview
Great River Bluffs-30 miles east near Winona<br />
Rice Lake-45 miles west near Owatonna<br />
Forestville/Mystery Cave-45 miles southwest near Preston<br />
Beaver Creek Valley-65 miles southeast in Caledonia<br />
For more information, contact the DNR Information Center at (651) 296-6157 or toll-free 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367).
"Although we hope to be able to reopen Whitewater for day visits sometime later this fall, the campgrounds in the park will not be available for use until next spring," said Courtland Nelson, DNR director of Parks and Recreation
The DNR is encouraging visitors who regularly camped at Whitewater to consider seeing what other state parks have to offer.
"Campgrounds at nearby Forestville/Mystery Cave, Great River Bluffs, Rice Lake, Beaver Creek Valley and Carley state parks all are available for camping this fall," Nelson said. "Visitors who love Whitewater for its bluffs and river streams will find a similar landscape in Beaver Creek Valley State Park."
Nelson said that Forestville, Rice Lake and Beaver Creek Valley have electric sites and can accommodate RVs or camping units with a length limit of 50 feet from the front of the tow vehicle to the rear of the vehicle being towed. Great River Bluffs does not have electric sites but can accommodate RV/Camping units up to 60 feet in length.
"A change for state parks this year is that the campground in Carley State Park in southeastern Minnesota will remain open through Oct. 21, weather permitting," Nelson said. "Carley is a beautiful little park where camping is more rustic since there is no modern sanitation building. It can accommodate RVs and campers with a maximum length limit of 30 feet."
All of the parks have hiking trails, fishing opportunities and picnic areas and all except Great River Bluffs have handicapped accessible picnic shelters. Parks with showers and modern restroom facilities will be kept open until a hard or continued frost occurs. Then water lines will be drained and these facilities will close for the season. At that time, camping rates will be reduced to reflect the rustic conditions. For information on the availability of facilities, visitors should check the "Seasonal Update" information on each state park home page at www.mnstateparks.info.
The distance from Whitewater State Park to each of the alternative park locations is as follows:
Carley-10 miles northwest in Plainview
Great River Bluffs-30 miles east near Winona<br />
Rice Lake-45 miles west near Owatonna<br />
Forestville/Mystery Cave-45 miles southwest near Preston<br />
Beaver Creek Valley-65 miles southeast in Caledonia<br />
For more information, contact the DNR Information Center at (651) 296-6157 or toll-free 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367).