Minnesota State Parks Now Facing Closures Due To Flooding

It has been a rough week of weather across the southern half of Minnesota. Earlier this week, severe storms swept across southern Minnesota and Wisconsin, bringing damaging winds, large hail, and round after round of heavy rain. Now that the storms have moved on, they've left a new problem behind: water, and a lot of it.

Reports indicate that up to 8 inches of rain fell overnight across parts of southeast Minnesota, triggering a string of flash flood warnings from the National Weather Service. Downtown Lanesboro alone recorded 4.72 inches, and the Root River spilled over its banks.

The flooding has been serious enough to shut down major roads, including a stretch of Interstate 90 in Mower County that was closed in both directions. Because road conditions change by the hour, check the state's live 511 travel map before traveling in Southern Minnesota.

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The high water is now hitting one of Minnesota's favorite summer destinations, too: state parks. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, several parks and trails in the southeast corner of the state are fully or partially closed heading into the Fourth of July weekend.

Beaver Creek Valley State Park Is Closed Until Further Notice

The hardest-hit spot is Beaver Creek Valley State Park near Caledonia, which is closed until further notice. Flooding from the heavy rainfall on July 1 and 2 has left park roads underwater and damaged a bridge, and the park is currently inaccessible to visitors. It will stay closed until the water recedes and DNR crews can check for safety hazards.

Photo provided by Minnesota DNR

Mystery Cave Tours Are Suspended Until Further Notice

At Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park, the Mystery Cave unit is closed and cave tours are suspended until further notice. The Forestville side of the park and its campgrounds remain open, though some park roads and sites are seeing minor flooding — and with more heavy rain in the forecast, conditions there could change.

No Travel Advised On The Root River State Trail

The Root River State Trail — one of the most beloved biking routes in the state — has washouts and mudslides, and the DNR is advising no travel along the entire 42-mile trail from Fountain to Houston until the damage can be assessed.

Other Trails And Routes Are Closed Too

A handful of other spots in the region are affected as well, according to the DNR:

• Trails are closed in the Snake Creek and Trout Valley Forest Recreation Areas within the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest, though the Snake Creek campground stays open.
• The Chatfield Trail, a state off-highway vehicle route in Fillmore County, is closed.
• The Southeast Minnesota Trail in Winona County, another off-highway vehicle route, is closed as well.

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Check Before You Go — All Weekend Long

The DNR is asking people to be patient and to put safety first. "The safety of park visitors and staff is our number one priority," said Ann Pierce, director of the DNR's Parks and Trails Division. "We know Minnesotans value the recreation opportunities that state parks and trails provide, and we will reopen closed areas as soon as it's safe to do so."

The agency also warns that with more rain in the picture, additional closures could pop up at other locations through the weekend. Wherever your holiday plans take you, check the DNR's park list and visitor alerts before heading out — not just for these parks, but for any Minnesota state park you're planning to visit, since conditions are being updated as staff assess the damage.

And heed the oldest flood-safety rule there is: never drive through a flooded road, no matter how shallow it looks. The water is always deeper and faster than it appears. Stay safe out there, and here's hoping the sun shows up in time for the Fourth.