Big Stone Lake State Park - Ortonville, MN
Big Stone Lake State Park in Ortonville, MN, offers a peaceful and scenic dog park experience perfect for pet owners looking for dog-friendly hiking and outdoor activities. The park features 3 miles of mostly flat, grass and prairie trails that are ideal for walking your dog, along with a small beach area where dogs can enjoy some water time. With wheelchair accessible parking and picnic tables, this park is welcoming for families and pet owners alike.
While the park is relatively small and has a basic setup compared to other Minnesota state parks, it provides a clean campground and a friendly atmosphere, making it a great spot for a day trip or overnight stay with your furry friend. The park’s location along Big Stone Lake offers beautiful views and a chance to explore pet-friendly trails in a natural setting. Whether you’re looking for a quiet place to hike with your dog or a picnic spot by the lake, Big Stone Lake State Park is a charming dog park in Ortonville, MN, worth visiting.
FAQ for Big Stone Lake State Park in Ortonville MN:
- Is the park wheelchair accessible? Yes, the park has wheelchair accessible parking lot.
- Are there restrooms available for owners? Yes, there are public restrooms available at the park.
- Are picnics or BBQs allowed? Yes, picnics are allowed and there are picnic tables available.
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, the park has about 3 miles of hiking trails, mostly flat and grass/prairie terrain.
- Are there staff or rangers present at the park? Yes, park rangers are present and described as friendly and helpful.
- Is there a swimming area or pond for dogs? The park has a small beach area on the lake which could be used for swimming.
- Is there a playground or activities for kids nearby? Yes, the park is considered good for kids and has kid-friendly hikes.
- Is there a fee or membership required to enter? Payments by credit cards are accepted, implying there is a fee.
- Are benches or seating areas for owners? Yes, picnic tables that can serve as seating are available.
Reviews
The park has 3 miles of total hiking, majority is flat, grass/prairie. The trails that weren’t part of the loop were overgrown and inaccessible. The park offers some scenic camp spots but in my opinion are not adequately spaced out like some other MN parks. The park has a small beach as well. I think the park has more potential than what it offers right now, at least the development of future trails and maybe expansion of the beach area.
A small park with Minnesota on one side of the water and South Dakota on the other. We walked the hiking club trail and the woodland was so verdantly green.
A nice small park and campground right on the lake! My wife and I had a great time camping here. Only bad part was annoying neighbor campers, but not something the park has to do with!The park ranger here was extremely friendly and helped out right away if we needed something.
We are trying to do all the state parks and this one fell a little short. Only because there wasn’t much hiking for us to do. They only have like two trails and it’s in the open field. They are pretty and the camper grounds look very clean. But for us the trails are important.
Kinda basic for a MN state park. Not much for trails or amenities. It feels like it is forgotten or neglected in the park system. Has a decent day use area and campground along the lake. It has boat access and some decent views and vistas in otherwise bland area of the state. If you want to stay on Big Stone lake go across to the other side. Hartford Beach park on the SD side looks to be a way better option for this lake.