Beaver Creek Valley State Park in Minnesota, USA - map, photos and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-27. Check linked official notices before travel.

Beaver Creek Valley State Park near Caledonia, Minnesota, centers on a spring-fed creek between wooded bluffs. The official trail map distinguishes mostly flat valley walks from steeper routes to overlooks. Before planning a walk, confirm entrance, trail, and bridge conditions with the park. Use the route descriptions below to choose among the routes available for your visit.

Highlights of Beaver Creek Valley

• Big Spring: A 0.25-mile trail leads from the day-use parking area to the spring.
• Creekside walking: The shorter Beaver Creek Valley Trail loop is about 1 mile. It follows the shaded valley rather than climbing the bluffs.
• Bluff views: Switch Back Trail offers a more demanding climb with valley overlooks.
• Bird habitat: Watch and listen for woodland birds along the creek, including Louisiana waterthrushes and Acadian flycatchers.

Plan a day visit

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Confirm current opening hours and any access restrictions before traveling, especially after heavy rain. Buy your vehicle permit and check applicable exceptions before leaving home. Cell service is generally unavailable in the park.

Safety on the valley and bluff trails

Switch Back Trail has steep sections and narrow ledges. Keep children close on these sections. Give any rattlesnake plenty of space and leave it undisturbed. Download your map before arrival. Call 911 in an emergency.

For a visit during the December hunt, use the DNR management-hunt access table and map to check which areas you can enter.

Visit responsibly

Bicycles are not allowed in the park. Keep pets attended on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Pick up their waste. Pets cannot enter buildings. If you use a fire ring, bring only firewood approved for this park. Do not gather wood in the park.

Permits and advance planning

A vehicle permit covers vehicle entry; it does not reserve a campsite. This guide describes day-use routes and planning requirements.

After buying a one-day permit online, write down its confirmation number and leave it visible on your dashboard. Do this before entering an area without a signal. Minnesota state parks no longer accept self-payment envelopes.

Maps, location, and arrival

The park's published address is 15954 County 1, Caledonia, MN 55921, in Houston County. Use this Minnesota destination when planning your drive. The official park map and guide shows the day-use parking area, Big Spring, and the valley and bluff trails.

Nearby parks for another stop

Great River Bluffs State Park, on Kipp Drive near Winona, offers Mississippi River overlooks north of the Caledonia area. Its South Overlook Trail starts at the picnic parking area. Access is limited during its November 21–22, 2026 management hunt.

Perrot State Park, near Trempealeau, Wisconsin, is another regional road-trip option across the Mississippi River. Choose it for bluff trails where the Trempealeau and Mississippi rivers meet. A Wisconsin vehicle admission sticker is required.

Mapped creek walks and bluff trails

Once the park confirms access for your visit, consider Big Spring or the shorter valley loop for a short outing. The spring provides a specific destination; the valley route suits a slower walk with stops to listen for birds.

Switch Back Trail is the more strenuous mapped option. Its packed-dirt surface and steep ascent differ from the mostly flat, mowed-grass valley route. Check which routes are available for your date and follow posted restrictions.

Day-use facilities

The park's listed day-use facilities include parking, picnic tables, and an enclosed picnic shelter. A playground and sand volleyball court are near the campground parking area. Confirm facility access when checking trail conditions. Bring the supplies you need for your walk before entering the valley.

About Beaver Creek Valley State Park

Big Spring and the Driftless landscape

Big Spring became part of the state park in 1937. Earlier farmers used its cold water to cool milk, cream, butter, and other farm products. Families later began visiting the spring for recreation.

The park lies in Minnesota's Driftless region, which the last glaciers did not cover. Its valley and bluffs give visitors a different landscape from the flatter terrain associated with much of the state. Prairie restoration, including prescribed burning and invasive-plant removal, helps maintain another part of that landscape.

Creek and woodland wildlife

Brown trout and native brook trout live in Beaver Creek. The creek corridor also provides nesting habitat for Louisiana waterthrushes and Acadian flycatchers. Warblers, vireos, woodpeckers, and other woodland birds use the park's varied habitats. Pause along the valley trail to listen; a species list is a guide to possibilities, rather than a promise of sightings.

Contact the park

Beaver Creek Valley State Park is managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Call 507-724-2107 about access and park conditions. Use the official park page for current notices before your trip.