Perfectly positioned as a halfway point between the Twin Cities and Duluth less than a half mile from Interstate 35, this park is the ideal stopping point for stretching your legs and escaping the car (and maybe some construction traffic). You will soon forget you are so close to the highway as you hear the roar of the rapids on the Kettle River and look at the impressive stone cliffs. One developed campground is available, or there are a couple boat-in sites for the more adventurous.
Hiking here is a treasure, though the trails near the river can be confusing with their many intersections. The Quarry Loop Trail is one of the more popular destinations and travels through an old quarry with some cool ruins and educational signs about the quarrying process. For a longer but rewarding hike, go to Wolf Creek Falls for a relaxing lunch spot next to a pretty waterfall. Other trails travel deeper into the interior forest of the park.
