On the Hidden Lake Trail in Lake Carlos State Park, a forest path passes wildflowers, birds and a bald eagle nest. Other trails have their own features: some pass through changing landscapes, while others are designed as interpretive trails. Museums and historic sites add to these discoveries with insights into the Runestone’s history, fishing traditions and lakeside culture.
Parks and trails: Nature with a variety of features
Douglas County maintains a park system with nine county parks. The parks are open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; check the hours again before your visit. Lake Le Homme Dieu Beach is accessible from the Central Lakes Bike Trail. This gives the beach a concrete connection for anyone planning around this named bike trail.
The trails described in Lake Carlos State Park differ in their focus. The Hidden Lake Trail is a forest path where wildflowers, birds and a bald eagle nest can be seen. The Maple-Basswood Trail, by contrast, is a 1.1-mile interpretive trail that runs in one direction. If you’re looking for wildlife and plant viewing, the plants and animals mentioned offer one point of reference; if length and the interpretive-trail experience matter to your choice, the Maple-Basswood Trail provides specific details for that.
Snowmobile trails between prairie and hills
The Douglas Area Trails Association maintains a 368-mile network of snowmobile trails in the Hardwood Hills and River Prairie landscape regions of west-central Minnesota. The network’s total length can change, so take that into account when making specific plans. The trails pass through open prairie as well as heavily wooded, hilly terrain. The trail network connects every community in Douglas County.
One specific connection between a trail and a historic site is at Kensington Rune Stone Park: the park is located on the DATA Snowmobile Trail. It includes the historic Ohman farmyard and the site where the Rune Stone was found. This distinguishes two aspects of the park: the history of the farmyard and the place where the Rune Stone was discovered.
Museums and historic sites
The Runestone Museum’s exhibits include Ojibwe and Dakota artifacts from the Dr. Oliver Collection, including ceremonial pipes and beadwork. Also on display is the 40-foot-long “Snorri.” Its design is based on an archaeological find in Denmark. The details about its length and design inspiration give this exhibit a different focus from the collection’s specific examples of ceremonial and handcrafted objects.
The Runestone Museum’s offerings also vary by season: in summer, it features indoor exhibits and nine historic buildings outdoors. The nine buildings then extend the museum visit to historic structures in an open-air setting; plan for this part of the offering during the summer season.
In Alexandria, the Legacy of the Lakes Museum focuses on classic boats, fishing history and lake traditions. Its permanent exhibits include “Grand Hotels & Resorts,” “Fishing Gallery,” “Alexandria Boat Works” and “Fiberglassics.” The titles make the exhibits’ varied focuses tangible: from resorts and fishing to boatbuilding and fiberglass boats. Together with the Runestone exhibits and the historic park, they illustrate a range of topics, without suggesting that the individual sites tell the same story.
Discover more destinations: Alexandria, Millerville, Todd County, St. Louis, Benton County, Kittson County, Wright County and Lake County.
For the broader travel overview: Minnesota.
