On the Loon Island Trail, a causeway leads to one of five natural islands in Lake Shetek. The one-mile loop is accessible and surfaced with gravel; along the way, you’ll find a variety of plants and birds. This trail combines practical navigation with a look at the natural surroundings of the lake—a good place to start if you’d like to explore Murray on foot.
Trails Between Lake, Marsh and Prairie
The Webster Island Trail offers a different experience: its 1.5-mile loop passes through prairies and along the shore of Webster Marsh. In Slayton, the Lake Elsie Walking Trail is 1.2 miles long. The Casey Jones State Trail, in turn, includes a six-mile paved section between Lake Shetek State Park and Currie. The Casey Jones State Trail itself connects tallgrass prairie, wooded ravines and Lake Shetek. Horses are not permitted on this specific paved section.
The information about trail lengths and routes helps you distinguish them by their individual character: the island and plant life along the Loon Island Trail, marsh and prairie on the Webster Island Trail, or a longer paved route between two named endpoints on the Casey Jones State Trail. At Lake Elsie, the place name Slayton is already part of the walking trail’s name. If you’d rather spend time by the water, Seven Mile Lake in Fulda has camping facilities and recreational picnic areas. Seven Mile Lake Park also has a swimming beach. Lime Lake Park Campground is located at Lime Lake, where there is access to fishing around the dam. A disc golf course is one of the designated recreational activities at Swenson Park.
Railroad History and Architecture
You can also discover the area’s cultural heritage at specific sites. The hand-operated Currie Railroad Turntable was built in 1901 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. Tours at End-O-Line Railroad Park & Museum last 45 to 60 minutes. The park grounds are open daily during daylight hours, including outside regular building hours; the buildings and gift shop are then closed. This distinction can help you plan whether to take a tour or visit the park grounds.
The Dinehart-Holt House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 for its local significance, its connection with Christopher and Flora Dinehart, and its architecture. The building combines features of the Queen Anne style with elements of the Stick Style: the irregular forms and asymmetrical facades of the Queen Anne style sit alongside the Stick Style’s prominent bands of trim. The combination of the two styles also makes the house interesting to visitors who pay attention to architectural details.
The Murray County Historical Museum displays more than 10,000 artifacts and presents regional history from the Paleoindian period to the present day. The museum complex includes four buildings or structures. Together, the collection and buildings offer different ways to explore the past: you can look far back in time while also taking in the architectural variety of the complex.
Festivals and Local Traditions
The Murray County Fair has been held annually since 1912, with two exceptions. Culinary traditions include pulled pork, pork burgers and Hog Troughs; malts prepared by the Murray County Dairy Association are also considered a fair tradition. The foods on offer may vary from one edition to another. Fulda’s annual Wood Duck Festival takes place in June. Its program includes picnics, a parade, a carnival, and music and talent shows in the park; dates and programming may vary from year to year.
Fulda is known as the “Home of the Wood Duck” because of the many colorful wood ducks that move through the region. The name refers to local wildlife, while the festival offers a specific event in the annual calendar. For your travel plans, it’s worth checking the festival dates and program details in advance.
Discover more destinations: Lake Wilson, Hadley, Watonwan County, Stevens, Steele County, Clearwater County, Cottonwood County, Wadena County.
For the broader travel overview: Minnesota.
