Olmsted can be explored through two distinct threads: a multi-use trail follows a disused railroad corridor, while exhibits and historic buildings bring different chapters of regional history to life. There are also parks with varied landscapes and seasonal offerings. This lets you focus your trip on nature trails, history, or specific types of visits.
Historic Sites and Different Ways to Visit
The Olmsted County Exhibit spans the period from prehistoric times to the present. It covers the history of Indigenous people, early European settlers, and land surveying. This brings together very different periods: from the region’s long prehistory to its settlement and cartographic mapping.
The George Stoppel Farmstead was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. It offers a glimpse into rural life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as immigration and settlement. The Dee Cabin, also called the Dee Log Cabin, offers another historic date: William and Bridget Dee, early settlers from Rochester, built it in 1862.
The Hadley Valley Schoolhouse was built in 1885 in Haverhill Township, about three miles northeast of Rochester, as a one-room school for boys and girls through eighth grade. It served this purpose until 1957. Historic Mayowood tells a different story of a home: Dr. Charles H. Mayo and his wife Edith had the 38-room house built in 1910. Visits are possible only as part of guided tours. At the Plummer House, by contrast, open-house tours for self-guided visits are held every Wednesday from February through November. This difference between a guided tour and an independent visit has practical implications for planning.
Comparing Trails and Landscapes
The Douglas State Trail is a 12.5-mile multi-use trail on a disused railroad corridor. It passes through rural, agricultural landscapes. The Great River Ridge State Trail currently offers just over 13 miles of paved trail. This allows you to weigh two different features: the former railroad corridor and rural character of the Douglas State Trail, or the paved surface of the Great River Ridge State Trail.
The landscape at Quarry Hill Park in Rochester includes woods, prairie, oak savanna, a fishing pond, sandstone caves, a fossil quarry, and hiking and walking trails. The Quarry Hill Nature Center is located in the park, is free, and is open 361 days a year. The combination of different landscape types and the Nature Center makes Quarry Hill a different kind of nature experience from a longer outdoor trail.
At Oxbow Park, about eight miles of hiking trails pass through undeveloped prairies and wooded hills. The park also has an orienteering course set up by a local Eagle Scout, as well as three free themed activity backpacks for use in the park. Root River Park offers a different kind of route: its two-mile loop trail passes through meadows and wooded hills along the Root River. Fishing and picnicking are also among the activities listed there.
At Lake Zumbro Park, fishing is possible from both the shore and the pier. For a winter option, the Rattler Trail in Gamehaven Park is a machine-groomed snow trail; it is often groomed and tracked with a snowcat. The options range from paved trails and loop walks to fishing spots and a groomed snow trail.
Plan Around Seasonal Offerings
At Chester Woods Park, the swimming beach and beach house with showers are open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. If your visit depends on swimming season, it’s worth keeping this time frame in mind when planning. The Rochester Farmers Market is also subject to the seasons and climate, and is producer-only. Free outdoor group exercise classes are also held there every Saturday. If your visit depends on an open-house date or the seasonal beach opening, it’s best to check the latest visitor information in advance.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Rochester, Stewartville, Morrison, Rock, Douglas County, Marshall County, Dodge County, Benton County
Back to the main travel guide: Minnesota.
