Life and to the Full

The view above is from a small wilderness hidden in Redwood County, Minnesota. You could easily miss it, driving along quiet highway 19 as cornfields and bean fields flash past. There's trees only wherever there's a farm site or a creek and the prairie rolls out in all directions. You cross a river, blink a few times through the town of Redwood Falls, and continue on into more farms and fields.

What you don't know is that you've missed a little piece of the wild: hidden beyond the little houses is the largest municipal park in Minnesota, Alexander Ramsey Park, nicknamed "Little Yellowstone."

If you're headed through the area and looking to enjoy some beauties of nature, this is the place to stop, and there's several ways to enjoy it.

Take a look
If you're short on time, make sure you at least stop by the overlook of Ramsey Falls. Waterfalls are an unusual site in rolling farm country, and the falls are mesmerizing to watch. Don't want to take a long walk? That's fine. There's vehicle access to a parking lot right near the overlook.

Take a walk
There's pathways that wind through the park, crossing the river at several points and offering views of riverside cliffs, rushing water, and all kinds of native plants. For people with kids, there are a few playgrounds within the park. There's also a zoo that features farm animals like goats and chickens, as well as animals native to Minnesota prairies, including buffalo, elk, and prairie dogs.

Have a seat
First, there's benches throughout the park as well as shelters with picnic tables, all perfect for eating or chatting while admiring nature. What I highly recommend is bringing a folding chair and setting it in the shallow creek that flows away from the falls. While the Redwood River is too swift flowing and deep for this, the creek is a perfect spot to set up a chair and enjoy the cool water on your feet while reading a book or watching dragon flies zooming about.

Camp out
If you want to stay a little while, the park features electric and "rustic" (non-electric) campsites with full bathroom facilities nearby, all at reasonable rates. The whole place is so close to town that if your campfire cooking goes awry, you always have the options of some local restaurants.

Follow a bunny trail
What I mean is, follow a deer trail. This I recommend with a caution that once you do this, you're on your own on uneven and sometimes steep or narrow trails. However, if your joints and fitness level are up to this, you're in for some fantastic scenery, wildlife, and nature. I personally find it thrilling to see the ground fall away steeply from the trail to either side or to army crawl up to a cliff edge or stumble upon riverside cactus nestled in the rocks (yes, cactus in Minnesota!).

Take a dip
Like the last suggestion, this one is at-your-own-risk. It is a park, so don't expect lifeguards or warning signs. However, as long as you use common sense, this can be a fun way to spend a hot, muggy Minnesota summer day. The river is too fast and deep for this, so keep your swimming limited to Ramsey Creek. Some good places to get wet: at the head of Ramsey Falls when the water is low and slow, or further upstream when the water is high and fast. There's a path that crosses the creek near these spots, so it's very easy to access. It's cool to think about how the water rushing past will join the Redwood River, then the Minnesota River, then the Mississippi, and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.

Do you know of any hidden wildernesses or best kept secrets of Minnesota? I'd love to hear about them in the comments and have the opportunity to explore them myself.