Whitewater State Park



Our family at Whitewater State Park



Whitewater State Park

Whitewater State Park is nestled in South Eastern Minnesota's River Bluff country.  The Whitewater River was named by the Dakota Indians because it turned milky white in the spring as high water eroded light-colored clay deposits along its banks.  The Dakota Indians turned the area over to the US Government in 1851 in a treaty that would become a contentious part of Minnesota history, the Sioux Uprising.  As the settlers came to the area and built farms and cleared land, their land-clearing practices caused water run-off to gush into the valley and flood much of the area,  repeatedly.    Many of the small towns in the valley were devastated to the point of extinction.  I was told that in 1938 the town of Beaver, Minnesota flooded 28 times!  Area residents began to lobby the state to take over the area and reclaim its natural state creating Whitewater State Park and the 28,000 acre Whitewater Wildlife Management Area.  Now the natural beauty of the valley is preserved and the residents of the area a protected from danger.  

Enjoying a family photo on a rustic bridge over the
Whitewater River


 


My sister Brenna taking a
rest along the banks of
the Whitewater River

 

Seeing the landscape makes it
easy to understand the
potential for flooding




 The park is an outdoor enthusiast's playground, as it provides ample fishing opportunity, a great beach, lots of camping, amazing hiking trails, skiing, snowshoeing, and of course, name sake rafting.  Come check it out!