Glacial Lakes State Park

Glacial Lakes State Park
Minnesota State Park
Signalness (Mountain) Lake frozen in winter at Glacial Lakes State Park
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Pope

Location	Starbuck
- elevation	1,217 ft (371 m) ^[1]
- coordinates	45°32′14″N 95°31′19″W / 45.53722°N 95.52194°W / 45.53722; -95.52194Coordinates: 45°32′14″N 95°31′19″W / 45.53722°N 95.52194°W / 45.53722; -95.52194

Area	2,423 acres (980.6 ha)

Founded	1963
Management	Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Location of Glacial Lakes State Park in Minnesota

Glacial Lakes State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Starbuck. It was founded in 1963 to preserve some of the remaining rolling prairie which previously covered much of the state. Located in the Leaf Mountains, the park and the area around it contains many glacial landforms created by the Wisconsonian glaciation.

Biology and ecology

Flora

The park has many rare native plants. Prairie grasses and forbs that may be seen include big bluestem, little bluestem, Indian grass, prairie clover, pasque flowers, coneflowers and goldenrods. Wolfberry and rose shrubs are also in the park.^[2]

Fauna

Due to its location in a transition zone between prairie in the west and hardwood forest to the east, prairie and woodland birds are found at the park. Squirrels, deer, beaver, wood ducks, raccoons, pileated woodpeckers and occasionally coyotes can be found.

Recreation

Swimming, fishing and boating (only electric motors are allowed) are popular activities. At 56-acres, Signalness Lake is the largest body of water in the park and has a maximum depth of 13ft. Fish include walleye, northern pike, bass, and panfish. Due to the shallow water, winterkill can partially affect the fish population and the DNR restocks fish. ^[3]

Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling are enjoyed during the winter.^[4]^[5]

The remote location with low light pollution means stargazing is another popular activity.^[6]

References

External links

Protected areas of Minnesota

National

Parks	Voyageurs

Monuments	Grand Portage Pipestone

Rivers	Mississippi National River and Recreation Area Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway

Scenic Trails	North Country Trail

Wildlife Refuges	Agassiz Big Stone Crane Meadows Glacial Ridge Hamden Slough Mille Lacs Minnesota Valley Northern Tallgrass Prairie Rice Lake Rydell Sherburne Tamarac Upper Mississippi River

Forests	Chippewa Superior

Natural Landmarks	Ancient River Warren Channel Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve Itasca Natural Area Keeley Creek Natural Area Lac la Croix Research Natural Area Lake Agassiz Peatlands Natural Area Pine Point Research Natural Area Upper Red Lake Peatland

Wilderness	Agassiz Boundary Waters Canoe Area Tamarac

State

Parks	Afton Banning Bear Head Lake Beaver Creek Valley Big Bog State Recreation Area Big Stone Lake Blue Mounds Buffalo River Camden Carley Cascade River Charles A. Lindbergh Crow Wing Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area Father Hennepin Flandrau Forestville Mystery Cave Fort Ridgely Fort Snelling Franz Jevne Frontenac Garden Island State Recreation Area George H. Crosby Manitou Glacial Lakes Glendalough Gooseberry Falls Grand Portage Great River Bluffs Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area Hayes Lake Hill-Annex Mine Interstate Itasca Jay Cooke John A. Latsch Judge C. R. Magney Kilen Woods Lac qui Parle Lake Bemidji Lake Bronson Lake Carlos Lake Louise Lake Maria Lake Shetek Lake Vermilion Maplewood McCarthy Beach Mille Lacs Kathio Minneopa State Park Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area Monson Lake Moose Lake Myre-Big Island Nerstrand-Big Woods Old Mill Red River State Recreation Area Rice Lake Saint Croix Sakatah Lake Savanna Portage Scenic Schoolcraft Sibley Soudan Underground Mine Split Rock Creek Split Rock Lighthouse Temperance River Tettegouche Upper Sioux Agency Whitewater Wild River William O'Brien Zippel Bay

Forests	Badoura Battleground Bear Island Beltrami Island Big Fork Birch Lakes Blackduck Bowstring Buena Vista Burntside Chengwatana Cloquet Valley Crow Wing D.A.R. Emily Finland Fond du Lac Foot Hills General C. C. Andrews George Washington Golden Anniversary Grand Portage Hill River Huntersville Insula Lake Jeanette Kabetogama Koochiching Lake Isabella Lake of the Woods Land O'Lakes Lost River Lyons Mississippi Headwaters Nemadji Northwest Angle Pat Bayle Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood

Local

Parks	County and regional parks Three Rivers Park District

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources