Blue Mounds State Park is a Minnesota state park near Luverne, covering 1,830 acres. Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. It offers camping or lodging. Entry needs a state park vehicle permit, $7 for a day, as the DNR fees page said on October 19, 2026.
- 1,830acres
- Luvernemailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Bison herd
- Prairie and bison range bus tours
- Rock climbing
- Wildlife watching
- Camping
- Unique prairie grasses and cacti
Plan It In Three Lines
- Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Cost: a $7 one-day vehicle permit or a $35 year-round permit, per the DNR fees page of October 19, 2026; confirm before you go.
- Pets: leashed (six feet or shorter) outside buildings, lodging and beaches, per the DNR rules page; park-specific limits are listed below.
About The Park
The DNR describes it: Blue Mounds State Park is full of natural surprises. Start with the Sioux Quartzite cliff, rising 100 feet from the plains. A bison herd grazes on the prairie. Prickly pear cactus blooms in June and July. A sea of prairie grasses and flowers sway in the wind. The park is also a favorite for birdwatchers who want to see nesting blue grosbeaks and other birds.
Wildlife. Bison, elk, wolves and prairie chickens roamed this part of Minnesota over 150-200 years ago. Today, a herd of bison resides in the park. The park has a small population of coyotes and a stable deer population.
History. The park is named for the mile-long cliff of Sioux Quartzite. The cliff appeared blue to settlers going west in the 1860s and 1870s, and they named the landmark "the Blue Mound." In 1937, the state legislature established Mound Springs.
Geology. The Sioux Quartzite rock was formed on the bottom of ancient rivers. Vast quantities of sand were deposited on this ancient river bottoms.
Visit Facts
- Address1410 161st Street Luverne, MN 56156
- Phone507-283-6050
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursDaily 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. when staff are available.
- Emailbluemounds.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point43.71770, -96.19264 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Blue Mounds State Park
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Self-Guided | — | Trail begins at Eagle Rock Vista and leads you through bur oaks along the cliffs for a mile. |
| Summer | Hiking | — | The park has 13 miles of easy to moderate hiking trails give hikers a rare opportunity to experience Minnesota's tallgrass prairie. |
| Summer | Paved Bike | — | The park has two miles of paved trail connected to an additional three miles of paved trail that leads into nearby Luverne. |
| Winter | Snowmobile | 2 miles | — |
| Winter | Other | — | The park has 13 miles of winter hiking trails. |
Camping And Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | — | The park has 71 drive-in sites across three campground loops near the wildlife viewing pond. |
| Electric Sites | — | The park has 52 electric sites, one of which is accessible. |
| RV Length Limit | — | The max RV Length is 50 feet. Length is measured from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle towed. |
| Accessible Sites | — | The park has two accessible drive-in sites. One has electric hookup. Each is adjacent to accessible toilets and showers. |
| Cart-in Sites | — | The park has 14 cart-in sites suitable for small tents. Cart-in sites are located 100-300 feet from parking. Carts are provided to haul camping gear. |
| Group Camp | — | The group campsite accommodates up to 50 people and is available seasonally. Adjacent to Mound Creek, the group campsite has vault toilets and pressurized water. There's no vehicle access, but the carry-in distance is a short walk from parking. |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
The DNR lists no water recreation here.
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | — | The picnic area has seven picnic tables, two charcoal grills, and one fire ring on the shore of Mound Creek. There is ADA parking, a vault toilet, and a seasonal water spigot. |
| Picnic Shelter | — | The enclosed shelter in the walk-in campground is accessible. Water is located nearby. Call the park to reserve. |
| Nature Play Space | — | Play area A has tree stumps set up for imaginative play in the picnic area. Play area B has a shady area with boulders for climbing near the bike trail. |
| Other | — | Blue Mounds is one of five Minnesota state parks with rock climbing. Get your free climbing permit at the ranger station. Climbing map |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | — | Visit the ranger station for campground registration, climbing permits, and to shop the nature store. |
| Tours | — | The park has seasonal prairie and bison tours. |
| Gift Shop | — | Shop books, jewelry, toys, t-shirts, caps, and park-specific items at the nature store in ranger station. |
| Rentals | — | Birding kits and kids discovery kits (activities and stories designed for ages 5-12) are available to check out for free at the ranger station. |
| Firewood | — | Firewood is available seasonally. Buy firewood through Yodel or at the ranger station. Gathering firewood can spread tree-killing insects and is against state park rules. Protect our trees by burning only approved firewood! |
| Ice Sales | — | Ice is available seasonally at the ranger station. |
| Other | — | The bison herd is most easily seen early mornings. Visit the ranger station for best observation location. Binoculars may be helpful when the herd is at a distance from observation area. |
Pets And Permits
Statewide, the DNR rules page says pets are welcome in state parks on a leash six feet or shorter, attended at all times; only service animals are allowed in buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas. A vehicle permit costs $7 a day or $35 a year (DNR fees page, read October 19, 2026). See the parks passport page for the full price list.
Directions
From the town of Luverne, go north 4 miles on Minnesota Hwy. 75. Turn east on County Road 20 and go 1 mile to park entrance.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Split Rock Creek State ParkState Park, about 15 miles away in a straight line
- Lake Shetek State ParkState Park, about 36 miles away in a straight line
- Camden State ParkState Park, about 46 miles away in a straight line
- Kilen Woods State ParkState Park, about 56 miles away in a straight line
What We Could Not Verify
- Current alerts, closures, trail and campground conditions: they change daily. Read the DNR park page before you go.
- County: the DNR page does not state it, so we do not print one.
- Fees for lodging and group sites, and day-by-day availability: set by the DNR reservation system.
- Permit prices were read on October 19, 2026 and the DNR page shows no effective date.
- The map point is the park’s printed coordinate, not a verified entrance.
More In Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands
- Pipestone National Monument
- Big Stone Lake State Park
- Camden State Park
- Flandrau State Park
- Fort Ridgely State Park
- Kilen Woods State Park
- Lac Qui Parle State Park
- Lake Shetek State Park
- Minneopa State Park
- Monson Lake State Park
- Events in Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Blue Mounds State Park?
It is near Luverne, Minnesota. The DNR address is 1410 161st Street Luverne, MN 56156.
How much does it cost to visit Blue Mounds State Park?
A one-day vehicle permit is $7 and a year-round permit is $35 on the DNR fees page we read on October 19, 2026. Check the fees page before you go.
Are dogs allowed at Blue Mounds State Park?
Pets are welcome on a leash six feet or shorter outside buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas, per the DNR rules page. The park page states no extra limits we could read.
Sources
- Blue Mounds State Park (DNR Recreation Compass data) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota state park fees (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota state park rules (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota State Parks Passport, all places, park fees and rules.