Whitewater State Park is a Minnesota state park near Altura, covering 2,733 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.
- 2,733acres
- Alturamailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Rugged hiking trails to scenic bluffland
- Noticeable lack of mosquitoes
- Excellent trout fishing summer and winter
- Year-round interpretive programs
- Visitor center
- Spectacular spring wildflowers
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: Picturesque limestone bluffs and deep ravines make Whitewater a very popular southeastern state park. The 2,700 acre park is an angler's paradise with brown, brook, and rainbow trout swimming in the spring-fed Whitewater River and Trout Run Creek.
Wildlife. Nearly 50 kinds of mammals and 250 kinds of birds use the Whitewater River Valley during the course of a year. Wild turkeys are in the valley and bald eagles can be found year-around.
History. The Dakota named the river Whitewater because it turned milky white in the spring as high water eroded light-colored clay deposits along its banks.
Geology. Nearly 450 million years ago, shallow seas covered most of North America, including southeastern Minnesota. On its bed, sediment accumulated that turned into rock hundreds of feet thick.
Visit Facts
- Address19041 Highway 74 Altura, MN 55910
- Phone507-312-2300
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursVisitor Center Monday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Nature Store Closed for the season
- Emailwhitewater.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point44.06292, -92.04320 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Whitewater State Park
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Accessible | 2 miles | — |
| Summer | Self-Guided | — | Trout Run Creek trail is a 2-mile-long self-guided trail (1 mile out and 1 mile back) that provides an easy walk through a wooded valley. Meadow Trail is an easy 1-mile hike along the middle branch of the Whitewater River. |
| Summer | Hiking | — | The park has 10 miles of easy, moderate and challenging trails that take you from bottom land along the river, to the bluffs and valley overlooks. A majority of the trails have stairs. |
| Winter | Snowshoe | — | You may snowshoe anywhere in the park. Snowshoe rental is available at the visitor center when there is 6 inches or more of snow on the ground. |
| Winter | Other | — | You may cross country ski anywhere in the park, but we do not groom ski trails. |
Camping And Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | — | The noticeable lack of mosquitoes makes this a great park for camping. The park has 110 drive-in sites located in a variety of landscape areas from open and grassy to wooded and secluded. |
| Pull-Through Sites | — | Sites 46, 64, 200e, 203e, 205e, 206e, 208e, 212e, 216e, 220e, 227e, 236e, and 238e are pull-through. |
| Electric Sites | — | All 85 electric sites have 20-30-50-amp hookups. |
| RV Length Limit | — | The maximum RV length is 50 feet. Length is measured from the front of the tow vehicle to the rear of the vehicle being towed. |
| Accessible Sites | — | Minneiska Campground has seven accessible sites, five that are drive-in wtih electric hookup, two that are walk-in access only. Cedar Hill Campground has 6 accessible sites. Three are drive-in sites with electric hookup. Two are drive-in non-electric sites, and one is cart-in access only. |
| Cart-in Sites | — | The park's eight sites are located 300 to 650 yards from the parking area. |
| Group Camp | — | The park's three group camps have their own picnic shelters and share a modern restroom building, with showers and toilets. GROUP 1: RVs & Tents (up to 40 people) 4 electric spurs with a picnic table and fire ring at each spur, and an additional picnic shelter with electricity and 4 picnic tables, fire ring. |
| Group Center | — | The group center is available year-round. It includes 8 cabins and can accommodate up to 132 people. Facilities include centrally-located bathrooms with showers, a modern kitchen, and dining hall. Cabins are heated. Call the park up to one year in advance to reserve: 507-312-2302. |
| Accessible Lodging | — | Tiger Trout and Rainbow Trout camper cabins are accessible. At the group center, the lodge building has an accessible entrance and accessible bathroom. Three of the cabins are accessible. The bathroom and shower building has an accessible entrance. |
| Camper Cabins | — | Tiger Trout and Rainbow Trout sleep five and are accessible. The other two cabins sleep six and are not accessible. All cabins are available year-round with heat and electricity. No pets allowed. More information on camper cabins. |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fishing Pier | — | Both fishing piers are accessible and in the south picnic area. |
| Swimming Beach | — | The park has a swimming beach. |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | — | The main picnic area has a shelter with electric outlets and lights. The south picnic area has no shelter. Both have tables, fire rings, and grills. |
| Picnic Shelter | — | The picnic shelter is accessible and located in main picnic area. The shelter is open on all sides and includes electricity and lights. The shelter is available for use year-round on a first-come first-served basis, or it may be reserved up to one year in advance by calling the park at 507-312-2302. |
| Volleyball | — | The volleyball net is near the beach. Bring your own or pick up equipment at visitor center. |
| Golf Course | — | There are two public golf courses within 12 miles of the park, located in the towns of St. Charles and Plainview. |
| Warming House | — | The visitor center includes a wood stove for warming and flush toilets. The visitor center is open during ranger station hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in winter season. |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | — | The ranger station is at Whitewater Valley Visitor Center on the north end of the park. |
| Visitor Center | — | The Whitewater Valley Visitor Center has three public use areas including a trail center, auditorium, and interpretive exhibits. |
| Interpretive Exhibit | — | The visitor center features a discovery room with interactive features on a variety of topics about the Whitewater River Valley and Whitewater State Park. The discovery room has exhibits for all ages, including a mock campsite, foosball table, and a panorama comparing the landscape of the past to the landscape of today. The nearby Elba Fire Tower also has exhibits. |
| Naturalist Programs | — | Naturalist programs on rattlesnakes, caves, and fossils take place year-round. In addition, arrangements for school and group programs can be made by calling the park at 507-312-2300. |
| Historic Site | — | The Elba Fire Tower is just east of the town of Elba, about 2 miles from the park. Also be sure to see the CCC/WPA built historic structures in the park. Ask for a brochure. |
| Gift Shop | — | The nature store is .5 miles south of the visitor center on Highway 74. It carries a variety of products including park specific shirts and sweatshirts, hats, mugs, stickers, patches, books, gift items, camper amenities, and snacks and ice cream. Contact the ranger station for nature store hours, open mid-April to mid-October. |
| Rentals | — | Birding kits and sensory kits (headphones, fidget toys, calming toys)are free to check out from the visitor center. In winter, snowshoe rentals are available at the visitor center from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. |
| Firewood | — | Buy firewood at the visitor center or through Yodel. Gathering firewood can spread tree-killing insects and is against state park rules. Protect our trees – please burn only approved firewood! |
| Ice Sales | — | Ice sales are available at the visitor center April to October. |
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.
Park-specific: No pets allowed.
Directions
Located 3 miles south of Elba on State Highway 74.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Carley State ParkState Park, about 7 miles away in a straight line
- John A. Latsch State ParkState Park, about 13 miles away in a straight line
- Forestville/Mystery Cave State ParkState Park, about 31 miles away in a straight line
- Great River Bluffs State ParkState Park, about 32 miles away in a straight line
- Frontenac State ParkState Park, about 35 miles away in a straight line
- Beaver Creek Valley State ParkState Park, about 38 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 South Lakes & Bluff Country
- Lake Pepin
- Beaver Creek Valley State Park
- Carley State Park
- Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park
- Frontenac State Park
- Great River Bluffs State Park
- John A. Latsch State Park
- Lake Louise State Park
- Myre-Big Island State Park
- Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
- Events in South Lakes & Bluff Country
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Whitewater State Park?
It is near Altura, Minnesota. The DNR address is 19041 Highway 74 Altura, MN 55910.
How much does it cost to visit Whitewater 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 Whitewater State Park?
Pets are welcome on a leash six feet or shorter outside buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas, per the DNR rules page. This park’s page adds limits listed in Pets And Permits above.
Sources
- Whitewater 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.
Cite this page: It’s Minnesota. “Whitewater State Park.” itsminnesota.com/places/whitewater/. Facts read from the sources above on November 1, 2026.