Park Amenities & Visitation Trends

Prairie Landscape More rare features within the park than

anywhere else in Rock County.

High quality remnant prairie and restored prairies.

Endangered Aquatic Species: Topeka shiner, Plains topminnow, Pond mussel, Blanchard’s cricket frog

Regal Fritillary on Common milkweed

Sioux Quartzite Rock Outcrops - An uncommon community of exposed bedrock. Rainwater pools often support specialized aquatic plants and dry land prairie plants thrive on the rocks.

Western Prairie Fringed Orchid-Federally threatened, State endangered

Plains Prickly Pear- State species of special concern

Prairie Wildlife Viewing bison on the prairie is

a unique opportunity at BMSP.We are actively working

towards a bison tour. Birdwatching is another

popular activity. For example: Blue Grosbeak,

Eastern Meadowlark

Baby American Bison

Blue Mounds is one of the few places in MN to find Blue Grosbeak.

The Blue Mounds herd was established in 1961 with three animals from Fort Niobrara National Wildlife refuge.

In 2011, the Minnesota Zoo wanted to reestablish a bison herd and was looking for a source with healthy genetics. Continued testing in 2012 and 2013 showed similar results.

The Minnesota Zoo and Minnesota State Parks and Trails work cooperatively to preserve American Plains bison with healthy genetics and conserve other prairie wildlife species native to Minnesota.

The first herd expansion occurred in 2015, when 8 bison from Blue Mounds and 3 from the Minnesota Zoo were transferred onto a newly fenced pasture at Minneopa State Park. The herd has since grown to 14 animals. Photos by Jim Brandenburg

Camping 72 Drive in campsites

(41 electric sites) 14 cart-in sites 1 rustic group camp 3 tipis

Hiking and Biking 14 miles of

hiking/snowshoeing trails 3 miles of paved bike

trails Bike trail connects to

paved trails owned by Rock County and the City of Luverne

Photo: Jim Juhl& C

ity of Luverne

Photo: Robin Pfeifer & The Outbound Collective

Rock Climbing and Cliff viewing About 1,000 climbers visit the

park each year. Rock scrambling (non-technical

climbing) is a popular activity for even more visitors. A geologist recently completed a

technical survey and study of the quartzite features in the park. New interpretive displays are in

development to better explain the geologic features of the park

Interpretation In 2016, 14 interpretive

programs were offered to over 700 visitors.Without dedicated

interpretive staff, programming varies on a year to year basis, depending on the time and availability of other staff, volunteers, and partners (Luverne Chamber and Visitors Bureau and others).

91269

57707

89340

64789

2013 - 91269 VISITORS

2014 - 57707 VISITORS

2015 - 89340 VISITORS

2016 - 64789 VISITORS

Visitation Numbers

Visitors

• 2014: The Park flooded in June, washing out the Lower Dam Spillway and draining Lower Mound Lake. (57,707)• Closed mid-June to early

July. • Park well was contaminated

with e. Coli bacteria. • Showers were turned off in

the campground most of the summer.

Upper Dam at BMSP (photo: MN Historical Society)

• 2015: Repairs were made to flooded trails and culverts and recreational opportunities re-instated. (89,340)• A new well was drilled and

installed, (also found to be contaminated with e. coli.)

• Minnesota Department of Health allowed showers to be used with chlorination system.

• 2016: Minnesota Department of Health reversed it’s decision to allow showers to be used with chlorinated well water. (64,789)• Showers were turned off for

almost all of the 2016 camping season.

• Overall visitation dropped by 27%

• The visitation trends indicate that visitation is more heavily impacted by the availability of showers than any other factor.

1. Luverne (56156)2. Longfellow, Minneapolis (55406)3. Powderhorn, Minneapolis (55407)4. Summit-University, St. Paul (55104)5. Northeast, Minneapolis (55418)6. Sioux Falls, SD (57104)7. Mac-Groveland, St. Paul (55105)8. Lynnhurst, Minneapolis (55419)9. Mankato (56001)10. Marshall (56258)