These Are the Only 3 State Parks in SE Minnesota with Beaches

Summertime calls for some beach time! Unfortunately, we don't have any natural lakes around Olmsted County. Thankfully, we have some man-made lakes to enjoy, though, and plenty of surrounding counties with lakes as well.

READ MORE: Why SE MN Is One of the Strangest Places in the State

There are lots of state parks in SE Minnesota where we can make the most of our summer, too. Only a few of those, though, have beaches where we can go to relax and take a dip on a hot day.

Yes, SE Minnesota has some of the fewest natural lakes in the state, but I'm still surprised that less than half of the state parks in our area have a beach!

There are 11 state parks around SE MN, and only 3 have a beach.

So, if you're looking to hit a state park in the area and spend some time lounging in the sand, these are the places you need to go.

Get our free mobile app

Southeast Minnesota State Parks with Beaches

Lake Louise State Park

Lake Louise State Park in Le Roy is one of our three state parks with a beach. It's not super big, but it's a nice little spot to hang out and catch some rays.

Rice Lake State Park

Hopping over to Owatonna, you'll find Rice Lake State Park and another beach to veg out at in the summer. Sadly, I wasn't able to find pictures of their beach, but I promise it's there!

Whitewater State Park

And finally, Whitewater State Park in Altura has a nice beach as well. Again, I wasn't able to find a picture of it, but I was just there a couple of weeks ago, and it looks really nice. A good amount of space, and the water is quite clear.