National and State Parks - Recreational Areas
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Maplewood State Park
State Park Information
State Park Overview
Nature of the Area
Human habitation in the area dates back at least 6,000 years. Artifacts found in the park give evidence of both prairie and woodland cultures. Most artifacts, however, indicate that the site was occupied 900 to 1200 years ago and that the residents were primarily hunters during that period. Records of modern habitation began in the mid2880s when the original land surveys occurred. After the organization of the Lida and Maplewood townships, the area population rose to 1,167 by 1900. The idea of establishing a park in the area goes back to 1923 when it was originally proposed at the legislature. A later study concluded that this hilly, lake-dotted terrain was better suited to recreation than to farming. In 1963 the park became a reality when Maplewood State Park was established by the Minnesota Legislature.
Maplewood lies on a series of hills in the Leaf Hills Landscape Region - the eastern edge of the level Red River Valley. These hills, part of the Alexandria Glacial Moraine, were deposited during the last ice age. Relief is abrupt, with changes of about 300 feet in less than a mile. The highest hills in the park approach 1,600 feet. The Lake Lida basin was probably formed when the last glacier retreated 20,000 years ago and left ice stranded in the valley. The ice melted, exposing the basin and allowed the present lake to form.
The park drive at dawn and dusk is a great time to see deer. Beaver are active in some lakes and raccoons, squirrels, rabbits and
chipmunks can be seen frequently. As a result of the varied landscape in the park, 150 bird species breed here -long with 50 species of mammals and
25 kinds of reptiles and amphibians. The park also hosts sites for colonial nesting birds. Butterflies, dragonflies, kingbirds, swallows, cuckoos, cerulean warblers and
blue-gray gnatcatchers can be seen in the park..
History of the Area
More Info
Maplewood State Park