Brown County: Lakes, River Valleys and Historic Parks

Brown County’s landscape ranges from the lake country in the southeast, across bluffs and wooded ridges along the Minnesota and Cottonwood Rivers, to gently rolling plains and fields in the west. Water, wooded highlands and open landscapes create a variety of impressions within the county. When planning your stay, consider whether you’d most like to paddle, fish, hike or visit historic attractions.

Mound Creek: Seasonal Park and Canoeing Opportunities

In the southwest of the county, Mound Creek County Park is located at the Wellner-Hageman flood control dam site. The seasonal day-use park is open from April 15 to October 15, from 8 a.m. until sunset. Please check these seasonal hours again before your visit. Amenities include a 9-hole disc golf course, a beach, a boat launch, fishing, sand volleyball and hiking trails. The park combines several outdoor activities for a day outside, from playing the course to spending time by the water.

The reservoir created by the Wellner-Hageman dam covers 70 acres and offers canoeing opportunities in narrow valleys. Brown County also maintains four canoe access points on the Cottonwood River. These are two different waterways to consider when planning: the reservoir at the dam and the river access points. So think about which kind of paddling experience suits your stay, rather than treating these details as one route.

Shorelines, Trails and Room for Activities

Treml Park lies on the east shore of Altermatt Lake and has more than 4,000 feet of shoreline. You can fish along the shore or use the hiking trails. Lost Dog & Fox Hunters Park on Clear Lake offers a different lakeside setting, with a quiet, shady atmosphere, 360 feet of lakefront and a pier for shore fishing. Two picnic shelters, sand volleyball, playground equipment and open play areas add to the waterfront amenities.

The two parks have different highlights: Treml combines shore fishing with hiking trails and an extensive shoreline, while Clear Lake also has a pier, shade and open play areas. If you enjoy fishing, the specific details about the shoreline and pier can help you plan your day. If you’d rather combine several activities in one place, Lost Dog & Fox Hunters Park has areas for picnicking and playing as well as fishing.

Flandrau State Park also offers its own way to enjoy the water: a chlorinated swimming pond with a sand bottom. Brown County’s park system also includes a year-round park with a campground and three seasonal day-use parks. This mix can help with timing your visit: not all day-use parks are open year-round, while one park in the system is open throughout the year.

History at Lake Hanska County Park

Those interested in the region’s history will find historic attractions at Lake Hanska County Park, including a log cabin built in the 1850s, an old fortification and interpretive signs. The Omsrud-Torgrimson log cabin in the park is a memorial to Norwegian pioneers who were the first Europeans to settle permanently in this part of Brown County. This memorial adds a connection to the area’s settlement history alongside the historic structures.

Brown County can be explored in many different ways, with seasonal park amenities, canoeing opportunities, waterfront activities or visits to historic sites. Choose your destinations based on which of these interests matter most for your trip, and keep the stated seasonal hours in mind when visiting day-use parks.

Discover more destinations: New Ulm, Sleepy Eye, Stevens, Chickasaw County, Chippewa County, Watonwan County, Goodhue, Lake Of The Woods County.

For the main travel overview: Minnesota.