Discover Douglas County: Trails, Museums and History

Douglas County maintains nine county parks, which are open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Those using the Central Lakes Bike Trail can access Lake Le Homme Dieu Beach from the trail. These details differ for planning purposes: the county parks’ daily opening hours apply to the parks, while the beach is accessible from the named bike trail.

Nature Trails and Snowmobile Trails

Lake Carlos State Park has two trails with different focuses. The Hidden Lake Trail winds through a forest; wildflowers, birds and a bald eagle’s nest can be seen along the way. The Maple-Basswood Trail is a 1.1-mile, one-way interpretive trail. This makes the distinction clear when choosing a trail: the Hidden Lake Trail focuses on forest and nature observation, while the Maple-Basswood Trail is a designated interpretive trail with a specified length.

The Douglas Area Trails Association maintains a 368-mile snowmobile trail network in the Hardwood Hills and River Prairie landscape regions of west-central Minnesota; its length may change over time. DATA snowmobile trails run through open lowlands as well as heavily wooded, hilly terrain. Every community in Douglas County is connected by the trail network. This means the same network encompasses different types of terrain and connects the communities.

Kensington Rune Stone Park is located on the DATA Snowmobile Trail. In contrast to the network connecting multiple communities, it is one specific place: the park includes the historic Ohman farmstead and the Rune Stone discovery site. The discovery site and the farmstead provide two clearly identified historical points of interest for a visit.

Museums and Historical Collections

The Runestone Museum displays Ojibwe and Dakota artifacts from the Dr. Oliver Collection, including ceremonial pipes and beadwork. In summer, its offerings include indoor exhibits and nine historic buildings outdoors. The 40-foot-long “Snorri” is also on display there; its design is based on an archaeological find in Denmark. The length gives a sense of the exhibit’s size, while the find in Denmark provides context for its design.

In Alexandria, the Legacy of the Lakes Museum showcases classic boats, fishing history and lake traditions. Its permanent exhibits include “Grand Hotels & Resorts,” “Fishing Gallery,” “Alexandria Boat Works” and “Fiberglassics.” The exhibit titles identify different subjects covered by the museum.

The cultural offerings differ clearly: the Runestone Museum features, among other things, Ojibwe and Dakota artifacts, historic buildings and the “Snorri”; the Legacy of the Lakes Museum focuses on classic boats, fishing history and lake traditions.

Discover more destinations: Alexandria, Millerville, Dodge County, Chickasaw County, Morrison, Pine County, Itasca County, Scott

For the broader travel overview: Minnesota.