LUVERNE, Minn. - A few weeks ago, on KARE 11 Sunrise, I showed a map of all the places I had been on my photo stops. I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was, to realize that I hadn't been to western Minnesota.
"I've failed you!" I said on-air. I was way overdue for a trip out west and immediately, Sven Sundgaard said on-air, "Maybe check out Blue Mounds State Park. I hear that's pretty cool."
So, I went online to scope this place out. I had never heard of it. It's in Luverne in the far southwestern corner of Minnesota, about 3.5 hours from the Twin Cities.
In the days leading up to my road trip, people asked, "Western Minnesota. What's there to see out there?" A lot, actually, and Blue Mounds State Park is a great place to stop.
Ellery's Photo Stop
First off, the sunrise was spectacular. I started my career in southern Minnesota, but I had forgotten how beautiful the mornings can be with the sun and fog over farm fields.
There are more than 500 acres to the park and while there is so much to see, there are three things I want to highlight: the prairie, cliffs and bison.
I started with the prairie which stretches as far as the eye can see. I walked up to Eagle Rock, which sits 300 feet above the City of Luverne. At this point, you can see Iowa and South Dakota in the distance.
I made a loop around the prairie and as I did, I saw the bison herd grazing. The park's manager Chris Ingebretsen, told me the herd has been there since the 1960's and it's one of the few in the nation that's free from cattle genetics.
After checking out the herd, I kept walking along the prairie searching for the old quarry, which is a big draw for visitors. When you search this park online, one of the first, if not the first, photo that pops up is of the old quarry.
From the prairie, you can stand on top of the cliffs and look out at the farm fields and few houses in the distance. You can also check out the prairie from below. In person, it looks way bigger than it does online. That was a great surprise and a great way to end my time at Blue Mounds State Park. Head there for a visit!
For more information about the park, click here.
I'd like to head back west, so send me your suggestions, along with other suggestions of places to photograph in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Here's how to contact me:
Email: emccardle@kare11.com
Twitter: @ElleryTV
Facebook: facebook.com/ElleryTV
Instagram: ellerymctv