(Twin Cities, MN) — May 26th, 2023 — After closure due to flooding, Fort Snelling State Park will reopen to the public on Saturday, May 27. The visitor center, park office, parking lots, swimming beach, picnic area near the beach and Snelling Lake trail will be available to the public. Some other areas will remain closed.
Fort Snelling State Park will host three events with the park’s interpretive naturalists this weekend. Naturalist programming is open to visitors of all ages. Details about the events offered are available on the park’s webpage of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website.
In addition to event information, people are encouraged to check the park webpage for visitor alerts that explain what to expect at the park. Pike and Picnic islands will remain closed indefinitely due to continued flooding and debris from two flood events this spring. The fishing pier at Snelling Lake will undergo minor repairs before being available for use.
The park was closed April 21 through May 15 due to flooding caused by snow melt. The park closed again on May 17 after heavy rainfall in southern Minnesota raised river levels on the Minnesota River, causing a second flood event at the park.
As always, visitors will need a state park vehicle permit to drive into the park. Vehicle permits can be purchased online or in person at the park during open office hours. Find information on the DNR’s state park permits page.
