Whitewater State Park was our second mini RV trip (April 2021).  The temperatures were in the 50 and 60’s but that was perfect for us to hike and not get too hot- especially for George. George thinks anything over 70 degrees is too hot to go for a walk.  Lower temperatures also meant no bugs- got to take advantage of that while we can! 

We camped at Minneiska Campgrounds-it was perfect for us.  It was quiet, had lots of hiking trails, and close to cities that we’ve always wanted to explore. The campgrounds mostly consisted of fisherman and hikers.  It had a new updated restroom and shower building not far away and the visitor center was across the street.  The one negative was the only place to get strong wi-fi was at the visitor center.  BUT, since David needed to do some work while we were there, that allowed us to leave in the mornings and visit Wabasha, Winona, and Austin. He’d work and I learned web design. After working we explored the towns, had lunch, and then went back to the campgrounds and hiked till dinner.  

The park was established in 1919 and is one of the most scenic sections of the historic Whitewater Valley.  Rare geology in this unglaciated Driftless Area (basically means this area was not covered by the last glacier 10,000 years ago) supports diverse ecosystems, dramatic landscapes and unique recreational opportunities- like trout fishing.  Though the glaciers that covered most of the state during the last ice age did not make it to this corner of Minnesota, they still played an important role in shaping the landscape. When the ice began to melt, rivers like Whitewater and Trout Run Creek were formed and the power of this great volume of rushing water carved out the valleys in the park.