Banning State Park

 

 

     
 
About
 
 

Ownership

 
 

Minnesota DNR logo

 
     
 

Links

 
 

Minnesota DNR

 
     
 

Overview

 
 

 

 
     
 

History

 
 

 

 
     
 

Management

 
 

 

 
     
 

Comments

 
 

 

 
     
 
Location
 
 

Maps

 
 

All Season Map

 
         
 

Printable Map(s) with GPS coordinates

 
         
         
 

Size

 
 

6,237 acres

 
         
 

Parking

 
 

N46 10.410, W92 50.976

 
         
 

Hours

 
 

Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.

 
         
 

Fees

 
 

Daily park permit: $7

Annual park permit: $35

 
         
 

Driving Directions

  Area and County  
 

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          Pine County  
          Central Minnesota  
     
 
Activities
 
 

Hiking Trails

 
 

17 miles
1.8 miles interpretive
0.1 miles handicapped accessible

A 1 mile paved bike trail connects the park to The Willard Munger State Trail.

 
     
 

Hunting

 
 

The park may hold one or more managed hunts in the fall.

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Ecological Classification

  Ecological Classification  
  Ecological Province    

Laurentian Mixed Forest Province

   
  Ecological Section    

Western Superior Uplands

   
  Ecological Subsection    

Mille Lacs Uplands

   
  Land Type Association    

Finlayson Till Plain

Willow River Sand Plain

   
             
 

Native Plant Communities*

   
 

Aspen - Birch Forest

Basswood - Black Ash Forest

Black Ash - Silver Maple Terrace Forest

Central Mesic Hardwood Forest (Eastern)

Central Wet-Mesic Hardwood Forest

Northern Poor Fen

Northern Rich Alder Swamp

Northern Wet Ash Swamp

Northern Wet Meadow/Carr

Oak - Aspen - Red Maple Forest

Red Pine - White Pine Woodland (Eastcentral Bedrock)

Willow - Dogwood Shrub Swamp

   
  * Source: The Minnesota Biological Survey, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological Resources      
         
 

Natural Features

     
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Kirk Nelson

 
 

Cut-Off Trail

 
    Banning State Park      
           
 

Kettle River

 
    Banning State Park      
           
 

Skunk Cabbage Trail

 
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Snowshoeing

 
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Wayne Rasmussen

 
 

Fall 2017

 
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Kettle River

 
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Spring Hiking

 
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Martha Decker

 
 

Kettle River

 
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Park Entrance

 
    Banning State Park      
           
 

Kettle River

 
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Trails

 
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Forests

 
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Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
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Sharon Somero
 
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Ken Wolter
 
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Richard Sanders
 
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About

Banning State Park, MN

 
  Banning State Park, Minnesota
campsitephotosdotcom
 
   
 
About

Published on Oct 25, 2013

Favorite Sites: 2, 5, 9, 10, 13, 18, 24, 33, 34

 

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  Banning state park
jackdonkey22's channel
 
   
 
About

Published on May 16, 2014

Quarry Loop trail and Hells gate trail.

   
  Banning State Park 8 8 15
Timothy Kowalik
 
   
 
About

Published on Aug 11, 2015

The Kettle River in Banning State Park, Sandstone, MN.

   
  October camping/hiking trip up at Banning state park
Andy DeLassus
 
   
 
About

Published on Oct 7, 2015

October camping and hiking up at banning state park

   
  Wolf Creek Falls, Banning State Park, MN
Nate Lindstrom
 
   
 
About

Published on Jan 6, 2015

   
  Active MN Outdoors - Banning State Park
Mike Schoen
 
   
 
About

Published on Aug 9, 2012

MN State Park in Sandstone. Great hiking and beautiful scenery!

   

 

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Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

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Ramona Abrego

 
 

Birds

 
  Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)   Common Yellowthroat  
 

Kirk Nelson

 
 

Birds

 
  Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

Visits

5/25/2011   6/13/2012            
 
 

Amphibians

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Amphibians and Reptiles List

 
  wood frog (Rana sylvatica)   wood frog  
 

Birds

 
 

Three bird species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:

Endangered

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)

Special Concern

Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla)

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Birds List

Minnesota DNR Bird Checklist

eBird Field Checklist (Banning SP)

eBird Field Checklist (Banning State Park)

 
 

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons)

 

American Robin

Black-capped Chickadee

Brown-headed Cowbird

Pileated Woodpecker

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

 
 

Fishes

 
 

Three fish species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:

Special Concern

gilt darter (Percina evides)

lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)

northern brook lamprey (Ichthyomyzon fossor)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Fishes List

 
 

Fungi and Lichens

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Fungus List

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Lichen List

 
 

Artist’s Conk (Ganoderma applanatum)

Black Knot (Apiosporina morbosa)

Crown Rust (Puccinia coronata)

Hoof Fungus (Fomes fomentarius)

Smoky Polypore (Bjerkandera adusta)

  Black Knot  
 

Insects and Arachnids

 
 

Canadian tiger swallowtail (Papilio canadensis)

common whitetail (Plathemis lydia)

eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)

ebony jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata)

fifteen-spotted lady beetle (Anatis labiculata)

forest tent caterpillar moth (Malacosoma disstria)

four-spotted skimmer (Libellula quadrimaculata)

gall midge (Harmandiola cavernosa)

goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis)

goldenrod spindle-gall moth (Gnorimoschema gallaesolidaginis)

green-faced clubtail (Hylogomphus viridifrons)

Hobomok skipper (Lon hobomok)

Illinois river cruiser (Macromia illinoiensis illinoiensis)

linden wart gall midge (Contarinia verrucicola)

little wood satyr (Megisto cymela)

multicolored Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis)

northern pearly eye (Lethe anthedon)

orange sulphur (Colias eurytheme)

racket-tailed emerald (Dorocordulia libera)

river jewelwing (Calopteryx aequabilis)

ruby meadowhawk (Sympetrum rubicundulum)

spring fishfly (Chauliodes rastricornis)

white admiral (Limenitis arthemis arthemis)

white-striped black (Trichodezia albovittata)

 

common whitetail

forest tent caterpillar moth

goldenrod gall fly

little wood satyr

orange sulphur

spring fishfly

 
 

Mammals

 
 

American black bear (Ursus americanus)

whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

  American black bear  
 

Plants

 
 

Nine plant species with conservation status in Minnesota are found here:

Endangered

butternut (Juglans cinerea)

Threatened

black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata)

blunt-lobed grapefern (Botrychium oneidense)

bog bluegrass (Poa paludigena)

largebract ticktrefoil (Desmodium cuspidatum var. longifolium)

Special Concern

American marsh pennywort (Hydrocotyle americana)

creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis)

intermediate sedge (Carex media)

necklace sedge (Carex ormostachya)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey Vegetation Releves Plant List

 
 

Plants frequently found in:

Aspen - Birch Forest FDn43b

Basswood - Black Ash Forest MHc47a

Black Ash - Silver Maple Terrace Forest FFn57a

Central Mesic Hardwood Forest (Eastern) MHc36

Central Wet-Mesic Hardwood Forest MHc47

Northern Poor Fen APn91

Northern Rich Alder Swamp FPn73

Northern Wet Ash Swamp WFn55

Northern Wet Meadow/Carr WMn82

Oak - Aspen - Red Maple Forest MHc26a

Red Pine - White Pine Woodland (Eastcentral Bedrock) FDn22d

Willow - Dogwood Shrub Swamp WMn82a

     
 

 

Allegheny blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis)

American basswood (Tilia americana var. americana)

American black currant (Ribes americanum)

American hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana var. virginiana)

American red raspberry (Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus)

American vetch (Vicia americana ssp. americana)

balsam fir (Abies balsamea var. balsamea)

balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera)

beaked hazelnut (Corylus cornuta var. cornuta)

bigtooth aspen (Populus grandidentata)

bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis)

black cherry (Prunus serotina var. serotina)

black-seeded plantain (Plantago rugelii var. rugelii)

bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)

bluebead lily (Clintonia borealis)

bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)

bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa)

butternut (Juglans cinerea)

Canada anemone (Anemonastrum canadense)

Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)

Canadian honewort (Cryptotaenia canadensis)

Canadian wild ginger (Asarum canadense)

Canadian woodnettle (Laportea canadensis)

cleavers (Galium aparine)

climbing false buckwheat (Fallopia scandens)

common agrimony (Agrimonia gryposepala)

common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)

common burdock (Arctium minus)

common cinquefoil (Potentilla simplex)

common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale)

common false Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum racemosum var. racemosum)

common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

common mullein (Verbascum thapsus ssp. thapsus)

common polypody (Polypodium virginianum)

common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

common strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

common winterberry (Ilex verticillata)

common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

cream pea (Lathyrus ochroleucus)

dotted hawthorn (Crataegus punctata)

downy Parlin’s pussytoes (Antennaria parlinii ssp. fallax)

downy serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)

early figwort (Scrophularia lanceolata)

early horse gentian (Triosteum aurantiacum var. aurantiacum)

early meadow-rue (Thalictrum dioicum)

eastern prickly gooseberry (Ribes cynosbati)

eastern white pine (Pinus strobus)

falsegold groundsel (Packera pseudaurea var. semicordata)

field horsetail (Equisetum arvense)

giant chickweed (Myosoton aquaticum)

golden alexanders (Zizia aurea)

gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa)

green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)

green carpetweed (Mollugo verticillata)

hairy honeysuckle (Lonicera hirsuta)

hairy-stem gooseberry (Ribes hirtellum)

hog peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata var. bracteata)

interrupted fern (Claytosmunda claytoniana)

jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)

kidney-leaved buttercup (Ranunculus abortivus)

large-flowered bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora)

large-flowered trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)

large-thorned hawthorn (Crataegus macracantha)

late goldenrod (Solidago altissima)

Maryland black snakeroot (Sanicula marilandica)

Morrow’s honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii)

narrow-leaved cattail (Typha angustifolia)

nodding chickweed (Cerastium nutans)

northern bedstraw (Galium boreale)

northern blue flag (Iris versicolor)

northern bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera)

northern lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina var. angustum)

northern red oak (Quercus rubra)

northern starflower (Lysimachia borealis)

orange hawkweed (Pilosella aurantiaca)

ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris var. pensylvanica)

oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)

pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)

paper birch (Betula papyrifera var. papyrifera)

Philadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus var. philadelphicus)

pointed-leaved tick-trefoil (Hylodesmum glutinosum)

prairie blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium campestre)

prairie rose (Rosa arkansana)

purple meadow-rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)

quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)

red baneberry (Actaea rubra ssp. rubra)

red clover (Trifolium pratense)

red maple (Acer rubrum var. rubrum)

red pine (Pinus resinosa)

reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)

round-leaved dogwood (Cornus rugosa)

round-lobed hepatica (Anemone americana)

sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis)

silky dogwood (Cornus obliqua)

silver maple (Acer saccharinum)

skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus)

small-flowered forget-me-not (Myosotis laxa)

speckled alder (Alnus incana ssp. rugosa)

spotted touch-me-not (Impatiens capensis)

spotted water hemlock (Cicuta maculata)

spreading dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium)

starry false Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum stellatum)

stinging nettle (Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis)

sugar maple (Acer saccharum ssp. saccharum)

tall buttercup (Ranunculus acris var. acris)

upright carrionflower (Smilax ecirrhata)

Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum var. virginianum)

water horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile)

western bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum)

western poison ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii)

white ash (Fraxinus americana)

white avens (Geum canadense)

white clover (Trifolium repens ssp. repens)

white rattlesnake root (Nabalus albus)

white spruce (Picea glauca)

wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)

wild leek (Allium tricoccum)

wild oats (Uvularia sessilifolia)

wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis)

wild yam (Dioscorea villosa)

woodbine (Parthenocissus vitacea)

woodland horsetail (Equisetum sylvaticum)

woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca ssp. americana)

yellow wood sorrel (Oxalis stricta)

 

Abies balsamea var. balsamea (balsam fir)

Acer rubrum var. rubrum (red maple)

Acer saccharinum (silver maple)

Acer saccharum ssp. saccharum (sugar maple)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow)

Actaea rubra ssp. rubra (red baneberry)

Agrimonia gryposepala (common agrimony)

Allium tricoccum (wild leek)

Alnus incana ssp. rugosa (speckled alder)

Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed)

Amelanchier arborea (downy serviceberry)

Amphicarpaea bracteata var. bracteata (hog peanut)

Anemone americana (round-lobed hepatica)

Anemonastrum canadense (Canada anemone)

Antennaria parlinii ssp. fallax (downy Parlin’s pussytoes)

Apocynum androsaemifolium (spreading dogbane)

Aquilegia canadensis (wild columbine)

Aralia nudicaulis (wild sarsaparilla)

Arctium minus (common burdock)

Arisaema triphyllum (jack-in-the-pulpit)

Asarum canadense (Canadian wild ginger)

Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed)

Athyrium filix-femina var. angustum (northern lady fern)

Betula papyrifera var. papyrifera (paper birch)

Carya cordiformis (bitternut hickory)

Caulophyllum thalictroides (blue cohosh)

Cerastium nutans (nodding chickweed)

Cicuta maculata (spotted water hemlock)

Clintonia borealis (bluebead lily)

Cornus alternifolia (pagoda dogwood)

Cornus obliqua (silky dogwood)

Cornus canadensis (bunchberry)

Cornus racemosa (gray dogwood)

Cornus rugosa (round-leaved dogwood)

Corylus cornuta var. cornuta (beaked hazelnut)

Crataegus macracantha (large-thorned hawthorn)

Crataegus punctata (dotted hawthorn)

Cryptotaenia canadensis (Canadian honewort)

Diervilla lonicera (northern bush honeysuckle)

Dioscorea villosa (wild yam)

Equisetum arvense (field horsetail)

Equisetum fluviatile (water horsetail)

Equisetum sylvaticum (woodland horsetail)

Erigeron philadelphicus var. philadelphicus (Philadelphia fleabane)

Fallopia scandens (climbing false buckwheat)

Fragaria vesca ssp. americana (woodland strawberry)

Fragaria virginiana (common strawberry)

Fraxinus americana (white ash)

Fraxinus pennsylvanica (green ash)

Galium aparine (cleavers)

Galium boreale (northern bedstraw)

Geranium maculatum (wild geranium)

Geum canadense (white avens)

Hydrophyllum virginianum var. virginianum (Virginia waterleaf)

Hylodesmum glutinosum (pointed-leaved tick-trefoil)

Ilex verticillata (common winterberry)

Impatiens capensis (spotted touch-me-not)

Iris versicolor (northern blue flag)

Juglans cinerea (butternut)

Laportea canadensis (Canadian woodnettle)

Lathyrus ochroleucus (cream pea)

Leucanthemum vulgare (oxeye daisy)

Lonicera hirsuta (hairy honeysuckle)

Lonicera morrowii (Morrow’s honeysuckle)

Lysimachia borealis (northern starflower)

Maianthemum canadense (Canada mayflower)

Maianthemum racemosum var. racemosum (common false Solomon’s seal)

Maianthemum stellatum (starry false Solomon’s seal)

Matteuccia struthiopteris var. pensylvanica (ostrich fern)

Mollugo verticillata (green carpetweed)

Myosotis laxa (small-flowered forget-me-not)

Myosoton aquaticum (giant chickweed)

Nabalus albus (white rattlesnake root)

Onoclea sensibilis (sensitive fern)

Claytosmunda claytoniana (interrupted fern)

Ostrya virginiana var. virginiana (American hophornbeam)

Oxalis stricta (yellow wood sorrel)

Packera pseudaurea var. semicordata (falsegold groundsel)

Parthenocissus vitacea (woodbine)

Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass)

Picea glauca (white spruce)

Pilosella aurantiaca (orange hawkweed)

Pinus resinosa (red pine)

Pinus strobus (eastern white pine)

Plantago rugelii var. rugelii (black-seeded plantain)

Polypodium virginianum (common polypody)

Populus balsamifera (balsam poplar)

Populus grandidentata (bigtooth aspen)

Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen)

Potentilla simplex (common cinquefoil)

Prunus serotina var. serotina (black cherry)

Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum (western bracken fern)

Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa (bur oak)

Quercus rubra (northern red oak)

Ranunculus abortivus (kidney-leaved buttercup)

Ranunculus acris var. acris (tall buttercup)

Ranunculus acris var. acris (tall buttercup)

Rhamnus cathartica (common buckthorn)

Ribes americanum (American black currant)

Ribes cynosbati (eastern prickly gooseberry)

Ribes hirtellum (hairy-stem gooseberry)

Rosa arkansana (prairie rose)

Rubus allegheniensis (Allegheny blackberry)

Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus (American red raspberry)

Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot)

Sanicula marilandica (Maryland black snakeroot)

Scrophularia lanceolata (early figwort)

Sisyrinchium campestre (prairie blue-eyed grass)

Smilax ecirrhata (upright carrionflower)

Solidago altissima (late goldenrod)

Symplocarpus foetidus (skunk cabbage)

Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale (common dandelion)

Thalictrum dasycarpum (purple meadow-rue)

Thalictrum dioicum (early meadow-rue)

Tilia americana (American basswood)

Toxicodendron rydbergii (western poison ivy)

Trifolium pratense (red clover)

Trifolium repens ssp. repens (white clover)

Trillium grandiflorum (large-flowered trillium)

Triosteum aurantiacum var. aurantiacum (early horse gentian)

Typha angustifolia (narrow-leaved cattail)

Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis (stinging nettle)

Uvularia grandiflora (large-flowered bellwort)

Uvularia sessilifolia (wild oats)

Verbascum thapsus ssp. thapsus (common mullein)

Vicia americana ssp. americana (American vetch)

Zizia aurea (golden alexanders)

 

American black currant

American hog peanut (var. bracteata)

American vetch (var. americana)

black cherry

bloodroot

blue cohosh

bur oak

Canada anemone

Canada mayflower

common false Solomon’s seal

common mullein

common yarrow

early meadow-rue

eastern prickly gooseberry

golden alexanders

large-flowered bellwort

large-flowered trillium

Morrow’s honeysuckle

northern bedstraw

northern starflower

orange hawkweed

oxeye daisy

prairie rose

red baneberry

red clover

silky dogwood

spotted touch-me-not

spotted water hemlock

spreading dogbane

Virginia waterleaf

white clover

wild columbine

wild geranium

woodland strawberry

yellow wood sorrel

 
 

Reptiles

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Amphibians and Reptiles List

 

 

 

Binoculars


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