#1 · Rice Lake State Park
0.0(0)ParkOwatonna3 trails
Long before this landscape held a state park, it was part of a vast oak savanna known as Minnesota’s southern oak barrens. Imagine a sea of prairie grasses and wildflowers scattered with burr oak trees. Human activities have long since altered this landscape, but efforts are underway to restore it. A walk through the park now reveals remnants of old burr oaks and restored prairie plants. In the middle of this unique habitat is Rice Lake, a headwater of the Zumbro River. In the past, American Indians harvested wild rice here. Today, the shallow waters and marshy edges attract many waterfowl during migrations.