Getting away from mosquitoes
In the bluffs of southeast Minnesota, breathe a sigh of relief.
© Beth Gauper
In southeast Minnesota, the Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway passes a hillside goat prairie near Hokah.
Had it with mosquitoes? Head for southeast Minnesota.
That's karst country, where porous limestone lies just under the surface and rain sinks into fast-moving underground streams that are chilled to 48 degrees when they run through the many cave systems.
Trout like it, but mosquitoes don't. There's no standing water, so there's nowhere for them to breed.
That makes camping virtually mosquito-free at Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park near
Preston, Whitewater State Park near St. Charles
and Beaver Creek Valley State Park near
Caledonia.
Deb Erickson, office manager at Forestville, says people used to camping on Minnesota's North Shore are pleasantly surprised and often ask why there are so few mosquitoes.
"All the parks are like that in southeast Minnesota,'' she says. "It's kind of strange, but very wonderful.''
There are plenty of private and municipal campgrounds, too; Sylvan Park in the middle of Lanesboro is a choice spot.
And remember that Minnesota state parks allow campsite reservations a year in advance. So if you think you might to want to camp at this time next year, be on the phone or on-line at 8 a.m. on the day you want to arrive next summer, 866-857-2757.
What to do when you get there? Tour Mystery Cave and
Niagara Cave near Harmony, especially on a hot day. Bicycle on the Root River State Trail or go
tubing or paddling. Tour Amish farms.
For more about the area, including northeast Iowa, see our Bluff Land
stories.
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