Buffalo River State Park

Buffalo River State Park is on the eastern side of Minnesota, just 14 miles east of the cities of Fargo-Moorhead. The Buffalo River winds through the park. Visitors can canoe or kayak in the river and licensed anglers can fish along the shore. This park stays open all year and has a sandy swimming beach for summer use. In the winter the state operates a warming house next to the picnic shelter, a building that has electricity. A golf course lies next to Buffalo River State Park.

The Buffalo River is a tributary of the Red River, which flows north into Canada. The Buffalo River has its mouth at Tamarack Lake and it flows into the Red River about a mile away from Georgetown, MN, a small town in northeastern Minnesota. Glyndon, MN is a town close to the Buffalo River State Park where campers and visitors can get supplies for their trip.

The park has numerous camping sites, some of which can be used in the winter. The park has flush toilets and showers, but these close in the winter. Winter visitors can use vault toilets. The maximum length for RVs or truck campers is 60 feet. The group camping site accommodates up to 50 people. This area provides spaces for pop-up campers and tents only. Running water and vault toilets are available at the group camping site. The group camping site closes in the winter and the only site where people can camp in the winter is the picnic area.

Since Buffalo River State Park is located in a prairie grassland environment, hikers can use the trails throughout the park to view the native flowers and grasses of this area. The trails are on flat land. There is a one-mile self-guided trail and another 12-mile trail for hikers. Cross-country skier have six miles of trails for use in the winter. Snowshoers are welcome at Buffalo River State Park but they must stay off groomed cross-country ski trails.

Minnesota passed a law that restricts the use of non-local firewood. Unless campers or guests can demonstrate the origin of the wood, they are limited to the wood that they buy locally or at the park. This law slows down the spread of invasive insects and diseases. The park sells firewood and ice and has a gift shop within the park. The park has GPS units at the office that visitors can use if they do not have their own units.

Campers can reserve a space at the park. Since it is close to Fargo-Moorhead, holiday weekends can be busy. More information about this park can be found by calling 1-888-MINNDNR , or visiting the website at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/buffalo_river/index.html. The park’s direct phone number is 218-498-2124.