Camden State Park offers much for visitors to
enjoy. Fish for brown trout in the Redwood River or bass and bluegill in Brawner
Lake. Hike the trails or cool off in the spring-fed pool. Walk along the wooded
river valley, climb the Dakota Valley Trail to the lookout for great fall
colors, or go canoeing on Brawner Lake. Woodlands, maples, basswoods, oaks, and
cottonwoods, dominate this park. Sun-drenched prairies, grasslands, and marshes
offer added diversity. The park provides picnic areas, campgrounds (drive-in,
horseback, and group), swimming, hiking, and cross-country skiing.Quick
stats:
2,245 acres
102,674 annual visits
9,869 overnight visits
Naturalist:
The best way to learn more about Camden State Park is to stop at the park
office for a map and information about the park. Although the park does not have
a naturalist on staff, activities are offered occasionally.
Wildlife
One hundred fifty years ago, buffalo, elk, wolves, prairie chickens, and
golden eagles were an integral part of life here. They are gone now. Today,
mink, raccoons, songbirds, hawks, coyotes, and a large winter herd of whitetail
deer flourish in the park. Bass and bluegill are found in Brawner Lake, and
brown trout are stocked in the Redwood River each year.
History
The Redwood River Valley was home to prehistoric and historic people.
Archaeological research has revealed that people used this valley 8,000 years
ago for hunting and fishing. An American Fur Company trading post was
established in the valley in the middle 1830s. LaFramboise, a Frenchman, was
hired to trade with the local American Indians from this post and manage the
company's affairs in the Coteau des Prairies region. American and European
settlers began coming to the valley by the late 1850s. In 1874 the village of
Camden was established. By the late 1880s, Camden was thriving with a general
store, hotel, blacksmith shop and a sawmill that was later converted to a grist
mill. The town grew until 1888 when the railroad decided not to place a depot in
Camden. By the early 1930s, the town of Camden was a memory. Still, the area
then known as Camden Woods was used by local people for picnics and family
gatherings. It was from this use that Camden State Park began in 1935.
Geology
Camden lies in an area of southwestern Minnesota called Coteau des Prairies,
which means highland of the prairie. It is a high plateau that rises 900 feet,
at its summit. During the last Ice Age, glaciers covered the shale and sandstone
bedrock of this area with layers of mixed rock, gravel, sand clay, which
together are known as till. Where the glaciers ended their advance or held
steady, the till piled up into long, high ridges called moraines. Camden lies
atop the Altamont moraine, the second highest and most eastern moraine in the
Coteau. Not all of the topography in this park is a direct result of glacial
activity. The Redwood River Valley was formed after the glaciers had receded to
the north. Water draining and flowing off the land cut into the till and carved
out the Redwood River Valley.
Landscape
Camden's cool wooded valley cuts through the open prairie and offers visitors
the opportunity to observe plants and animals of woodlands and prairies.
Springtime flowers, white trillium, trout lilies, bloodroot and violets, color
Camden's woodlands. The prairie comes alive in spring with pasque flowers and
prairie smoke. In summer, purple coneflowers and blazing stars add color to the
prairie. In the fall, goldenrods, asters and gentians bloom on the prairie.
Reds, yellows and golds from maples, basswoods, ash, cottonwoods and hackberry
make the fall colors great at Camden State Park.
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