Fort Defiance State Park is a 191 acre park located in Emmet County and sits at an elevation of 1,453 feet. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression, the park was opened in 1930 and is open year-round for picknicking, hiking and camping.
Fort Defiance State Park is named for the former Fort Defiance which was built to protect a gristmil and sawmill during the Dakota War of 1862.
A lodge built to resemble a frontier army outpost is available to rent to large groups for meetings and reunions. There is a picnic pavillion that is open to all visitors on a first come first served basis. The park has a rustic camping area with sixteen camping sites. The trails of the park are open to hiking, horseback riding and cross country skiing. Two of the trails, White Tail Ridge Trail and Spring Trail have recently undergone extensive improvements. The work was completed by students from the Iowa Lakes Community College environmental studies program which included covering the trails with wood chips to make the trails more “hiker friendly.” White Tail Ridge Trail passes through a wooded area where visitors may encounter some white-tailed deer. The Spring Trails passes through a patch of prairie. (wiki)
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