Sakatah Lake State Park, Minnesota

Borrowing the Dakota word for “singing hills,” the beautiful Sakatah Lake State Park lives up to its descriptor quite nicely. The Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail runs right through it, a former rail line in an area that was never logged and is now a winding path for hikers, bikers, snowmobilers—heck, you could even lace up those old rollerblades! Mid-summer visitors will be happy to see that the 39 miles of trails are well-shaded. There are no designated swimming areas and the shores are pretty muddy, but if you get desparate on a hot day, they aren’t likely to stop ya. The park still has some old Dakota burial mounds—bone up on the history before you go, then gather your friends around the fire for a spooky story hour under the stars!