Hayes Lake State Park

You can never have too many places to swim—this isn’t Minnesota’s state motto, but it should be. The lake at Hayes Lake State Park, like so many others in the state, was formed by building a dam on the Roseau River because the area needed more water recreation, and recreation, they got! Swim or canoe the beach and lake, search for orchids & blueberries on the walkway weaving through the park’s enormous bog, or try your hand at angling on the fishing pier. Tons of trails connect to the Beltrami Island system, great for bikers, hikers, snowmobilers, and horseback riders.

You’ll need to pack the heavy duty bug spray with all this water around, but Hayes has a screened-in picnic area to protect from critters. The lake comes right up to the edge of the northern untamed forest, so you could see moose and heron within moments of each other—bring the good camera.