Carley State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- 20 campsites
- Official site
- dnr.state.mn.us(507) 312-2300
Official page last checked Oct 30, 2026. Details last changed Oct 30, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Partial closure CampgroundThe Carley State Park campground is CLOSED for the 2026 season, and will reopen again for the 2027 season on Friday May 28th, 2027.
Posted by the park 2026-10-29. Official alert
Overview
In Wabasha County, about 4 miles south of Plainview, Carley State Park covers about 209 acres.
The park supports fishing, wildlife watching, hiking, and picnicking. The official site lists about 4 miles of trails. Camping is available: 20 campsites across 2 camping areas, including RV sites, tent sites, and group camping. The park says there are no showers.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. | — |
| Campground | Campground is CLOSED for the 2026 season. Carley State Park Campground is open each year between Memorial Day Weekend and Labor Day Weekend, and closed for the remainder of the year. | ||
| Park | Bathrooms: No flush toilets are available at this park. Vault toilets available year-round. Other: Best campsites for hammocks are sites 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 12, 14, 17, and 18 Campgrounds: Campground is CLOSED for the 2026 season. Carley State Park Campground is open each year between Memorial Day Weekend and Labor Day Weekend, and closed for the remainder of the year. RVs: Campsites 1 & 16 are best suitable for RV campers. Rough terrrain in the campground makes it diffucult for large RV campers. Sites 1, 2, 3, 10, 16, and 18 are the most hammock friendly sites as of October 2021. Trails: Park has 4 miles of hiking trails. In winter, park has 2 miles of cross-country ski trails (not groomed). Snowshoeing is permitted anywhere in the park. Water: Water is off for the season. Showers: No showers available at this park. Electric sites: None at this park. Drinking water: Water is off for the season. | ||
Official wording
Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
This park does not have office hours. For information contact Whitewater State Park.
Campground is CLOSED for the 2026 season. Carley State Park Campground is open each year between Memorial Day Weekend and Labor Day Weekend, and closed for the remainder of the year.
Bathrooms: No flush toilets are available at this park. Vault toilets available year-round. Other: Best campsites for hammocks are sites 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 12, 14, 17, and 18 Campgrounds: Campground is CLOSED for the 2026 season. Carley State Park Campground is open each year between Memorial Day Weekend and Labor Day Weekend, and closed for the remainder of the year. RVs: Campsites 1 & 16 are best suitable for RV campers. Rough terrrain in the campground makes it diffucult for large RV campers. Sites 1, 2, 3, 10, 16, and 18 are the most hammock friendly sites as of October 2021. Trails: Park has 4 miles of hiking trails. In winter, park has 2 miles of cross-country ski trails (not groomed). Snowshoeing is permitted anywhere in the park. Water: Water is off for the season. Showers: No showers available at this park. Electric sites: None at this park. Drinking water: Water is off for the season.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 30, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Chicago).
Pets
Pets allowed on a leash six feet or shorter (or in a portable enclosure) and personally attended; only service animals in buildings, lodging, camper cabins, yurts, tipis, tours and beach areas.
Statewide rule from Minnesota's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
Fees and passes
Per vehicle: a state park vehicle permit (one-day $7 or year-round $35) is required for every vehicle; same price for residents and nonresidents. Four free park days per year. Iron Range OHV SRA states 'There is no entrance fee'.
Statewide fee rule from Minnesota's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Minnesota park passes
- Year-round vehicle permit — $35. Unlimited visits to every Minnesota state park and recreation area for 12 months from the month of purchase Details
- One-day vehicle permit — $7. One day, one vehicle Details
- Additional year-round vehicle permit — $26. Additional vehicles owned by a year-round permit holder Details
- Year-round motorcycle permit — $30. Motorcycle, 12 months Details
- One-day group permit — $5. Group vehicles, one day Details
From the Minnesota state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- Reserve MN (US eDirect)
- Phone
- 866-857-2757
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites 20 secluded and wooded sites | 20 | RVs up to 30 feet | — |
| Group Camp Two sites — Both group camp sites are a short hike from the parking area. Vault toilets, hand pump for water, picnic tables, and fire rings available. Tents only. Site #1 accommodates up to 20 people, Site #2 accommodates up to 15 people. | — | — |
Camping details from the park
Drive-in Sites — 20 secluded and wooded sites
RV Length Limit — 30 feet: Length is from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle being towed.
Group Camp — Two sites: Both group camp sites are a short hike from the parking area. Vault toilets, hand pump for water, picnic tables, and fire rings available. Tents only. Site #1 accommodates up to 20 people, Site #2 accommodates up to 15 people.
From the official park page, checked Oct 30, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
CampingFishingWildlife viewing and birdingHikingPicnicking
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snowshoe (winter) | — | — | Anywhere in parkSnowshoe |
| Other (winter) | 2 mi | — | 2 miles of ungroomed cross-country ski trailsOther |
| Hiking (summer) | 5 mi | — | Five miles — The trail passes along the north branch of the Whitewater River. Excellent spring wildflower viewing along trails.Hiking |
Trail descriptions from the park
Winter — Snowshoe — Anywhere in park
Winter — Other — 2 miles of ungroomed cross-country ski trails
Summer — Hiking — Five miles: The trail passes along the north branch of the Whitewater River. Excellent spring wildflower viewing along trails.
Trail conditions: Park has 4 miles of hiking trails. In winter, park has 2 miles of cross-country ski trails (not groomed). Snowshoeing is permitted anywhere in the park.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Vault or pit toilets
- Picnic areas
- Picnic shelters
- Playground
- Group facilities
- Showers: not available (stated by the park)
Camping
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Group camping
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Address
- c/o Whitewater State Park, 19041 Highway 74
Altura, MN 55910 - Nearest town
- Plainview — about 4 mi south (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 44.1099, -92.1694
- Phone
- (507) 312-2300
- whitewater.statepark@state.mn.us
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
Approximately 15 miles northeast of Rochester, or 4 miles south of Plainview on Wabasha County Road 4.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Minnesota State Parks and Trails — park page — last checked Oct 30, 2026; page says updated Oct 29, 2026
- MN DNR A-Z list of state parks and recreation areas (park IDs in server-rendered <noscript> links) + state waysides page; details from the compass feature_detail JSON API used by park.html
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
- Photo: Yellow-bellied sapsucker.png — CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication), Funknendai
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. “Last changed” (Oct 30, 2026) is when the information shown here last differed from the previous check. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology