In some years, it seems like it takes a long time for winter to loosen its grip in the Land of 10,000 Lakes and slowly give itself over to spring. And spring in the Bold North, as we know, can be anything from a gloriously long, bug-free season of sun, greenery, and mild temperatures to a muddy “what was that?” between piles of snow and buggy sunburn. Whatever it looks like, spring in Minnesota is still welcome, and one of the sure signs that it’s here is the emergence of wildflowers. One of my favorite places to go and affirm the presence of this season of change is Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park, where the short, 2-mile, out-and-back Big Woods Trail makes for a wonderful spring wildflower hike.

Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park is located in southern Minnesota not far from Northfield.
Steve Horn/Alltrails
The namesake Big Woods Trail is an easy, two-mile out-and-back hike through the park's gorgeous hardwood forest.
Sarah Sturdy/AllTrails
It's a great hike (or snowshoe) any time of year.
In the spring, though, the forest floor bursts with color as wildflowers emerge from their long slumber.
Steve Pruden/AllTrails
In the early spring, you'll start to see skunk cabbage and wild ginger poking up through the duff.
NatureNerd/Flickr

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Mayapples and ferns spring up, and moss takes on an extra vibrance, adding a layer of green t
Brett Whaley/Flickr
Rare dwarf trout lilies bloom here at Nerstrand-Bigwoods.
Brett Whaley/Flickr
As do other spring delicacies, like Dutchman's breeches, bloodroot, and trillium.
Trent Jonas/OnlyInYourState
A visit to this park is sure to assure you that spring has arrived.
Carol Decklever/AllTrails
Don't leave Nerstrand-Bigwoods without a stroll over to (not so) Hidden Falls, and take a moment to listen to the birds and the rush of Prairie Creek as it flows over the precipice.
Trent Jonas/OnlyInYourState

Every spring, this is one of the hikes I most look forward, too. Before you go, pop onto the Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park page on the DNR website for the most up-to-date information. And stop by the entrance station to borrow a guide to the park’s flowers before setting out on your hike – as someone who likes to see the flowers but doesn’t know what they all are, I find this super helpful. An app like AllTrails Plus, which lets you navigate even without cell service (which can be questionable in the park), is also a good thing to have on hand.

Have you hiked this trail at Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park? Is there another wildflower hike in Minnesota that we should know about? Tell us about it in the comments!

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Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, 9700 170th St E, Nerstrand, MN 55053, USA