Banning State Park

Watch paddlers run Hell's Gate and other Kettle River rapids, then hike past sandstone gorges, glacial potholes and the ruins of an old quarry town.

Off Interstate 35 near Sandstone, MN · Sandstone, MN

About Banning State Park

Banning State Park follows 10 miles of the Kettle River near Sandstone, and its centerpiece is 1.5 miles of rapids up to Class IV, with names like Blueberry Slide, Dragon's Tooth and Hell's Gate, where the gorge is up to 40 feet deep. Paddlers run them each spring and spectators gather on shore. The 17 miles of hiking trails pass sandstone cliffs, potholes drilled by glacial meltwater, Wolf Creek Falls and the ruins of the Banning quarry, which opened in 1892. The campground has 33 sites, a camper cabin and showers. Each vehicle needs a state park permit, sold online or at the park office.

#state park
#whitewater
#hiking
#waterfall
#camping

What's around here?

The closest stops to Banning State Park, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

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Quirky Fun
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Nightlife
Rainy-Day Pick
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Sports & Outdoors
Outdoor Adventure
St. Croix State Park
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Sports & Outdoors
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Father Hennepin State Park
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Sports & Outdoors
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Sightseeing
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The county tourism office in Washburn, Wisconsin, with visitor information for Bayfield County and the Lake Superior shore.
54 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing