Love these videos! If you plan on doing another state next summer, you should maybe try North Dakota. There are only 13 parks (soon to be 14). I've been to all of them and my personal favorite is Fort Abraham Lincoln.

Hey! Fellow Des Moines resident here. But I grew up in the north east corner. Great video! I would definitely recommend hitting pikes Peak on a sunny day. Sunrises are very cool. But it’s also really cool approaching sunset with the sun behind you. It really lights up the other side of the river. This is especially true when the fall colors are at their peak. But I am a bit of an architecture nerd. So Cedar rock is my favorite. I can just imagine taking a nap with all the windows open in that boathouse on a breezy day. When that was built, there was a higher dam than the one that exists in Quasqueton downstream. I’m pretty sure it was because of a mill. Possibly electric power as well. But the water used to be a lot higher through there. Motoring upstream to Independence for dinner and a show would have been a thing. How fun is that?

Pro tip: They're ALL better in the fall.

How in the world did Kickapoo in Vermilion county get overlooked? It's nearly 3000 acres.

This is awesome! I'm from Arizona, but I spent a good chunk of my life living near Illinois Beach State Park. I've always had a soft spot for it. Have you ever done Matthiessen & Starved Rock in the winter? Putting on a pair of yaktrax and hiking across frozen creeks to see the ice waterfalls is a really unique experience!

Volo bog has a nice trail near chian o lakes

Hell yes dude I love these, you inspired me to try and tick every one in my state off the list

Fun fact about Whitewater State Park. When you go into the main office area, you can see a bunch of barracks like buildings. This is because Whitewater State Park was a German Prisoner of War camp during World War 2.

wow Great to see Chain O Lakes at #18 !! Chain O Lakes, Lowden, Rock Cut, illinois Beach, Kankakee River (been hiking and kayaking here), Matthiessen, Starved Park are ones I have been too. Love your channel and am so very sorry about your vehicle . That's horrible

Where is Mines of Spain?

Hope to see more of your stuff

informative video but sadly was ruined by so many complaints :( maybe stay inside where there are no bugs or a scary Grouse. lol

Was wondering if you could watch some of my stuff and tell me what I could do better at. Maybe we could do a video together

Great reminder for me to get off my butt in October-November and April-May to explore MN, bc the other 8 months are too cold or full of mosquitoes to enjoy most things

I live in Superior WI, right next to Duluth MN. I've done the north shore parks, and the Mississippi parks lots of times, and also some of the ones out towards the plains more than once... the mosquitos start off bad in the early part of the year, and calm down as time goes on. They are also worse near still water... think small lakes. There are ways to deal with them, but they remain a pain however you deal with them.

Neat video - thanks! I just finished going to all of MT State Parks so it was fun to see you also being a completionist😁( also I laughed at the times you mentioned your hiking pace to demonstrate how bad the mosquitoes were😂

I haven't been to all these parks, but I have been to most. Very nice video, thanks! 😃

Do you know if they are any spooky woods in Des Moines Iowa.

Visit the Arkansas State parks if you get down that way I would be interested in how they are ranked.

How many miles did you undertake @ Jay Cooke?

To many bugs and can’t read map one star 😂

Sauk County soft "a" like "aw". Hint ask park workers what are some hidden trails that are good. It seems like some hidden gems were missed.

My favorites are devils lake, peninsula state park, and govenor dodge.

Try lac qui parle again

Monson state park is literally the worst in the whole state, once again bugs factoring in why its 10 spots higher. 1 mile of unmarked traila the hiking club which is the crown of the MN state park system isnt marked and you haven't mentioned it at this point in the video. Im senseing a pretty amateur perspective with all due respect. Passport and hiking club are quite unique to any syate park systems throughout the whole US. Give a look see. Each passwork is places along the train in a unique and beautiful location and is relayed to the parks individual history. Got to catch them all. Each 25 you collect gets you a gree stay in the park. Same with the stamp passport.

Have you thought of doing abandoned places

st.croix state park would of been higher on the list if you went over by taylors falls instead of cloverdale. You need to recheck that out its the best park pretty much ever

Bro you need to invest in bug spray

Your channel doesn’t come up on search without adding “state parks “

Bugs??? Dude if ya can’t handle a few mosquitoes (The State Bird) might as well stay outta WI. It’s called DEET. It works👍👍

Dear Mr. Do ut, I have a question? Curious why mosquitoes part of your "these are my thoughts😅?" video review of Minnesota state parks? Why was having a mosquito meter rating for each park part of your commentary? Odd thing to include for every park. My wife stopped watching your video after 10 minuted as she stated "Huh.... why is this guy complaining about mosquitoes and factoring into ranking parks? That is like complaining about a rainy day and factoring into park rankings... WTF?" Maybe make another trip to redo your MN state park visit "These are my thoughts"video. Minnesota is mostly mosquito free until end of May to 1st week of June. Or buy some "Bite Me Not" mosquito coil braclets that work great. 1 on your wrist, 1 around your ankle combined with either spray or some mosquito repellent infused clothing. Unfortunately no desire to watch your videos or subscribe unless you reply or redo this video. Ta ta ..

you forgot about Point Beach state park near Two Rivers

Thanks for the info. You did a fine job!Thanks for sharing this.

This is by far one of the most comprehesive videos around!!!! thank you #1 on my list is the Apostle Island in Bayfield. I'm in Illinois and enjoy going to WI

You're hiking parks in the middle of summer in MN. Of course, there's going to be mosquitoes, and it sounded like it was a wet year. Too much whining and would've been nice if you had discussed the campgrounds and any remote sites available You ran or walked away from a grouse? Huh? Why? Grow a pair and kick the damn thing like a football or swat it like a large fly.

THANK YOU

I am a native and I know the mosquito could be the State Bird. Ever heard of Deep Woods Off? Try it and enjoy the view a bit better. My dad built a cottage near Oconto and right on the bay water. While beating our way to the site the mosquitos would be so thick as to darken the sun. Dad bought a thick neoprene one piece that only exposed his face. It didn't help. Even completely covered in Off about 10% of the millions of them seemed to be immune. I am not by any means a sensitive but there were two spots in the US where I felt the "presence" of the land. Superstation Mts. and the Dells were impressive. Have fun exploring!

If you're going hiking in the woods, state park or private land,you will encounter bugs,mosquitoes, deer flies and most likely anything else that lives in the woods. Maybe you should stay in grandma's backyard 🤔

Gotta do Maplewood in the fall when the maples turn :)

Something doesn't add up. You visited all 64 state parks in 45 days? Yet you had time to hike 10 to 15 miles in each park? Maybe I misunderstood your opening comments. If not, I think your opinion of the parks is based more on your mood the day you visited and the weather at the time more than any real evaluation.

Must be a F.I.B. the way you piss and moan about "bugs" ....get some freak'n "Off"

Mosquitoes and deer flies can definitely take the fun out of things. We're having a very buggy summer here in N. Wisconsin. 😢

Father Hennepin just plain sucks. I live halfway between Onamia and Milaca and Kathio is great.

Kathio is awesome until the bugs come out,we hiked super fast! We have logged well over 100 miles at Kathio. Aside from winter I hike barefoot. Even then I have hiked over snow and ice barefoot on warm days.

Well I am quite disappointed in your take on Perrot. I expected it to be if not #1 at least in the top 5. The hike to Brady Bluff is two fantastic hikes. Going up the switchback hillside sports great little benches for a welcome rest with killer views, and you can say the trail leading up to the hillside is a experience in itself. Then the descending hike walking down impossibly engineered stone stairs is Amazing! You didn't even show the log cabin shelter atop. Then once down either walk the road or take the trail along the river. Then finally there is the cool little town of Trempealeau nestled up to Lock & Dam 6.

For Banning, next time you go, dirxh the trail, hike the rocky terrian along the river the whole way. Its breath taking. Im actually headed there again this weekend to spend the weekend

The best part about Soudan is the mine tour. Do they not runs those anymore? And at Afton the St. Croix River water level is not mantained by any dams. It's just naturally wide.

This was a really in depth summary of every park, including some surprises that I want to check out now. Thank you for posting!

Also, you should check out the Upper Hixon next time and a lot of the SNA's in our state are amazing.

Lapham Peak State Park isn't on the list.