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 November 2025

Because State Parks Are Hard to Wrap... 🎁✨

As the days grow shorter and the first snowflakes start to fall, Minnesota’s parks and trails take on a quieter kind of beauty. It’s the perfect time to slow down, bundle up, and think about the gifts we give — and the moments we share — during this season of change. Whether it’s planning a day outside with someone you love, surprising a friend with a state parks gift card, or sharing coffee from a collectible park mug, there are so many ways to give the gift of the outdoors this year.

📷: Lake Maria State Park

The Gift of Time Outside Together

Skip the stores and make a memory with loved ones.

In a world full of things, the most meaningful gift you can give someone might simply be time. Time to walk together between tall pines, gather around a campfire, or pause and breathe at a river’s edge. These moments become richer when shared—especially in a wide-open prairie or along a snowy trail.

And there’s science behind it. Exposure to green space has been shown to reduce anxiety, lift moods, and quiet the noise of daily life. One recent study found that being outdoors was independently associated with a lower likelihood of anxiety, depression, fatigue, and loneliness—and a higher likelihood of happiness (Harvard, 2024). In short: nature acts as a reset button for our minds, helping restore focus, calm, and connection. 

Imagine giving someone a morning hike, an evening walk by lamplit snow, or an unhurried day in a state park rather than another object to unwrap. Those shared adventures linger—bringing laughter, stories, and deeper bonds that last long after the flurries fade.

This November, invite someone you care about outdoors. Bundle up, head out, and let the trees, trails, and winter hush be part of your gift together.

Give Experiences with Gift Cards 💳

 Perfect for letting people pick their present.

For people who already have everything—or for those who’d rather make memories than unwrap another 'thing'—a Minnesota state parks gift card is the perfect way to give experiences that last all year round.

Gift cards can be used for nearly everything that makes our parks special: camping getaways, camper cabins and yurts, state park vehicle permits, I Can! programs, and gear rentals like canoes, kayaks, skis, and snowshoes. They can also be used at Minnesota state park Nature Stores, where you’ll find apparel, books, jewelry, and the popular collectible park mug.

State park gift cards are also the easiest way to give a vehicle permit. When someone uses a gift card to buy their permit, they can purchase it when they’re ready to visit, ensuring it’s punched for that month and giving them a full 12 months of exploration ahead.

Gift cards can be purchased for any dollar amount, making them a flexible, thoughtful option for friends, family, or coworkers who love the outdoors—or who could use a little encouragement to get outside.

You can buy gift cards online anytime, in person at any ranger station that’s open or at the DNR Central Office in St. Paul. Every purchase helps keep Minnesota’s natural spaces thriving—proceeds from gift card sales support resource management and outdoor education projects in state parks. 

📷: William O'Brien State Park

The Gift of a Planned Getaway 📆

A thoughtful present for busy loved ones.

Instead of searching for the perfect thing to buy this holiday season, consider gifting a trip itinerary. Making an itinerary is half the battle of getting out there! Take on the task of writing it up yourself so you and your travel buddies are one step ahead of next year’s outdoor adventure. It’s a thoughtful way to share something lasting and a present recipients can look forward to.

Begin by thinking about what your giftee has had on their bucket list or the places they already love, then research what parks and activities would be most exciting for the trip. The DNR Park Finder can help you find parks throughout the state. If you need ADA options, check out the list of accessible lodging and trails on the DNR website. When you visit a park’s webpage, it will have details on camping and lodging options, trail info, recreation activities, and park amenities. Most state parks offer water recreation and fishing opportunities, historic sites, and visitor centers or interpretive programs. Three state parks offer tours, all with accessible options, and over 20 state parks have ADA all-terrain track chairs that can be used on designated trails.

It can be fun to dream up a trip, but planning ahead is also a practical gift. Campsites and cabins often fill up early for busy warm-weather weekends, booking now—or setting a reminder for when to book—means you’ll have your pick of places to stay. Park camping and lodging reservations can be made 120 days in advance on the Minnesota state parks reservation website. View the table below to see when reservations open for popular dates in 2026. And remember, what makes a trip great isn’t perfect planning— it’s the memories you take home when the trip is over.

📷: 2026 Glendalough State Park Mug

Limited-Edition 2026 State Park Mug 🍵

Coming soon to Nature Stores! 

Each year, Minnesota state parks and trails releases a handmade, limited-edition collectible mug featuring the same park as the year-round state park vehicle permit. These mugs are available online and in Nature Stores while supplies last.

The 2025 mug, featuring George H. Crosby Manitou State Park, showcases a beautiful green and teal glaze inspired by the park’s deep forest and waterfalls. A small supply of 2025 mugs is available online and in-person at state park Nature Stores—act fast if you're looking to secure this year's mug. After the 2025 mug is sold out, they will not be reordered. 

In 2026, the featured park will be...Glendalough State Park! This sleek black mug with a white rim will be available in the online store beginning Friday, November 28, and will arrive in state park Nature Stores over the coming months. If the mug is on the list of a loved one, the online store is the best place to purchase before the holidays. 

📷: Gooseberry Falls State Park Nature Store

Nature Stores Offer Park-Specific Gifts 🧢

Flagship locations offer large selections of apparel. 

There’s something special about finding the perfect gift that reminds someone of their favorite state park — a mug from the park where they first hiked, a T-shirt from their family’s go-to camping spot, or a book that inspires their next adventure. Minnesota state park Nature Stores are filled with all kinds of meaningful treasures. 

Part Nature Store and part “Minnesota” store, each one is as unique as the park it calls home. You’ll find official state park apparel, jewelry, the popular collectible mug, books for outdoor enthusiasts, children’s toys and games, and more. Feel good about your shopping spree knowing every purchase directly supports natural resource management and outdoor education projects in Minnesota state parks!

As the weather cools and parks begin to winterize, many Nature Stores also prepare for the season ahead. Some will close for the winter or shift to limited hours, and when snow falls, staff focus first on keeping park roads and trails clear. If you are visiting a park specifically to browse a Nature Store, call ahead to make sure the store will be open while you're there.

If you’re looking to browse in person later this fall or winter, the larger stores — including Gooseberry Falls, Itasca, Tettegouche, Fort Snelling, Lake Carlos, and William O’Brien state parks — are your best options for selection and extended hours. Each offers a wide range of Minnesota-made items and park favorites.

This year, give a gift that’s more than just a keepsake — it’s a piece of the parks themselves.

📷: Gregory Gerhart, Glendalough State Park

Glendalough will be Flying High in 2026! 🎉

West-central park featured on vehicle permit and mug in 2026.

In 2025, Glendalough State Park celebrated the opening of a brand new trail center and Sunset Trail extension. In 2026, the park will have even more reason to celebrate—being featured on the Minnesota state park vehicle permit and collectible mug!

The park’s name comes from Gleann Dá Loch in Irish, meaning “Valley of Two Lakes.” True to its name, Glendalough is surrounded by shimmering waters and rolling hills that mark the transition from prairie to forest. Within its boundaries lies one of the last large stretches of undeveloped lakeshore in western Minnesota—more than nine miles of peaceful shoreline perfect for paddling, birding, or simply watching the wind ripple across the water. Visitors can stay overnight in camper cabins, yurts, traditional campsites, or enjoy a group camp.  As the featured park for 2026, Glendalough will be showcased on the new state park vehicle permit and handcrafted collectible mug. The mug will be available in the online Nature Store November 28. The year-round permit sticker featuring Glendalough will be available starting January 1, 2026.

📷: Afton State Park

Free Park Day is November 28 🆓

Mark your calendars for a day of admission-free adventure. 

The last Free Park Day of the year will happen the Friday after Thanksgiving this year! On November 28, enjoy free entrance to all of Minnesota’s state parks and recreation areas with your loved ones – no vehicle permit needed. Will you explore a new park or visit an old favorite before the end of the year? Don’t worry, there’ll be more Free Park Days in 2026!

Snow's Coming ❄️ Get Your Ski Pass Ready! 

Snow will be here before we know it! Many Minnesota state parks and trails will soon have beautifully groomed ski routes for you to explore. Make sure you're ready to hit the trails by purchasing your Great Minnesota Ski Pass—available for one day, one year, or three years. Every pass purchase helps support trail grooming and maintenance so you can enjoy the best skiing conditions. Get your Ski Pass today!

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