The Swimming Beach and Beach House (with showers) at Chester Woods Park is open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend.

Chester Woods Park is located on the headwaters of Bear Creek in the rugged bluff country of Southeastern Minnesota. There are approximately 15 miles of primitive trails winding through a variety of inviting natural habitats in the undeveloped areas of the park.

There are two canoe-in only remote camping sites at Chester Woods Park (Mallard Point and Beaver Point). These sites are non-reservable and available on a day by day first come basis due to weather. There is a picnic table, mulch tent pad, fire ring, and remote box toilet at each location.

Chester Woods Park. 12 miles of groomed ski trails and rated moderate. The trails are designed to accommodate both classic and free-style skiing. The trails are groomed by volunteers and staff approximately two times per week, weather permitting.

Chester Woods Park and Oxbow Park have several picnic areas available for your upcoming gathering including an outdoor amphitheater at Chester Woods Park. Picnic shelter and amphitheater reservations open each year on January 2.

Oxbow Park is located just north of Byron, MN; Root River Park is located 2 miles south of Simpson, MN; and Chester Woods Park is just east of Rochester. Click on the park buttons below to learn about year-round trails for hiking, running, and seasonal biking at Olmsted County parks.

The swimming beach and beach house (with showers) at Chester Woods Park is open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. Please note: Beach Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday - Thursday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday - Saturday; There is no lifeguard on duty. Swim at your own risk and in designated areas only. Rules: No smoking is allowed.

2024年5月30日 · The Olmsted County Board of Commissioners made entrance to Chester Woods Park free during the COVID-19 pandemic. They permanently removed the fee in March 2022 to make the park accessible to all visitors. While entrance to Chester Woods Park is free, additional amenities are available for a fee.

Join us for an evening at Chester Woods Park on February 1, 2025, to kick-off the park’s 30th anniversary with a candlelight hike.

When our local Audubon chapter has our annual butterfly count, Chester Woods Park is where we spend much of our time and effort. With its range of plant communities, Chester Woods is a great place to find butterflies. Some kinds will only be found in or near woods. Others will only be in wet prairies. We look for different ones in drier prairies.