Quarry Park St. Cloud might just be one of the coolest hidden gems we’ve found in Minnesota. Whether you’re visiting in the fall like us or another time of year, it’s going to be so pretty! Definitely one of the most impressive and unique parks we’ve been to in Minnesota.
Related Post: Best places to visit in Minnesota this fall
We visited in early October and the colors were in the middle of changing which made for GREAT photos! Keep reading to see how we spent a day hiking Quarry Park St. Cloud!
Note: This post is sponsored by Visit St. Cloud, but the itinerary and all opinions are my own.
Before you go!
Start your day at Spice of Life Tea Shop
Who doesn’t love bubble tea?? Spice of Life Tea Shop is located in the original St. Cloud downtown and it’s so cute! They make and sell all different kinds of tea and sell every tea accessory you could ever need. Such a great stop!
Fuel up at Val’s
An iconic staple of St. Cloud is Val’s Rapid Serv. This tiny little hamburger joint offers fast food burgers and fries, and has a slick operation where you order inside on a computer and they call your name when it’s ready! Val’s will definitely hit the spot if you’re in the mood for a fast food burger and extra salty fries (just the way I like them!).
Hike Quarry Park St. Cloud
The highlight of our day trip to St. Cloud was visiting Quarry Park and Nature Preserve. If you didn’t know from the name, Quarry Park was once a site for granite mining and now is a great spot for hiking, swimming, scuba diving, rock climbing, and cross country skiing!
I highlighted the map of the park with three different sections of our hike in yellow. Follow along with each spot below! ALSO, make sure to track your hike on your favorite fitness app to get FREE BEER after your hike. More on that below too 🙂
Quarry Park St. Cloud Part 1
Park your car in the parking lot and head South. Here, you’ll find two gorgeous quarries that seem the most natural in the park. These were easy to walk around and you’re also able to get up close to the clear water. We had so much fun exploring this area!
Quarry Park St. Cloud Part 2
Make sure to make a stop at Quarry 8. It’s the second photo above and gives you a good idea at how deep the quarries get!
Also, take the little walking path for a great lookout of the area (pictured in the first photo).
Quarry Park St. Cloud Part 3
Quarry 2 is the largest and deepest in Quarry Park at 116 feet. It’s one of the most picturesque spots and we had it all to ourselves! In this area, you’ll also walk through the meadow and we were lucky enough to run into a mama deer and her two babies!
Get a free beer at Beaver Island Brewing
Track your hike and head over to Beaver Island Brewing and show them your fitness app for a BOGO pint of their Trail Hop Juicy IPA! This campaign is going on for fall 2019 and I think it’s the greatest thing ever. Don’t miss it! The vibe AND beer at Beaver Island Brewing is so great. Live music, lots of people, and a great way to relax after our hike!
Visit Third Street Brewhouse
One of the largest Minnesota beer distributors is Third Street Brewhouse. Located in Cold Springs, it’s just a short drive from St. Cloud and has been on our list to visit for a while. The taproom is small compared to the brewery, but the service is great and the beer is (as always) amazing! Try the popular Minnesota Gold or try one of their new Seltzers – and don’t forget to stop by their shop in the back!
Grab dinner at Kohinoor Bar & Grill
A few of you recommended Kohinoor Bar & Grill, and we were REALLY craving Indian food, so we had to stop! We tried the curry, tiki masala, naan, and samosas. It was all really creamy, the perfect amount of spice, and the service was awesome. I highly recommend and will for sure be back!
Quarry Park St. Cloud makes for a great day trip. Make sure to stop by this fall and get your free beer at Beaver Island!
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