Parks, beaches and places to go around Rochester
This list covers 63 public places in 18 towns around Rochester: parks, beaches, boat ramps, trails, dog parks, libraries, pools, museums, farmers markets, rainy-day spots and courts. Every row links to the place's official site and shows the day it was last checked.
Hours and fees change during the year, so they are left off this page. The official site has the current ones.
- Parks
- Beaches
- Boat ramps
- Trails
- Dog parks
- Libraries
- Pools
- Museums
- Farmers markets
- Rainy-day spots
- Courts
All 63 places
Showing 63 of 63
Parks
Park · Stewartville
Bear Cave Park
Bear Cave Park covers about 190 acres along the river with walking trails, picnic areas and playgrounds.
Outdoors
- unpaved trail
- picnic area
- Playground
800 10th St NW, Stewartville, MN 55976
Official site · Checked
Park · Plainview
Carley State Park
The park follows the north branch of the Whitewater River and is known for spring wildflowers and trout water.
Outdoors
- unpaved trail
- picnic area
- campground
- Fishing
50366 County Road 4, Plainview, MN 55964
Official site · Checked
Park · Rochester
Cascade Lake Park
The paved loop around Cascade Lake runs a little over two miles and ties into the city trail system.
Outdoors
- paved trail
- unpaved trail
- Playground
- picnic area
- fishing pier
- Restrooms
- Parking
88 23rd Ave SW, Rochester, MN 55902
Official site · Checked
Park · Eyota
Chester Woods Park
The park is on the headwaters of Bear Creek around a dammed reservoir, with camping, trails and a beach.
Outdoors
- unpaved trail
- Playground
- picnic area
- amphitheater
- horseshoes
- campground
- Fishing
8378 Highway 14 E, Eyota, MN 55934
Official site · Checked
Park · Stewartville
Florence Park
Florence Park runs along Lake Florence on the northwest side of Stewartville.
Outdoors
- picnic area
- Playground
- Fishing
371 Lakeshore Dr NW, Stewartville, MN 55976
Official site · Checked
Park · Preston
Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park
The park holds both an 1899 village and the longest cave in the state, and the two sites are several miles apart.
Outdoors
- unpaved trail
- campground
- Fishing
- horse trails
21071 County Road 118, Preston, MN 55965
Official site · Checked
Park · Rochester
Foster Arend Park
The park wraps a former quarry lake with a sand beach, fishing, sand volleyball and a playground.
Outdoors
- Playground
- paved trail
- unpaved trail
- sand volleyball
- horseshoes
- Fishing
- open field
4051 E River Rd NE, Rochester, MN 55906
Official site · Checked
Park · Wabasha
Izaak Walton Park
The two acre park has a covered picnic shelter, horseshoes, public restrooms and a fishing dock on the river.
Outdoors
- picnic shelter
- Grills
- horseshoes
- Restrooms
- Fishing
707 4th St W, Wabasha, MN 55981
Official site · Checked
Park · Byron
Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo
Zollman Zoo keeps more than 30 species of Minnesota native animals, and the county charges no entrance fee.
Outdoors · Free
- Playground
- picnic shelter
- campground
- Restrooms
- unpaved trail
5731 County Road 105 NW, Byron, MN 55920
Official site · Checked
Park · Lake City
Patton Park
The park is Lake City's downtown square, bordered by city hall, the library and the post office.
Outdoors
- gazebo
- benches
215 W Center St, Lake City, MN 55041
Official site · Checked
Park · Lake City
Peter's Park
The park holds the municipal pool, softball and soccer fields, volleyball and basketball courts and a playground.
Outdoors
- Playground
- picnic area
- Restrooms
- sand volleyball
- ball fields
1125 W Marion St, Lake City, MN 55041
Official site · Checked
Park · Rochester
Quarry Hill Park
The park covers about 329 acres of restored oak savanna, with a stocked fishing pond and a sandstone cave cut in 1882.
Outdoors
- paved trail
- unpaved trail
- Fishing
- historic cave
- fossil quarry
701 Silver Creek Rd NE, Rochester, MN 55906
Official site · Checked
Park · Reads Landing
Reads Landing Overlook
The stone overlook was built between 1939 and 1940 and looks out over Lake Pepin from Highway 61.
Outdoors
- scenic overlook
- Parking
US Highway 61, Pepin Township, MN 55968
Official site · Checked
Park · Rochester
Silver Lake Park
A paved loop circles Silver Lake here, and the park rents kayaks, canoes, paddleboats and bikes in season.
Outdoors
- paved trail
- Playground
- skate park
- boat and bike rental
- ball fields
- picnic area
840 7th St NE, Rochester, MN 55906
Official site · Checked
Park · Rochester
Soldiers Memorial Field Park
The veterans memorial wall here carries the names of about three thousand service members from southeast Minnesota.
Outdoors
- paved trail
- Playground
- tennis courts
- sand volleyball
- football field
- softball field
- picnic shelter
- golf course
244 Soldiers Field Dr SW, Rochester, MN 55902
Official site · Checked
Park · Lanesboro
Sylvan Park
The park was laid out in 1881 and has spring fed trout ponds, picnic shelters and tennis, basketball and volleyball courts.
Outdoors
- picnic shelter
- Playground
- Restrooms
- tennis courts
- sand volleyball
- campground
202 Parkway Ave S, Lanesboro, MN 55949
Official site · Checked
Park · Kasson
Veterans Memorial Park
The park holds Kasson's aquatic center, tennis courts, ball fields, a sand volleyball pit and picnic shelters.
Outdoors
- picnic shelter
- Playground
- sand volleyball
- ball fields
- tennis courts
201 7th St NW, Kasson, MN 55944
Official site · Checked
Beaches
Beach · Wabasha
Beach Park
A walking bridge links Beach Park to Izaak Walton Park and the city boat docks.
Outdoors
- river frontage
Wabasha, MN 55981
Official site · Checked
Beach · Eyota
Chester Woods Park Swimming Beach
The swimming beach has modern changing and shower buildings, and two accessible fishing piers are nearby.
Outdoors
- sand beach
- Showers
- changing rooms
- Accessible
8378 Highway 14 E, Eyota, MN 55934
Official site · Checked
Beach · Rochester
Foster Arend Beach
No lifeguard works this beach, and the city says so on its own beaches page.
Outdoors
- sand beach
- beach house
- Restrooms
4051 E River Rd NE, Rochester, MN 55906
Official site · Checked
Boat ramps
Boat ramp · Eyota
Chester Woods Park Boat Launch
The park rents kayaks, canoes and paddle boats on the same water the launch serves.
Outdoors
- Boat launch
- Kayak launch
- Fishing
- Parking
8378 Highway 14 E, Eyota, MN 55934
Official site · Checked
Boat ramp · Wabasha
Izaak Walton Park Boat Launch
The launch has four concrete ramps, trailer parking and about forty seasonal docks on the Mississippi.
Outdoors
- Boat launch
- Parking
- Fishing
- Restrooms
707 4th St W, Wabasha, MN 55981
Official site · Checked
Trails
Trail · Eyota
Chester Lake Trail
Chester Lake Trail runs about 1.65 miles around the water and part of it is accessible.
Outdoors
- Accessible
- Parking
8378 Highway 14 E, Eyota, MN 55934
Official site · Checked
Trail · Rochester
Douglas State Trail
The trail runs 12.5 miles on an old railroad grade from northwest Rochester through Douglas to Pine Island.
Outdoors
- Paved path
- Parking
Olmsted County Road 4, Rochester, MN 55901
Official site · Checked
Trail · Lanesboro
Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center
The learning center is on the bluff above the Root River valley and runs school and public outdoor programs.
Outdoors
- unpaved trail
- Parking
28097 Goodview Dr, Lanesboro, MN 55949
Official site · Checked
Trail · Rushford
Magelssen Bluff Park
About 1.5 miles of looping trail climb the bluff, and a road up Magelssen Drive reaches the top.
Outdoors
- unpaved trail
- Parking
Magelssen Dr, Rushford, MN 55971
Official site · Checked
Trail · Byron
Oxbow Park Trails
Seven named trails cross the park, from the half mile Zollman Zoo Trail to the two mile North Meadow Trail.
Outdoors · Free
- unpaved trail
- Parking
- Restrooms
5731 County Road 105 NW, Byron, MN 55920
Official site · Checked
Trail · Rochester
Quarry Hill Park Trails
About eight miles of trail cross the park, mixing paved surface with grass and rugged terrain.
Outdoors
- Paved path
- unpaved trail
- Parking
701 Silver Creek Rd NE, Rochester, MN 55906
Official site · Checked
Trail · Preston
Root River State Trail, Preston Access
The paved Root River State Trail runs 42 miles from Fountain to Houston, and Preston is one of its river towns.
Outdoors
- Paved path
- Parking
- Restrooms
Highway 12, Preston, MN 55965
Official site · Checked
Dog parks
Dog park · Rochester
Jean and Carl Frank Canine Park
City rules ask that dogs arrive and leave on a leash and carry a current license and vaccinations.
Outdoors
- Off-leash area
- separate small dog area
- Paved path
- unpaved trail
1839 Pinewood Rd SE, Rochester, MN 55904
Official site · Checked
Libraries
Library · Chatfield
Chatfield Public Library
The library is on South Main Street and belongs to the SELCO regional system.
Indoors
- Wi-Fi
314 S Main St, Chatfield, MN 55923
Official site · Checked
Library · Harmony
Harmony Public Library
The library is on Third Avenue Southwest and belongs to the SELCO system shared across southeast Minnesota.
Indoors
- Wi-Fi
225 3rd Ave SW, Harmony, MN 55939
Official site · Checked
Library · Kasson
Kasson Public Library
The library moved into a new building on First Street Northwest in 2016 and serves Kasson and Mantorville.
Indoors
- Wi-Fi
- Restrooms
- Parking
607 1st St NW, Kasson, MN 55944
Official site · Checked
Library · Lake City
Lake City Public Library
The library is on South High Street beside Patton Park and belongs to the SELCO regional system.
Indoors
- Wi-Fi
201 S High St, Lake City, MN 55041
Official site · Checked
Library · Lanesboro
Lanesboro Public Library
The library is on the lower level of the Lanesboro Community Center, next to Sylvan Park.
Indoors
- Wi-Fi
202 Parkway Ave S, Lanesboro, MN 55949
Official site · Checked
Library · Mabel
Mabel Public Library
The library is on East Newburg Street and belongs to the SELCO regional system.
Indoors
- Wi-Fi
110 E Newburg St, Mabel, MN 55954
Official site · Checked
Library · Rochester
Rochester Public Library
Rochester's public library serves the whole county from its downtown building on Second Street Southeast.
Indoors
- Wi-Fi
- Restrooms
101 2nd St SE, Rochester, MN 55904
Official site · Checked
Library · Rushford
Rushford Public Library
The library is on North Mill Street and belongs to the SELCO system shared across southeast Minnesota.
Indoors
- Wi-Fi
101 N Mill St, Rushford, MN 55971
Official site · Checked
Library · Spring Valley
Spring Valley Public Library
The 1904 library building is Beaux Arts Classicism and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Indoors
- Wi-Fi
121 E Jefferson St, Spring Valley, MN 55975
Official site · Checked
Library · Wabasha
Wabasha Public Library
The library is on Alleghany Avenue in downtown Wabasha and belongs to the SELCO regional system.
Indoors
- Wi-Fi
168 Alleghany Ave, Wabasha, MN 55981
Official site · Checked
Library · West Concord
West Concord Public Library
The library is on East Main Street and belongs to the SELCO regional system, so one card works across southeast Minnesota.
Indoors
- Wi-Fi
180 E Main St, West Concord, MN 55985
Official site · Checked
Pools
Pool · Kasson
Kasson Aquatic Center
The aquatic center is inside Veterans Memorial Park, sharing its parking with the ball fields and courts.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
201 7th St NW, Kasson, MN 55944
Official site · Checked
Pool · Lake City
O'Neil Swimming Pool
The municipal pool is in Peter's Park on West Marion Street, south of Cross Street.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
1125 W Marion St, Lake City, MN 55041
Official site · Checked
Pool · Rochester
Silver Lake Pool and Splash Pad
The rebuilt outdoor pool has a zero entry ramp and a 25 yard lap and activity pool.
Outdoors
- lap pool
- zero entry ramp
- splash pad
840 7th St NE, Rochester, MN 55906
Official site · Checked
Pool · Rochester
Soldiers Field Aquatic Center
The aquatic center is inside Soldiers Memorial Field, so the park parking and paved trail serve it too.
Outdoors
- lap pool
- slides
- lazy river
- splash pad
244 Soldiers Field Dr SW, Rochester, MN 55902
Official site · Checked
Museums
Museum · Rochester
George Stoppel Farmstead
This 1861 pioneer farmstead is on the National Register and the History Center of Olmsted County runs it.
Outdoors
- historic buildings
West Circle Dr SW, Rochester, MN
Official site · Checked
Museum · Preston
Historic Forestville
The restored village is kept as it stood in 1899, and it is inside Forestville Mystery Cave State Park.
Outdoors
- historic buildings
- Parking
21899 County Road 118, Preston, MN 55965
Official site · Checked
Museum · Rochester
History Center of Olmsted County
The history center holds the county archives and a research library on West Circle Drive southwest of downtown.
Indoors
- research library
- exhibits
- Parking
1195 W Circle Dr SW, Rochester, MN 55902
Official site · Checked
Museum · Rochester
Mayowood Mansion
The Mayo family country estate southwest of Rochester is on the National Register, and the History Center runs tours.
Indoors
- historic house
- grounds
3720 Mayowood Rd SW, Rochester, MN 55902
Official site · Checked
Museum · Wabasha
National Eagle Center
The center is on the Wabasha riverfront where bald eagles winter along the open water of the Mississippi.
Indoors
- live eagle exhibits
- river overlook
- Restrooms
50 Pembroke Ave S, Wabasha, MN 55981
Official site · Checked
Museum · Rochester
Plummer House
The Plummer House is on the National Register and its gardens and water tower stand on a bluff southwest of downtown.
Indoors
- gardens
- historic house
1091 Plummer Ln SW, Rochester, MN 55902
Official site · Checked
Museum · Rochester
Rochester Art Center
The art center is on the Zumbro riverfront beside the Mayo Civic Center in downtown Rochester.
Indoors
- galleries
- Restrooms
40 Civic Center Dr SE, Rochester, MN 55904
Official site · Checked
Museum · Reads Landing
Wabasha County Historical Society Museum
The county historical society keeps its collection in an 1870 schoolhouse, including a restored classroom and clamming exhibits.
Indoors
- exhibits
- Parking
70537 206th Ave, Reads Landing, MN 55968
Official site · Checked
Farmers markets
Farmers market · Lanesboro
Lanesboro Farmers Market
The market sets up in Sylvan Park on Saturday mornings from May through October.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
202 Parkway Ave S, Lanesboro, MN 55949
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spots
Rainy-day spot · Chatfield
Chatfield Center for the Arts
The center is a city owned performance hall on South Main Street that books touring music and theater.
Indoors
- performance hall
405 Main St S, Chatfield, MN 55923
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spot · Rochester
Historic Chateau Theatre
Rochester's Chateau Theatre opened in 1927 as a vaudeville house and its interior is built as a medieval village.
Indoors
- event space
15 1st St SW, Rochester, MN 55902
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spot · Kellogg
LARK Toys
The shop keeps a hand carved wooden carousel, an antique toy museum and an outdoor mini golf course.
Indoors
- carousel
- toy museum
- mini golf
63604 170th Ave, Kellogg, MN 55945
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spot · Preston
Mystery Cave
Mystery Cave is the longest cave in Minnesota, with more than 13 miles of mapped passages underground.
Indoors · Fee
- guided tours
- Parking
21071 County Road 118, Preston, MN 55965
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spot · Harmony
Niagara Cave
The cave was found in 1924 when three pigs fell into a sinkhole, and it holds a sixty foot underground waterfall.
Indoors · Fee
- guided tours
- Parking
29842 County Road 30, Harmony, MN 55939
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spot · Byron
Oxbow Park Nature Center
The nature center runs free weekend programs and lends themed activity backpacks to use while you are in the park.
Indoors · Free
- Restrooms
- Wi-Fi
5731 County Road 105 NW, Byron, MN 55920
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spot · Rochester
Quarry Hill Nature Center
Exploration Hall inside the nature center keeps more than 35 live species, including native turtles, snakes and fish.
Indoors
- live animal exhibits
- Restrooms
- Parking
701 Silver Creek Rd NE, Rochester, MN 55906
Official site · Checked
Courts
Courts · Rochester
Soldiers Field Tennis Courts
Six lighted outdoor tennis courts are in Soldiers Memorial Field beside the aquatic center and the running track.
Outdoors
- Lights
- Parking
244 Soldiers Field Dr SW, Rochester, MN 55902
Official site · Checked
Courts · Kasson
Veterans Memorial Park Tennis Courts
The tennis courts are in Veterans Memorial Park next to the sand volleyball pit and the ball fields.
Outdoors
- Parking
201 7th St NW, Kasson, MN 55944
Official site · Checked
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This directory was last checked as a whole on September 24, 2026.
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Jeff Moran, NMLS #483943, licensed to originate in Minnesota through C2 Financial Corporation.