Darwin Dassel Park
Managed by Meeker County
64 acres2.1 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota · CC BY-SA 2.0–Not graded
Outdoors in Darwin Township
Few parks or trails are on the map in Darwin Township
The biggest trail networks: Darwin Dassel Park (2.1 mi). 7% of Darwin Township’s land is conserved, about 1,300 acres. 67 acres are parks and preserves, 126 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
7%
1,300 acres · of 30.5 sq mi of land
Trails
3.1 mi
0.1 per sq mi of land
Park land
67 ac
126 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
12%
of residents within ½ mile
Lakes & rivers
4
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Darwin Dassel Park, with 2.1 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Who protects it
1,300 conserved acres
7% of Darwin Township’s land. Water is left out: Darwin Township has 30.5 square miles of land and 3.1 of water, so the share counts land only. Who manages Darwin Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service1,866 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)11 ac
State fish & wildlife3 ac
Resource Management Area · 1,207 acConservation Easement · 670 acState Conservation Area · 3 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 670 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meeker County Waterfowl Production Area Resource Management Area | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | 1,207 | Restricted |
| Dunn's Lake State Aquatic Management Area (Meeker) State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 3 | Restricted |
Trails & water
4 lakes & rivers
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
History along the way
History →1 place on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service).
Henry Ames HouseBuilding · listed 1984
About itWhen to get out
The walking year in Darwin Township
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.1 | 10.3 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.8 | 15.6 | 15.3 | 14.1 | 12.5 | 10.9 | 9.5 | 8.8 |
| High (°F) | 21 | 27 | 39 | 55 | 68 | 78 | 82 | 79 | 72 | 57 | 40 | 27 |
| Rain (in) | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 0.9 |
January is the driest month (0.7 in) and July the warmest (highs of 82 °F). 4.4 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Darwin Township →
Next door
Darwin Township and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Ellsworth Township5.8 miDassel Township4.3 miDarwin Township3.1 miLitchfield1.4 miLitchfield Township0.9 miForest City Township0.4 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darwin Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Litchfield | 7% | 0.3 | 30 | 98% | A− |
| Dassel Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Litchfield Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Forest City Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Ellsworth Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Darwin Township
Where can I hike in Darwin Township?
The longest trail networks: Darwin Dassel Park, 2.1 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Darwin Township’s trails?
Darwin Dassel Park doesn’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Darwin Township?
2,173 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Darwin Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 67 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Darwin Township neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →