Whitewater State Park
Managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
2,728 acres11.5 mi of trail
DakotaChimneyRockCoyote PointTrout Run Creek Self-Guided Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Whitewater State Park CCC/WPA/Rustic Style Historic Resources · Photo: Jonathunder · CC BY-SA 3.0–Not graded
Outdoors in Elba Township
Few parks or trails are on the map in Elba Township
The biggest trail networks: Whitewater State Park (11.5 mi). 9% of Elba Township’s land is conserved, about 2,031 acres. 1,739 acres are parks and preserves, 6,060 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
9%
2,031 acres · of 33.5 sq mi of land
Trails
12 mi
0.4 per sq mi of land
Park land
1,739 ac
6,060 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
23%
of residents within ½ mile
Highest peak
1,043 ft
Chimney Rock
Lakes & rivers
4
1 beach
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 Whitewater State Park, with 11.5 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Whitewater Wildlife Management Area, Main Branch Unit
Managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
4,190 acres0.1 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Whitewater Wildlife Management Area, North Branch Unit
Managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
1,241 acres
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Whitewater Wildlife Management Area, South Branch Unit
Managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
1,169 acres
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 6 parks & preserves
Whitewater State Park2,728 acres · 11.5 mi of trail · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsWhitewater Wildlife Management Area, Main Branch Unit4,190 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsWhitewater Wildlife Management Area, North Branch Unit1,241 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsWhitewater Wildlife Management Area, South Branch Unit1,169 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsWhitewater Wildlife Management Area, Callahan Unit307 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsWhitewater Wildlife Management Area, Tschumper Unit40 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Who protects it
2,031 conserved acres
9% of Elba Township’s land. Who manages Elba Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State parks2,024 ac
Other state land5 ac
State fish & wildlife2 ac
State Park · 2,024 acConservation Easement · 5 acState Conservation Area · 2 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitewater State Park State Park | State parks | 2,024 | Open |
| North Branch Whitewater River State Aquatic Management Area (Winona) State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 2 | Restricted |
Things to do
9 places to go in Elba Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Elba Township
1 beach without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Peaks in Elba Township
Chimney Rock1,043 ft elevation · In Whitewater State Park
DirectionsCoyote Point1,037 ft elevation · In Whitewater State Park
DirectionsInspiration Point1,037 ft elevation · In Whitewater State Park
DirectionsEagle Point1,017 ft elevation · In Whitewater State Park
DirectionsSignal Point1,017 ft elevation · In Whitewater State Park
DirectionsPicnic areas in Elba Township
Picnic GroundsIn Whitewater State Park
DirectionsCampgrounds in Elba Township
Group CenterFee · In Whitewater State Park · Minnesota DNR
DirectionsLazyD Campground
DirectionsTrails & water
12 named trails and 4 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Unpaved · 7.7 mi
Dakota3.1 mi
ChimneyRock1.7 mi
Coyote Point1.0 mi
Trout Run Creek Self-Guided Trail0.9 mi
Meadow0.9 mi
Valley Trail0.4 mi
Meadow Trail0.4 mi
Valley0.2 mi
Minneiska0.2 mi
???0.2 mi
2 more trails
Conector
0.2 miGroup Camp 3 Access Only
0.1 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
History along the way
History →2 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service).
When to get out
The walking year in Elba 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) | 9.2 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.7 | 15.5 | 15.2 | 14.0 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 9.6 | 8.9 |
| High (°F) | 24 | 29 | 41 | 56 | 68 | 78 | 82 | 79 | 72 | 58 | 42 | 29 |
| Rain (in) | 1.1 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 3.7 | 4.6 | 5.4 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 1.3 |
January is the driest month (1.1 in) and July the warmest (highs of 82 °F). 5.4 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Elba Township →
Next door
Elba Township and its neighbors
Elba Township has the most mapped trails of the 5 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Elba Township12 miWhitewater Township5.4 miNorton Township0.6 miSt. Charles Township0.6 miQuincy Township0.0 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elba Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Norton Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Whitewater Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| St. Charles Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Quincy 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 Elba Township
Where can I hike in Elba Township?
The longest trail networks: Whitewater State Park, 11.5 miles; Whitewater Wildlife Management Area, Main Branch Unit, 0.1 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Elba Township’s trails?
Whitewater State Park and Whitewater Wildlife Management Area, Main Branch Unit don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Elba Township?
11,129 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Elba Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 1,739 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Elba 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 →