Carley State Park
Managed by MN DNR
199 acres4.4 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Photo: Leonard J. DeFrancisci · CC BY-SA 4.0–Not graded
Outdoors in Plainview Township
Few parks or trails are on the map in Plainview Township
The biggest trail networks: Carley State Park (4.4 mi). 2% of Plainview Township’s land is conserved, about 360 acres. 213 acres are parks and preserves, 602 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
2%
360 acres · of 33.4 sq mi of land
Trails
5.1 mi
0.2 per sq mi of land
Park land
213 ac
602 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
23%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
0.6 mi
0.6 mi paths
Lakes & rivers
3
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 Carley State Park, with 4.4 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Whitewater Wildlife Management Area, North Branch Unit
Managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
262 acres
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Whitewater Wildlife Management Area, DeWitz Unit
Managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
68 acres
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Whitewater Wildlife Management Area, Gengler Unit
Managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
57 acres
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
All 6 parks & preserves
Carley State Park199 acres · 4.4 mi of trail · MN DNR
DirectionsWhitewater Wildlife Management Area, North Branch Unit262 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Whitewater Wildlife Management Area, DeWitz Unit68 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Whitewater Wildlife Management Area, Gengler Unit57 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Whitewater Wildlife Management Area, Heaser Unit48 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Whitewater Wildlife Management Area, Main Branch Unit22 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Who protects it
360 conserved acres
2% of Plainview Township’s land. Who manages Plainview Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State parks211 ac
Other state land149 ac
State Park · 211 acConservation Easement · 149 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 149 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carley State Park State Park | State parks | 211 | Open |
Things to do
9 places to go in Plainview Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Playgrounds in Plainview Township
1 playground without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Scenic views in Plainview Township
Carley State Park Scenic OverlookIn Carley State Park
DirectionsPicnic areas in Plainview Township
4 picnic areas without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Campgrounds in Plainview Township
Carley State ParkFee · In Carley State Park · MN DNR
DirectionsGroup Site 1 (GRP1)In Carley State Park
DirectionsGroup Site 2 (GRP2)In Carley State Park
DirectionsTrails & water
3 lakes & rivers
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
0.6 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
0.6 mi
off-road bike paths
When to get out
The walking year in Plainview 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 | 9.5 | 8.9 |
| High (°F) | 23 | 28 | 41 | 56 | 68 | 78 | 81 | 79 | 72 | 58 | 42 | 29 |
| Rain (in) | 1.0 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 5.4 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 1.3 |
January is the driest month (1.0 in) and July the warmest (highs of 81 °F). 5.4 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Plainview Township →
Next door
Plainview Township and its neighbors
Plainview Township has the second most mapped trails of the 4 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plainview 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 | ||||
| Highland 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 Plainview Township
Where can I hike in Plainview Township?
The longest trail networks: Carley State Park, 4.4 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Plainview Township’s trails?
Carley State Park and Whitewater Wildlife Management Area, North Branch Unit don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Plainview Township?
0.6 miles of bike routes are on the map: 0.6 of off-road paths.
Is there public land near Plainview Township?
14,589 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Plainview Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 213 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Plainview 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 →