Buena Vista State Forest
Managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
682 acres1.3 mi of trail
Blue Ox Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
–Not graded
Outdoors in Turtle River
Few parks or trails are on the map in Turtle River
The biggest trail networks: Buena Vista State Forest (1.3 mi). 4% of Turtle River’s land is conserved, about 28 acres. 1.3 miles of mapped trail cross Turtle River, 1.2 per square mile of land.
Conserved land
4%
28 acres · of 1.1 sq mi of land
Trails
1.3 mi
1.2 per sq mi of land
Near a park
under 1%
of residents within ½ mile
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 Buena Vista State Forest, with 1.3 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Who protects it
28 conserved acres
4% of Turtle River’s land. Who manages Turtle River’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State fish & wildlife28 ac
State Conservation Area · 28 ac
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turtle River Lake State Aquatic Management Area (Beltrami) State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 28 | Restricted |
Trails & water
1 named trail
Named trails
Unpaved · 1.3 mi
Blue Ox Trail1.3 mi
When to get out
The walking year in Turtle River
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) | 8.8 | 10.2 | 11.8 | 13.6 | 15.1 | 16.0 | 15.6 | 14.3 | 12.5 | 10.7 | 9.2 | 8.4 |
| High (°F) | 17 | 23 | 37 | 51 | 65 | 74 | 79 | 77 | 68 | 52 | 35 | 23 |
| Rain (in) | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 2.9 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 0.9 |
February is the driest month (0.7 in) and July the warmest (highs of 79 °F). 4.2 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Turtle River →
Next door
Turtle River and its neighbors
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turtle River | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Port Hope Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Turtle River Township | 7% | 0.6 | 49 | 17% | B |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Turtle River
Where can I hike in Turtle River?
The longest trail networks: Buena Vista State Forest, 1.3 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Turtle River’s trails?
Buena Vista State Forest doesn’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Turtle River?
41,503 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Turtle River or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), almost none of it inside the city line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Turtle River 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 →