Belle Prairie County Park

The county's first park

Belle Prairie is usually counted as the first park in the Morrison County system, on land that was historically tied to the Belle Prairie Franciscan Sisters before it became public. What sets it apart is the mix of habitat packed into one riverside park: a stand of old white pine, patches of native prairie, oak savanna, and the floodplain terrace right along the Mississippi. It is a quiet, local kind of place rather than a headline attraction.

What's there

The park's spine is a paved trail that runs along the Mississippi, easy walking with the river in view most of the way. There is a disc golf course, picnic shelters, and playgrounds, and the open prairie and pine make it a pleasant spot for a slow afternoon. It sits a short drive north of downtown, so it pairs naturally with a day in Little Falls.

River access

The county has been upgrading the park's river access — a roughly $1.1 million project approved in 2023 for a new boat landing, an accessible ramp, and vault toilets. During construction the boat ramp and some vehicle access were affected, so if you are coming specifically to launch a boat, check the current status with Morrison County first.

Getting there

Belle Prairie is northeast of Little Falls along County Road 76 (Haven Road), on the east side of the river. For the wider picture of parks in the area, see the best parks in Little Falls, and for the river itself, the Mississippi River and the Little Falls dam.