Staff photo by Fritz Busch Rustic camping is available along the Minnesota River at Mack Lake County Park, 60757 CR 5, Fairfax, several miles northwest of Fort Ridgely State Park

RENVILLE COUNTY — All Renville County park gates are now open, except for Anderson Lake.

A Renville County park bordering the Minnesota River a few miles northwest of Fort Ridgely State Park offers rustic, riverside camping.

Mack Lake County Park, 60757 CR 5, features fishing on the river, a boat landing, Mack Lake, a shallow, spring-fed lake, a picnic shelter with tables and grills, fire wood, and modern rest rooms.

Other park amenities include many black, granite outcroppings, and the historic Nesseth log cabin.

Fishing is available at Anderson Lake County Park, 63339 CR 5, a day-use only park, a few miles northwest of Mack Lake County Park.

Birch Coulee County Park, 68638 CR 18, Morton, features rustic camping and sites with electricity and water, picnic areas, and trails. Birch Coulee Creek runs through the park.

Named after its paper birch trees, Birch Coulee is better known for the neighboring Birch Coulee Battlefield, where a deadly battle, took place during the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862.

Beaver Falls County Park, 31599 CR 2, Morton, is divided into a horse camp and recreation area.

The horse camp features wooded ravines, horse ties, manure bunkers and Beaver Creek.

The recreation area consists of shelters, restrooms, water, fire pits, and many trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

Lake Allie County Park, 84068 CR 24, Buffalo Lake, includes a shelter, picnic areas, a playground, fishing pier and restrooms. Camping includes 16 recreational vehicle sites with water and electrical hookups and a waste dump station.

Skalbekken County Park, 79257 CR 10, Sacred Heart, includes Ole Skalbeck’s log home, built in 1968, moved to the park in 1974.

The park on the Minnesota River features shelters, picnic areas, rustic camping, horse trails and camps with horse ties and bunkers.

Vicksburg County Park, 73715 CR 6, Renville is also on the Minnesota River. Features include rustic camping and picnic areas, granite and gneiss outcrops, a large sandbar, oxbow ponds, a shelter, and water.

Vicksburg was named after a nearby town that existed from 1860 to 1905.

General park use is free. Permit fees are charged for camping. Reservations must be made at least five days prior to arrival. Payment can be deposited in park pay-boxes. All sites are marked with “reserved” or “available” signage. Group camping rates and picnic shelter reservations can be obtained by calling 320-523-3747.

Self-registering camping permits are available at pay boxes at park entrances.

Cutting firewood for personal use is not allowed. Any fallen/downed trees may be cut and used for firewood.

For more information, visit https://www.renvillecountymn.com/departments/public_works/parks

(Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nu

journal.com).