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Located on the headwaters of Bear Creek in the rugged bluff country of Southeastern Minnesota. There are approximately 15 miles of primitive trails winding through a variety of inviting natural habitats in the undeveloped areas of the park. A mile-long hard-surfaced trail links the campground, boat launch, fishing pier, and picnic areas. Motor vehicles and bicycles are restricted to improved roads and designated trails only. Chester Woods Park contains many great opportunities to explore and watch wildlife. Fish at or canoe on Chester Lake. Watch the wood ducks and mergansers feed. Hike the trail that crosses fields, oak woods, and bluff prairie. Here, savanna and grasshopper sparrows and bobolinks can be found. Other animals that can be seen are bull snakes, painted turtles, white-tail deer, broad-winged hawks, red-eye vireos, and veeries. The Park is 1333 acres & Chester Lake is 118 acres. The Chester Lake dam is one of the largest earthen dams in MN at 96 ft tall. The normal lake pool depth is 40 feet. The lake was originally stocked with large-mouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, and sunfish. In 2007, someone at the park caught and released a bass weighing 8lb 4.5oz. (The State record is 8lb 15oz. 2005 at Auburn Lake).

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